It's safe to say that Chatham's Jessie McPherson is still on cloud nine after earning a spot on the Toronto Sceptres in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).
The 22-year-old was named the team's third-string goalie after being invited to try out by General Manager Gina Kingsbury.
After training camp, McPherson was called into a meeting with Kingsbury, Head Coach Troy Ryan, and Goalie Coach Brad Kirkwood. That's when she was told she had made the team.
"They were like, 'We'd like to offer you a spot on the team,' and I sat there, and I stared at (Kingsbury), and she was like, 'I'm guessing that's a yes based on your emotions,'" explained McPherson.
She's coming off five seasons in the NCAA with the University of Vermont and Minnesota State University. She won 54 games during this time, 11 of which ended in a shutout.
Now McPherson is playing with some of the best women's hockey players in the world. This includes two-time Olympians Renata Fast and Blayre Turnbull and three-time Olympian Natalie Spooner.
"You kind of feel like the pressure is on with this group, but they make you feel like just another player on the team. They integrate the newbies well," said McPherson.
Since McPherson is the third-string goalie, she won't be suiting up for games, unless one of the top two goalies are injured or otherwise unavailable. That being said, she's already jumping at the opportunity to get on the ice for her first game.
"I can't even imagine, it's going to be like nothing else I've felt before," she said.
McPherson added that her main job for now is to be the best teammate she can be, and to make sure she's ready to jump in at a moment's notice.
