Via The Hockey News, a look at Saroya Tinker’s impact and legacy will last long beyond her time on the ice, as she has changed, and will continue to change hockey history in a meaningful way:

Saroya Tinker’s impact on the game of hockey has always stretched outside the arena. Tinker, who retired this week at age 25, has become one of the most important voices in the sport, changing the course of hockey history for women and people of color.

Tinker, who won an Isobel Cup title last season as a member of the Toronto Six, and played in the PHF all-star game, has stepped away from playing, but not from the game, or from her efforts to change culture, break barriers, and open doors for others.

“Although my playing days may be over, I can assure you that this is just the beginning for me,” Tinker wrote on social media while announcing her retirement.

Her time on the ice was paramount in providing Black women, and all women of color with representation. A star at Yale, a member of Canada’s U-18 national team, and eventually a professional, Tinker was a standout, who was scheduled to return to the Toronto Six this year prior to the PHF’s acquisition. She knew the importance of her time on the ice, but also of what she can achieve off the ice.

“If they can’t see us on the ice, they can’t believe it that they can do it. It’s so important we’re able to showcase that…within our leagues and teams every day and be a piece of representation for the little Black girls who want to be pro hockey players one day.”

Those words were a was a message Tinker lived actively, not simply as vital representation, but as an ambassador, advocate, and leader.

Some will see Tinker as a casualty of the new PWHL, and the takeover of the PHF, which she is; but Tinker won’t be remembered as such. She’ll be remembered as an excellent hockey player a game changer on and off the ice. As for her full legacy, it’s still being written, and Tinker will surely continue to change the lives of women of color in hockey for years to come.

In 2022, Tinker helped launch Black Girl Hockey Club Canada, a branch of the highly successful group founded by Renee Hess in the USA. She immediately took over the role as executive director, and set to work to provide scholarships and other opportunities for Black women in hockey.

“When I started with Black Girl Hockey Club, we obviously had quite a few girls, but we’ve grown immensely,” Tinker said. “That’s a huge reason why we had to come up here to Canada and get involved.”

“It’s so important for us to have that community… it’s so that they can have friends, they can have a community, they can feel welcomed, and they know that other Black women love hockey just as much as they do,” said Tinker.

When she was playing, Tinker said that she devoted “all my time outside of playing with the Toronto Six to BGHC…”

Now Tinker will have more time to create an even bigger impact, and continue to change the course, or Tinker hockey’s cutlure.

Earlier this year she also served as the host for a TSN series called “Breaking Down Barriers,” a 12-part show examining changemakers and issues in hockey culture.

What’s next for Saroya Tinker? The hockey world will certainly find out soon. Whether it’s working in the game itself as a coach, continuing to serve as a voice and representation in media, or doing the grassroots advocacy and work to change hockey through Black Girl Hockey Club, as Tinker herself said, “this is just the beginning.”

At the 2023 PHF All-Star weekend, Tinker clearly stated her goals for the future. With new opportunities ahead, she now has a clear path to help others live out her hopes for the sport, and for Black women in hockey.

“I want to see these girls succeed. I want to see them break our records. I want to see them be better than us, and that’s exactly where the women’s game is headed,” said Tinker. “We hope they’ll be able to make a sustainable living wage and only solely be able to focus on hockey but also be welcomed as Black girls in the game. It means the world to me if I were to see that, and I hope I do in a few years.”

It’s hard to assess the lasting impact she’s had in three short seasons as a professional hockey player, and many will be mourning the loss of her presence as an athlete; but one thing is for sure, Saroya Tinker has changed hockey history for the better, and her impact will continue to grow long beyond her playing career.