When Ali Beres sets a goal, it’s almost guaranteed that she will achieve it.
Moving from ringette to hockey, Ali put on the zebra uniform after her hockey career with the U SPORTS network and also began practicing other disciplines. No matter what she does, her determination allows her to always aim for new goals.
“I’m lucky, because sport occupied a large part of my youth,” says the 27-year-old woman. “I feel really privileged to work in sport at the level I am at and to have had lots of great opportunities. »
Ali grew up in British Columbia about 30 minutes from Vancouver, in the village of Lions Bay. Since no women’s hockey program was offered there, she and her sister Maegan had to fall back on ringette. It was at the age of 13 that Ali began playing hockey with the intention of playing at the university level.
The transition from ringette to hockey forced Ali to learn new skills, particularly in stickhandling and shooting.
“When you move from ringette to hockey, there are skills and knowledge to add to your baggage,” she confirms.
She learned from the coaching staff that she was falling short compared to her peers of the same age and that she was wasting her time. However, her desire to do well pushed her to attend skill development camps and shoot hundreds of pucks in the family garage to be able to play.
“I remember this conversation. I was 14 years old. This moment was significant and allowed me to become the person I am today. I learned that if I really want to achieve something and I work hard with determination, I can achieve my goals. Above all, you should never give up when you love what you do. »
This love and passion helped her achieve success in hockey; she played for British Columbia at the 2013 National Women’s Under-18 Championship and for Western University in London, Ontario, where she won a U SPORTS national title in 2015, a silver medal at the national championship and two Ontario University Athletics (OUA) network titles.
At the end of her university career, she started thinking about what to do next. She knew she wanted to stay in the world of hockey and she turned to an aspect of the game that she had already mastered, namely refereeing.
“I didn’t feel ready to hang up my skates after my university internship. The arena was my second home since I was three years old. As soon as my last match ended, I was overcome by emotions. I knew I was going to have to get a job and stop playing. I remembered that I loved refereeing when I was young. »
Ali decided she wanted to put on another jersey, be part of a new team and see where officiating would take her. After university, she became certified as an official again in Ontario.
“I played matches with different people and learned as much as I could,” she says. I noticed that many were ahead of me in the program and witnessed their accomplishments. I told my mentors that I would like to get the same assignments one day. »
Since his transition to officiating, Ali has had the opportunity to be part of the Hockey Canada Officials Excellence Program (OEP), a pathway that allows referees and linesmen to achieve their high-level goals.
Since then, she has been a linesman at a few notable events, including the 2014 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship (Division 1B) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Battle of Bay Street, a game between Toronto to Montreal a few weeks ago.
“I am truly grateful for all the opportunities I have had through refereeing. I love my role because it allows me to stay involved in hockey. It’s intense… There’s pressure and a competitive spirit. Our role is to ensure fair play and safety. »
Without the support of her family, and in particular Maegan, Ali would not be able to reconcile her job as a solutions engineer within a supply company with her role as an official and triathlete.
“We are like best friends and our competitive spirit has always been very strong. We always tried to push each other. Our parents instilled strong values in us. Despite the competition, we always supported each other and knew that the success of one did not prevent the success of the other. »
Like Ali, Maegan had hockey ambitions she wanted to achieve. In addition to playing in the NCAA for Boston College and in the Premier Hockey Federation for the Toronto Six, she won a silver medal with Canada at the 2017 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.
“We have always been close, and she has become a great role model for me,” says Maegan. As a little sister, I came to take my big sister as my idol. When I was very successful during my hockey career, she was the closest person to me and I always looked to her for advice and support. »
To play at a high level, it is important to be in good physical shape, but for Ali, it also allows her to stay mentally healthy and keep a good balance with her professional life. When she’s not officiating, Ali competes in triathlons, a sport she quickly fell in love with.
“The players give their 100%, so we have to do the same to follow them,” comments Ali. I found it a bit boring at the gym. To get out of my comfort zone, I signed up for an Ironman 70.3 competition (also known as a half-Ironman), and I was hooked.
While Ali continues to set goals, like competing in the Olympics as an official, her sister knows it’s her determination that will get her this far.
“Once she has a goal in mind, she will do everything in her power to achieve it,” says Maegan. I’m really proud of her and what she’s accomplished and her transition from hockey player to official. I can’t wait to see how far she goes. »
