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5 Questions in 5 Minutes with Boston Pride forward Tori Sullivan

<em>After a pause in league games for All-Star Weekend we get to know more about the PHF’s TikTok goddess, Pride forward Tori Sullivan with 5 Qs in 5 min!</em>

After starting her pro career with 25 points (11g-14a) in 24 games for the Boston Pride, Tori Sullivan has only registered six points (1g-5a) over her last 20 games (three playoff games included). But that doesn’t mean her presence hasn’t been felt in every game. Also, since the 2019-20 season was cut short due to covid, the amount of games and a regular schedule hasn’t necessarily been a stable thing so it isn’t really fair to judge players or compare seasons yet.

“One thing about me is I don’t determine if I played a good game by scoring a goal or getting an assist. As long as I’m doing my job and making the passes I’m supposed to make, and in the end, we’re winning - that’s my mindset,” Sullivan told us via phone. “If I get a good bounce here or there, that’s great and I can contribute even more. But as long as I’m doing the little things right, that is what is most important to me.”

We also need to be mindful of how deep the Pride has been in each of the last three seasons. Since Sullivan’s first season Boston has added forwards like Taylor Wenczkowski, Sammy Davis, and Kayla Friesen - and there’s only one puck on the ice. So you just have to be ready to go when your number is called.

“Our practices are so much fun because we’re going up against the best of the best every time we step on the ice,” added Sullivan. “Everyone has their role on the team and I feel fortunate that I’m in a lucky spot (with this group).”

After we spoke, Sullivan netted her first goal of the season, snapping a nearly two-year drought. Here’s how our conversation went days before the Pride’s series with the Riveters.

The Ice Garden: A few days have passed since the big news about the Board of Governors investing $25 million into the PHF over the next few seasons. Now that it’s had time to marinate in your head, what are your thoughts?

Tori Sullivan: It’s unbelievable and still kind of sinking in. We have a lot of questions on the details of it, but we’re super-excited and proud of where the league has gone so far and stoked for what is to come.

TIG: Were you able to have a day with the Isobel Cup this summer, and if so what did you do?

TS: I actually didn’t get to do the whole spend a day with the Cup by myself with my friends and family, or anything like that. The best part for me honestly was being able to take the Cup around Boston to all of the other arenas and stadiums - the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics - with my teammates. For me, that was better than if I had a day with it…I don’t even know what I would do with it, I’d probably want to have my teammates with me. It was awesome for us to be recognized in that way at each venue. I had a lot of fun at the Celtics game, I don’t think they won haha, but it was still a lot of fun.

TIG: Okay while you didn’t have a solo flight with the Cup, you did get a fancy new ring. What did you think about that?

TS: It is so awesome! I wasn’t here for the team’s ring ceremony, so I didn’t get mine until the first week of October. Coach Paul (Mara) did his own ceremony for me - said something like Sully missed the ring ceremony so we wanted to do this for her. It was super cool to see all of the details on it; hopefully, we can add another to the collection this year.

I have a couple of rings from when I played at Northeastern for winning Hockey East, those are pretty cool too. But it’s nice to have one from the Pride now - especially after how our 2020 season ended, it was nice to finally get that one.

TIG: Okay let’s get down to the real hard-hitting questions now. I love these and it was a big reason why I wanted to speak with you. How much thought and preparation goes into the ridiculously amazing and creative Tik Tok videos you’ve been doing?

TS: First of all, thank you. Honestly, I don’t put a ton of thought into them, and I usually get my inspiration from going through the app itself - seeing new trends and videos. Some people out there are really funny and creative. Usually, I’m just scrolling through the app and I see something and think: huh…that would be really funny if I put a spin on it and integrated hockey into it.

Otherwise, I just think of things randomly and I’ll have one of my teammates join in - whoever wants to be involved. A lot of them are camera-shy, or would rather be the one filming it. The last few I’ve done by myself - I’m a solo artist now! Haha, no but a lot of them have been stepping up as directors now.

TIG: Do you have a favorite one that you’ve done?

TS: Hmmm, this year I think my favorite one is when I had the girls try to do that dance move The Jerk. That’s probably one of my favorites because it was so funny watching them attempt to do their best dance moves. I also liked doing the - if other sports played hockey one. Those are fun to do and to see the creativity in the comments.

TIG: I loved the ones you did from home in your hockey gear when covid and quarantines all started. Brilliant stuff. Especially because there were a lot of unknowns, doom, and gloom around that time - and those were such a breath of fresh air and definitely made me smile - effin brilliant stuff!

TS: Thank you! That’s funny, my dad said the same thing and said I was onto something there and should have continued doing them.

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