Renata Fast is comfortable in front of a camera and at ease with a microphone in her face.聽The 海角社区官网Sceptres star will intelligently talk hockey all day long and give thoughtful, insightful answers to all kinds of questions. It鈥檚 been this way for years.
But mention the 聽swirling about her possibly being named MVP of the Professional Women鈥檚 Hockey League and the Burlington resident almost gets tongue-tied.
鈥淗onestly,鈥 she says, chuckling. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 like a big shock to me.鈥
It really shouldn鈥檛 be.
The Burlington native was the league鈥檚 top-scoring defender this season, she led the PWHL in power-play assists and was first in hits (the league allows checking as long as both players are moving in the same direction). On top of everything, she logged the most minutes of anyone in the league at nearly 25 a game, pointing to her incredible value to the team.
At 30, she鈥檚 hit the point in her career where peak physical and peak mental are intersecting. She鈥檚 as good a skater, passer and shooter as she鈥檚 ever been, while at the same time, she understands the game better than she ever has.
鈥淚鈥檓 very comfortable where I am as a player,鈥 she says.
Renata Fast, left, battles for the puck with Minnesota’s Kendall Coyne Schofield. Toronto聽 will try to stave off elimination from the PWHL playoffs Wednesday in Minnesota.
Chris Young/The Canadian PressIt wasn鈥檛 long ago this would鈥檝e felt impossible.
Not the idea that she鈥檇 be great. Rather, the fact she鈥檇 have the chance to be great on a platform like this. Because as recently as 2021, when the Canadian Women鈥檚 Hockey League had folded and the world hockey championship was teetering because of COVID, many of the top female stars 鈥 including her 鈥 were left with no outlet for their game through much of the year other than renting ice time and scrimmaging.
Fast had always believed there would eventually be a women鈥檚 pro league but she鈥檇 come to accept it might arrive after her prime. Or even after she was done playing altogether.
As a result, she says she鈥檚 constantly appreciative when she shows up to the rink now to compete against the world鈥檚 top players and finds all her equipment set out for her in her stall, TV cameras around, media asking questions, and thousands of fans roaring when they step onto the ice.
And a paycheque, right?
鈥淵eah,鈥 she laughs. 鈥淥bviously that鈥檚 incredible.鈥
Those are only some of the things that鈥檝e changed in the two years since the league launched.
The idea that Toronto’s regular-season games are drawing an average of 9,059 fans is remarkable. And she鈥檚 done a double take a few times when she looks into the stands and sees someone wearing a sweater with her name on the back.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just a moment of, like, we鈥檝e made it,鈥 she says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e made it in our sport that we can sell player jerseys and people are that invested in our team, our brand, our league, and they want to outwardly show that.鈥
Just how differently players are perceived these days really hit home last summer. For years, she and teammate Emma Maltais have run a hockey camp in Burlington. This time it sold out almost immediately. And when they got to the rink, they saw a new level of excitement, not just from the kids but from their parents.
But the thing she finds most meaningful?
There are many women in their 60s or 70s or even later who played hockey as girls. Not necessarily in a league. Likely not in any high level of competition. But they played.
Fast notices them at games.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so many that are supportive of the league,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so cool to see their emotion when they watch us or meet us because they never thought this would ever be possible.鈥
On Wednesday, Fast and her Sceptres will be battling to keep all this going. A win in Minnesota against the Frost and they bring their best-of-five playoff series back to 海角社区官网for a deciding Game 5 on Saturday. A loss and the season鈥檚 over.
Either way, the MVP debate will continue. She may find it hard to grasp, but is it? Is she really a legitimate candidate?
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 crazy if it鈥檚 not a discussion, to be honest,鈥 says Sceptres’ head coach Troy Ryan. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if there鈥檚 any player in the league that has been as impactful for their team and their organization as Renata has been.鈥
Out of curiosity, when did she last win something like this? Anything like this? Any individual honour?
鈥淥h god,鈥 she laughs again. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know.鈥
She鈥檚 been nominated for a few awards. She got named to some all-star teams. Might鈥檝e got something in college like a player of the week. But after thinking about it for a while, she can鈥檛 come up with anything.
She obviously forgot about being named top defender at the 2024 world championship 鈥 which actually bolsters her comment about not really paying attention to individual accolades.
Still, the idea of possibly being named MVP?
鈥淚t鈥檚 literally something I鈥檝e never thought of.鈥
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