What's In Your Bag? Ep. 14 - Saroya Tinker

What's In Your Bag? With Andrew Robinson

Saroya Tinker is a defender for the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation, but her journey to becoming one of the few black players in professional hockey is one of perseverance, determination, and mental toughness.

We sat down with Saroya to discuss her introduction to the game of hockey from a child growing up in Canada, getting called the N word by a teammate at the age of 12, and becoming the first black player ever in the history of the Yale Men's or Women's Ice Hockey program.

We discuss her journey dealing with an eating disorder that caused her to struggle with being body positive, and how that led her to painting as a healthy outlet to express her feelings on a canvas. Her perspective on mental health in this conversation was truly inspiring, and would be a lift to anyone struggling with body positivity, anxiety, or any other form of mental struggles that can arise throughout life.

We also touch on her role in the film Black Ice, working alongside Nike and Uninterrupted on a plethora of projects, and how she's been able to brand herself off the ice as an athlete!

All in all, this was a conversation with a true pioneer for black women in hockey, and someone who all of us can learn from, no matter what walk of life you're in, on how to uplift the next generation, while also loving yourself, no matter what society might throw at you along the way! Make sure you subscribe, and give us a like if you enjoy this conversation!