Laurier Grads Soar is a multi-part series that returns for it's third installment during the 2018-19 season. The segment features former Wilfrid Laurier University athletes and student-leaders in the Athletics and Recreation Department, and the success they have enjoyed since leaving Laurier. Written by award-winning journalist David Grossman, different features will be released throughout the year that will emphasize the role Athletics and Recreation played in helping them achieve success.

Ashley Stephenson: Teacher and member of Canada's national women's baseball program

There may have been a time when Ashley Stephenson contemplated choosing between devoting the bulk of her time to excellence in ice hockey or putting that aside and focusing on baseball.

And then there was a third option for the youngster from Mississauga, back then a superior athlete, and that was to be proficient and dexterous in both. With her being athletically gifted, and among the elite, observers knew that just doesn't happen overnight.

On skates, Stephenson competed at the Canadian university sport level suiting up for Wilfrid Laurier and was also an original member of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). On the ball diamond, she wore the red and white of Canada as a member of the country's National team.

Having had a prolific career in sports, and knowing her competitive days were coming to an end, Stephenson, exceptionally skillful, talented and a standout in many ways, looked at rising to the top in two other areas: teaching and coaching.

“I always wanted to be a high school teacher and knew that while I was in the field of education, there was an opportunity to do it in the classroom and also in sports,“ said Stephenson.

For the past dozen years, she has been on the staff of the Halton District School Board and has taught at Nelson High for six years and six more at Dr. Frank Hayden Secondary in Burlington.

It has been a few years since Stephenson was doing well with a hockey stick and skates for the Laurier Golden Hawks. The awards, accomplishments and prominence piled up quickly between 2000 and 2005, which was the year she graduated with an Honors Degree in Kinesiology. 

Then, it was off to Teachers College at Brock University's campus in Hamilton, taking with her great memories, medals and friends for life that she made at Laurier. 

Stephenson and the Golden Hawks were on four Ontario University Athletics hockey championships, a gold medal and bragging rights at the National final, all-Canadian and Most Valuable Player awards. In 2005, she was Most Valuable Player at the National championship.

Strong on defence, the coaching staff knew her value to the team and called on her to spearhead the power-play, and also penalty kill as well as take on the important job of team captain in her final two years at Laurier.

Stephenson continued her prolific hockey career gaining the spotlight again. This time, it was as a member of the Brampton Thunder, and on the Mississauga Chiefs roster helped the team, in the inaugural NWHL championship, win a medal at the 2008 Esso Women's Hockey Nationals. The final goal of her career was with the Burlington Barracudas in the Canadian Women's Hockey League.

When the ice melted, Stephenson turned to the bat and glove. 

She was a member of the Canadian National baseball squad for a remarkable 14 years that included six World Cup medals and a silver medal at the Pan Am Games held in Ajax in 2015. Later that year, she served as an instructor at the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy. In 2005 and 2008, she was selected MVP of Canada's National Women's Baseball team.

“Looking back, it truly has been a positive and unbelievable experience,” she said. “The biggest highlight for me was with Laurier – winning the Canadian championship. There was nothing like it."

“I remember my first year (at Laurier), when we lost the National championship and we weren't very happy, but I also very clearly recall that fourth year, with an unbelievable team, when we left the playoffs and this time with the gold medal.”

Then, in 2011, came the communication from Laurier. This time, it was to inform her that her name was being added to the highest sports honor at the university: the Laurier Sports Hall of Fame.

“Just an incredible honor, it's something I will cherish all my life,” said Stephenson.

It was during her high school days at Clarkson Secondary, when she had to examine, review options and make a series of decisions regarding a post-secondary education,  Stephenson leaned towards Laurier. Chosen high school Athlete of the Year, first at the junior level, then at senior, Stephenson also attained academic honors at Clarkson.

With lots of interest coming from National Collegiate Athletic Association schools, there was something about attending Laurier that appealed to Stephenson.

“(Laurier) was just the right place for me – and I knew it the first time I set foot on campus,” said Stephenson. “I am very close with my family. My father died when I was young and, I guess, I just liked to be close to home. I knew that I was not going to make a living playing hockey. Laurier had phenomenal teachers and the place was just a savior.”

Medical staff helped her make the decision in 2010 to hang up the competitive career as Stephenson knew she had sustained a series of seven concussions.

“I knew it was coming,” said Stephenson. “I have great memories of competing and I have no difficulty accepting the change - to educate, promote and help young athletes excel. I am trying to create opportunities for girls in baseball and to help others find a passion for sports. It's all about taking part, having fun and striving for success.”

There are times when Stephenson gets a moment to recall those days at Laurier and for Canada – and, tucked away at home is a box in a closet that contains her medals.

This past August in Florida, she was honored by her peers, and elected the only Canadian to the prestigious World Softball Baseball Confederation (WBSC) Athletes Commission.

-END-

David Grossman is a veteran award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada's major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 40+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.

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