Brighton's Shiann Darkangelo living hockey dream that wasn't possible in her youth

When Shiann Darkangelo began playing hockey in Brighton around age 5, she never dreamed she would be playing as a professional at age 29.

No little girl playing hockey around the turn of the millennium could imagine being paid to play the sport they love, because a pro league for women didn’t exist.

Not that Darkangelo and others didn’t have lofty aspirations. Women’s hockey had just been added to the Winter Olympics in 1998, enabling players to represent their countries on the largest international stage.

“I definitely had dreams of playing in the Olympics,” Darkangelo said. “I had a book by (four-time Olympic hockey medalist) Angela Ruggiero; she signed it. It’s something that’s always been in my mind. I always knew the step to go there was to play Division I; that was my goal. Obviously, I did it because I love the game. There was no women’s professional league, so the Olympics was the overall goal.”

Darkangelo still has a love for the game, which is why she doesn’t see herself moving on from her hockey career any time soon.

The opportunity to play professionally has extended her career, even if her Olympic dream has thus far been unfulfilled. She was one of the final cuts for the 2018 team.

By remaining active as a player, Darkangelo can continue to improve and hopefully earn another shot at making the Olympic team for 2026 in Italy.

“Now you can still be scouted and you’re playing constantly,” she said. “Before when this wasn’t happening, you’re practicing with a boys team or doing skills, but not getting to play in competition.”

Darkangelo continues to bolster her resume, winning the Premier Hockey Federation’s Isobel Cup as captain of the Toronto Six on March 26 in Tempe, Ariz. The trophy is named after the daughter of Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley, who purchased the silver cup that was eventually known as the Stanley Cup.

“It’s my third season,” she said. “I’ve been here since the start of the Toronto Six. It makes it that much more sweet to be able to hoist the Isobel Cup. It’s been the goal since the franchise started. To do it with a group of girls who have been here and to be part of the foundation that was built was exciting. It takes a village to do it; it was pretty awesome.”

Darkangelo had 12 goals and 13 assists in 24 regular-season games, earning a spot in the league’s All-Star Game. She had two assists in four playoff games.

Toronto won the championship with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Minnesota Whitecaps at Mullett Arena, the intimate college venue that is the temporary home of the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League. The Six lost in the semifinals each of the previous two seasons.

“It was awesome to be able to play in a new market and expand the growth of the game and maybe attract new fans and new people,” said Darkangelo, who spent a few days celebrating in Arizona with teammates and family.

“Mullett Arena is where Arizona State plays and the Arizona Coyotes. It’s an amazing facility. They were great hosts to us and very cool. I love it in Arizona; you can’t beat the weather. It’s distracting a little bit coming in, because you have to focus on the game.”

Darkangelo played the 2017-18 season in China after being cut from the Olympic roster. She played the next season for the Toronto Furies of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, which folded after that season.

It was at this point that Darkangelo began to consider moving on to a career outside of hockey.

“I still wanted to play,” she said. “I feel like I’m still in good shape, I’m still working out, training. How much money am I going to put into skills and that when I have to support myself? It’s kind of like a wall. It’s almost like hockey is being taken away from me instead of stepping away from the game.”

That’s when she got the call to be one of the first five players to sign with the Toronto Six. She also began working as a plant-based lifestyle coach, allowing her to work remotely while continuing her hockey career.

“I’ve been able to really focus and make it a full-time thing,” she said. “I honestly feel like I’m in my prime and still have room to grow. When the game’s taken away from me, you’re not even in your prime yet. Some guys graduate college at 25 and are just starting. It’s exciting for the growth of the game.

“It’s going to get that much better, because women don’t get the opportunity to peak unless you’re on the Olympic team, because you have to support yourself. This is a full-time job. Having an actual desk job outside of hockey takes away from being able to put 100% effort into that.”

Darkangelo became interested in hockey because she had a brother and cousins playing the game. She played her first few years at Kensington Valley Ice House on a boys team until the rink’s first girls team was formed.

She advanced enough to begin playing on elite teams with the Honeybaked and Little Caesars programs in the Detroit area. Darkangelo played two years for Syracuse and two for Quinnipiac during her college career.

Darkangelo didn’t play hockey at Brighton High School, but was a star on a state championship lacrosse team in 2011. She was a first-team all-state selection and scored three goals and two assists in the state championship game.

“It’s another stick sport, if you will,” Darkangelo said. “I definitely think it helped. For lacrosse, we had a pretty good team at Brighton High School. We had other hockey players on the team. We definitely brought a little bit more aggressive play coming from hockey. I think that made us more dominant.

“In terms of helping me on the ice, it’s another sport where you have to think the game when you’re out there. Playing it gets you off the ice, doing something different. That’s good to have balance.”

Darkangelo hung up her lacrosse stick long ago, but has no plans of putting away her hockey stick and skates.

“As long as I still love the game, which I do, and as long as I stay healthy and in shape, it’s something I want to continue to do,” she said. “You only get to do it for so long. As long as my love of the game continues and I’m able to perform at a high level, I’d love to continue to play. We’ll see what happens.”

Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillKhan.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Brighton's Shiann Darkangelo wins pro hockey title with Toronto Six