Heather Konkin - Edmonton WAM!, NRL and Team USA October 1, 2010
I have played with the Edmonton Ringette Club for the majority of my ringette career. I started my NRL career in with the Edmonton Edge and am currently playing one the Edmonton WAM! For the past 5 seasons I have been an Assistant Coach with the Edmonton Elite Belle AA Team
Name - Heather Konkin
Number - 31
How I became a goalie – In my first ringette game I was a forward and we lost 25-0. I had played many years of street hockey in front of my house even getting street hockey goalie equipment for Christmas one year. Needless to say I had thought I could do better, so I played the next game and the score was cut to 10-0!! That was the beginning of my love affair of stopping rings.
Years played Ringette - 16
Current Ringette team/last team played for – Edmonton WAM!
Favourite part of being a Ringette Goalie – Breakaways. They are super fun. You save them you are the hero. If they go in. . .hey, it was a breakaway ;)
School or Job Description – Human Resources
Book you’re reading right now – The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest
Best gift received – An iPod with my favorite songs put onto it.
Favorite Holiday - Christmas because everyone is usually in the best mood and super happy just to be with family and friends. It’s the best.
Favorite Ice Cream flavor - Bubble Gum ice cream – but only the blue one with the bubble gum chunks.
Favorite Junk food – Ice Cream, sour soothers, pretty much most candy. . .I’m kind of a junk food addict.
Life Lesson - Hmmm. I guess this is kind of a ringette lesson but that’s ok. A wise goalie coach once told me that “You can’t save everything”. In my ringette life that helped because although it would be amazing to get a shut out every single game and be a superhero it’s really not realistic. In my life it made me realize that there is only so much I can do and control.
Another good piece of advice I have received over the past couple of years is to always remember to have fun. Every time I start or am going back to the net at the half and I start to get a little heated my goalie partner always reminds me that “ringette is fun!” As simple as it is, when you are playing and enjoying the challenge, if you keep it fun it’s amazing how that can change your game around. Remember. . .ringette is FUN! Haha.
Favorite Movie – Mean Girls and I Love You, Man
Nickname - Konks, Konky, Konker, Honks, Teeny, Mini
Trickiest player to play against - I’d say Willy aka Jen Krochak. She has the most amazing hands and it doesn’t matter if she’s on her bum or being knocked off her feet, she still can find a way to put the ring in the net. She is probably one of the best natural, clutch goal scorers I have ever seen in my life.
Question: If you weren’t a Ringette Goalie, what would you be? - I’d like to think that had I not had ringette in my life I would have dedicated all of those hours to snowboarding of playing guitar and being a musician. Although, I think it’s a good thing ringette found me. We kind of have had a good thing going these last couple of years.
Favorite Actor/Actress – Paul Rudd. I have loved him ever since Clueless.
Favorite band or artist - This one is so hard for me!! I can’t pick just one!! I’ll say Third Eye Blind, Nada Surf, Stars, The Avett Brothers, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Ryan Adams, The Gaslight Anthem, Weezer, and of course Britney Spears. I just went to the Lady Gaga concert, it was. . .EPIC!
Other sports you play – I’ve played a couple. I’ve played baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, field hockey, golf and ball hockey. My favourite is field hockey though. It was so fun! I think I really liked wearing a skirt.
TV show you can’t miss – I’m addicted to MTV not going to lie. But recently I am a pretty big fan of Vampire Diaries. It’s soooo good.
Unique characteristic – I tend to say “Just kidding” a lot.
Summer activity - Sitting on a patio with friends or I’ve recently taken up golf. It is my newest challenge. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don’t. Right now I am not liking it very much. . .but I won’t let it win!!!
X-Rays (ever broken a bone) - Broken collarbone – got hit into the goal post on one of those silly race for the ring type deals.
Accomplishments – I’ve had an extremely rewarding ringette career. I have been to multiple National Championships where I have won medals and the 2003 Canada Winter Games. But my favourite accomplishment to date was winning Nationals this past year. After being defeated in the final in 2009, this past season was all about redemption and it was just a phenomenal week and I’m so proud to be part of the Edmonton WAM! that won the Gold Medal at the 2010 National Ringette Championships.