Oh hi!
I'm Eileen, but my best friends and teammates call me Pie. Why Pie? For one, baristas at Starbucks who aren't Irish have a helluva time spelling it correctly. Pie is more distinct...I don't have to explain that it's not Irene, Aileen, Elaine, or Ellen. Pie is also far easier to yell on the court where I spend a lot of time. (Yeah, a second syllable really screws things up.)
How did you get into floorball?
I have been playing the amazing sport of floorball since 2008, during a serendipitous meeting with Juha Mikkola at OISE/UT where I was studying to become a physical education teacher (I'm not currently teaching). At the time, we were all trying to figure out where to do our third and final practicum. One of the best things about the education program at OISE/UT is that they encourage education and experiences outside of the classroom, and that is how I decided to complete my internship with Floorball Ontario (which, at the time, was named Ontario Floorball/Unihockey Federation). I'd never really played ice hockey, aside from some drunken pond shinny, but was playing a ton of ball hockey in rec leagues around Toronto. Part of the internship was teaching children how to play floorball. I figured I'd better learn how to walk before I talked the talked, and joined the Steagle Colbeagles in the Toronto Floorball League's intermediate division (that is my true original team...). The rest is history. These days, I play floorball exclusively and obsessively.
Why floorball?
There is something about floorball that makes me feel so so so happy inside. It is one of the few things I am truly passionate about. I got all my friends playing too and it's something we do together for fun. We are competitive aggressive folk, but that's why the rules of floorball help set limitations for us, HA!
Where else do I know you from?
I probably taught floorball at your school, or maybe you dropped in on a floorball clinic happening during a PD Day. I've also been a part of every Canada Cup Floorball Championship since 2008, either as a player or a volunteer. I've played regularly in tournaments in Ottawa, Montreal, Markham, and Toronto. I try to drop-in on local pick-up sessions when I'm travelling, and have met some pretty cool people in Vancouver and San Francisco. I've been a part of the provincial and national teams since 2008. I'm pretty recognizable with my giant samurai bun and booming voice.
When I'm not playing floorball, I do research in eating disorders and coordinate a few studies in some of the Toronto hospitals. My main interests are on ED treatments and integrating exercise during recovery. My work has really impacted my views and philosophies on health at every size and what it means to enjoy a healthy balanced life.
And Darkside Floorball Club?
I started Darkside Floorball Club back in 2010. At that time there were only a few established intermediate level teams in Toronto, and more and more of our friends wanted to join. We decided to do our own thing so we had more control and could accommodate the merge of our social circles. The name was natural - we were a bit rogue, starting a new team, and also, we are just huge geeks really into Star Wars. And DIY. Our first jersey, debuted at the 2010 Canada Cup featured the Death Star on neon yellow tees, hand screened. 2011 Canada Cup saw the release of tie fighters on neon orange tees. Our current team logo does not reference Star Wars, but our team cheer is FORCE. (Get it?) All our jersey numbers are hand painted in reverse stencil - it's become a trademark of our team.
When we first started, there was only one female club, Girls With Balls (GWB), with whom I played in my first ever Canada Cup in 2008. Since then, I have tried to keep a Lady Darkside FC team alive in tournaments and in the TFL rec league. Managing multiple teams can be tough, but the results are worth it. Plus, everyone who joins and/or is recruited is just plain awesome (it's a basic requirement).
Greatest floorball achievements? (Will update, my dates are all off and can't find sources right now)
I hate bragging, but floorball is a team sport and I have to pump up my fellow teammates who helped earn these titles, and made me look good.
Personal
Most Improved Player - 2009/10 Toronto Floorball League
Most Valuable Player - Women's Division, 2013 Canada Cup Floorball Championship (Darkside FC)
Most Valuable Player - Women's Division, 2016 Canada Cup Floorball Championship (Lambton Lightning)
Darkside FC - co-ed
Champions, Intermediate Division, Spring 2013 Toronto Floorball League
Finalists, Recreational Division, 2010 Canada Cup Floorball Championship
Finalists, Recreational Division, 2011 Canada Cup Floorball Championship
Champions, Intermediate Division, 2015/16 Toronto Floorball League
Champions, Women's Division, 2010 Canada Cup Floorball Championship
Finalists, Women's Division, 2012 Canada Cup Floorball Championship
Champions, Women's Division, 2013 Canada Cup Floorball Championship
All views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own and do not reflect Floorball Canada.
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