Sophie Jaques Champions Diversity in Hockey with 'Sophie's Sisters' Initiative
Vancouver Goldeneyes defender Sophie Jaques is stepping up as a role model for the next generation, drawing inspiration from women's hockey pioneer Angela James. Jaques, 25, aims to emulate the impact James had on her own childhood, fostering inclusivity in a sport historically lacking diversity.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Angela James, 61, a Black athlete who blazed trails before women's hockey gained mainstream recognition through events like the Olympics and leagues such as the PWHL, remains a pivotal figure. James and American standout Cammi Granato were the first women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010, with Granato, James, and Canadian Geraldine Heaney also honored in the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2008.
Jaques, born a year after James retired from international play, discovered her mentor through James' biography as a child. "I discovered a lot about what she did and what she had to fight through," Jaques explained, highlighting the barriers James overcame.
Launching 'Sophie's Sisters'
In collaboration with the Women Of Colour Hockey Collective, Jaques has founded Sophie's Sisters, a program for girls aged 8-18 interested in hockey. Participants attend a Goldeneyes game and meet with Jaques afterward to learn about her journey in the sport.
The next event is scheduled for Tuesday when the Goldeneyes host the Boston Fleet at the Pacific Coliseum, with four additional events planned for later this PWHL season.
"The program was put in place to provide a welcome space for young girls of colour to get into hockey and bring them into the community with girls who look like them and are going through similar things," said Jaques, a right-shot blue-liner from Toronto.
She emphasized the program's dual purpose: supporting newcomers to hockey and helping existing players find their place. "It's important to me because growing up there are a lot of barriers to entering hockey. So much of that is financial, but there also isn't much diversity in the sport," Jaques noted. "I think it has grown a lot in recent years, and I want to do my part helping make sure everyone's aware that this sport is a safe space for them to be a part of."
A Legacy of Community Service
Jaques' commitment to community service is well-established. During her collegiate career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, she served as vice-president of SHEROs, an organization promoting open discussions about diversity among women athletes of colour. She also volunteered with the 2nd & 7 Foundation in Columbus, which provides free books and connects role models with children in need.
In 2022, Jaques received an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award, recognizing her academic and athletic excellence alongside community service and leadership. That same year, she was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's outstanding student athlete.
As a board member for the Women of Colour Hockey Collective, Jaques works alongside co-founder and executive-director Saroya Tinker, 28, a former national team defender who now serves as the PWHL's manager of culture and impact.
"Getting the program up and running this year is very exciting," Jaques said of Sophie's Sisters. "Saroya has worked to put together some great programming for these girls and getting them into PWHL arenas and seeing what hockey is like. I want to be able to speak to the girls and answer any questions they have. We'll see where the program grows in the future."
Academic and Athletic Achievements
Jaques holds a master's degree in civil engineering, driven by a lifelong passion for math and science. "What I love most about civil is the everyday application and how visual it is. You see it in everyday driving and infrastructure," she added.
Her athletic accolades include winning the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the NCAA women's hockey top player, making her the first Black recipient of the honor. Previously, she and her usual Goldeneyes blue-line partner Claire Thompson played for the Minnesota Frost in the PWHL, both finishing as runners-up for defender of the year to Renata Fast of the Toronto Sceptres. Jaques was part of Minnesota's back-to-back Walter Cup championship teams.
In June, Jaques signed a three-year contract with the Goldeneyes during an exclusive window for Vancouver and their Seattle Torrent expansion cousins to sign free agents or unprotected players before the expansion draft.
The Goldeneyes have 12 games remaining after Tuesday, with their final regular-season game set for April 25.
