Cassie Campbell-Pascall on her fight for a place on the ice
Oct 6, 2026 · 24m
Summary
Cassie Campbell-Pascal discusses her new memoir, *Just a Girl*, co-written with Sean Fitzgerald, exploring her journey from convincing her parents to let her play hockey to becoming Canada's poster girl. She reflects on the emotional weight of the 1998 Nagano silver medal, the intense rivalry with the U.S., and the "flag incident" that sparked an international controversy. The conversation also covers her advocacy for women's hockey, her struggles with infertility, and her decision to donate her brain to research, highlighting the progress made since her playing days.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Perk
Intro: Cassie Campbell-Pascal and her memoir
Revisiting the 2002 gold medal moment
Keeping medals hidden and family life
Defining the book's 'raw' authenticity
Convincing parents to let her play hockey
Facing snark and 'you're just a girl' comments
Growing up in Brampton and stealing cars
Becoming the poster girl for women's hockey
Navigating fame, media, and sexualization
The 1998 Nagano silver medal heartbreak
Dressing room dynamics and LGBTQ+ players
Sponsor: Perk and CBC Promo
Rivalry and respect with the US team
The Canadian flag incident and fallout
Criticism of lopsided scores and coverage
The growth of the game with the PWHL
Struggles with infertility and broadcasting
Concussions and brain donation for research
Legacy and her daughter's hockey journey
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