Jillian Dempsey talks NWHL hockey on NHL Network

Last night, Boston Pride captain Jillian Dempsey joined NHL Network’s NHL Now.

In an eight-minute long interview, Dempsey chatted about the league, the upcoming All-Star game, and share a fun story of how she’s forever connected to the NHL’s Bruins.

Dempsey has been with the NWHL since the first season. In 62 games with the Pride, she has 54 points, with 10 points in 11 games this season. Previously she played on the CWHL’s then-Boston Blades where she had 47 points in 46 games. She won championships in both leagues — the CWHL’s Clarkson Cup in 14-15 and the NWHL’s Isobel Cup in 15-16 — in addition to being named CWHL Rookie of the Year in 2013-14 and awarded the NWHL’s Denna Laing Award in 2017-18.

Here’s a few highlights from the interview:

• The Winthrop, Mass., native was actually the one who named the Bruins’ mascot “Blades” through contest when she was nine years old.
• “It’s incredible ... It’s so important for us to be connected to the NHL and I think they’re going to help create so much exposure for us and have people know that we exist. They’re going to promote us and help work with us so we can promote the girls game and get more involved in the community and that’s so incredibly important for us and where we are at this stage of the game. We’re thrilled and we can’t wait to see what the future holds working with the Bruins.” — about the new Bruins and Pride partnership
• Dempsey said the environment in Nashville looks “electrifying” and is excited to being the women’s game there during the upcoming All-Star Game./
• “It’s amazing that now they have something they can aspire to be in ... The fact that now young girls can look through the glass and see us on the other side and dream of having that and know that it’s a reality for them. It’s something special. For me to be able to give them a puck or give a fist bump or anything little like that I know it means the world because it meant the world to college women’s hockey games to watch as a kid. I’m just so excited that they’re filling the stands for us and that they’re dreaming big. That’s what we want. We’re trying to pioneer this for them. We love the game and want that to be something they can work towards and achieve as well and have it better for them where its maybe more a sustainable career. We’re just so excited to be part of that.” — on the young girls in the stands./

Watch the whole interview below or here