4,’Young Guns’

Sam Cogan and Lindsay Eastwood have a lot in common, and the fact that both girls’ fathers initially inspired them to play hockey is just the start.


“I always wanted to be a figure skater,” Eastwood laughs, “but my dad wouldn’t let me.”

Both girls grew up playing on boys’ hockey teams, so it’s no wonder that both Cogan and Eastwood describe themselves as former tomboys. Cogan made her way through the local minor hockey competitive leagues, playing for the Ottawa Sting and the Ottawa Junior 67’s.

“They just treated me like one of the guys,” Cogan says of her former male teammates. “I grew up with them so I got to know them better, and they were always really nice to me.”

Eastwood crossed over to the boys’ side in Peewee to play two seasons with the Kanata Blazers.

“All my (girl) friends loved that I played with boys because then they could come watch my games and watch the boys,” Eastwood smiles.

Both 14, Cogan and Eastwood are in the midst of their first year of high school at Glebe and All Saints respectively.

And they now have another major commitment on their plates since making the switch over to girls’ hockey this season to play for the Nepean Jr. Wildcats in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League.
Adapting to women’s game
Although women’s hockey remains extremely physical, both Cogan and Eastwood say transitioning to a non-contact game hasn’t been easy.

“For guys’ hockey, you have to go in and check, but in girls’ hockey, you have to go in and get the puck,” Cogan explains. “So that’s a big part of switching.”

Eastwood agrees.

“There’s no hitting – and hitting opens up the ice more – so you have to keep moving your feet,” adds the rookie defender who was second in team scoring through 17 games.

Another major adjustment is the time commitment. Since the team plays most of its games in and around the Toronto area, the girls are on the road a few weekends a month. With practices during the week, and games on the weekends, socializing time is minimal.

“We miss out on opportunities to be with our friends,” Eastwood notes. “But there’s nothing better than being with your team and doing what you love to do.”

In addition to adapting to a different style of play and a travel-heavy schedule, Cogan and Eastwood are also adjusting to their new teammates – some of whom are four years older.

Megan Eady, the Wildcats assistant captain, says initially the team was worried Cogan and Eastwood would be too intimidated to integrate within the squad. But luckily this hasn’t been the case at all.

“They’re both really outgoing and really goofy,” Eady says. “If you were in the room, you’d never know they’re two 14-year-olds with a bunch of 18-year-olds.”

This is exactly what Nepean coach Fay McLaughlin wants to hear. After scouting both Cogan and Eastwood last season, she believes it was time for them to make the switch to women’s hockey.
Team Canada & NCAA beckon?
“You can only stay in boys’ hockey for so long, especially with all the opportunities in girls’ hockey,” McLaughlin says, highlighting opportunities such as earning athletic scholarships and the chance to play at a higher level. “They’re not able to take advantage of that if they’re in the boys’ system.”

But these opportunities weren’t the only reason for the switch. Cogan explains how the physicality of boys‘ hockey was putting her at a disadvantage.

“The guys were getting really big – obviously a guy’s body mass is bigger than a girl’s – so with all the body contact, my dad was afraid I was going to get hurt,” says the forward who scored three points in a pair of overtime losses on the first weekend of December.

At 5-11, Eastwood was still one of the taller players on her team last season, but playing women’s hockey is putting her in a better position to achieve her goals.

“My dream is to play for Team Canada U18,” she notes. “That would be awesome.”
Coach McLaughlin hopes that provincial and national team programs will be in both players’ futures, and when the time comes, she believes Cogan and Eastwood will likely be recruited to play U.S. college hockey.

“I’ve already been contacted by some significant Division I schools that just want to make contact,” McLaughlin shares. “So I think if Sam and Lindsay put the effort in, in a few years they’re going to be able to dictate where they go to school.”

While the girls’ coach acknowledges both players’ incredible potential, she is adamant that there’s work to be done. Luckily the willingness to put in hard work is just another thing Cogan and Eastwood have in common.

“I think both of them have that understanding that you have to do something everyday to get better,” McLaughlin says. “It’s a great achievement on their part (to be playing in an under-21 league.) They’re going to be fantastic, especially once they’ve played a couple years and are done adjusting. Might as well take their name down now.”