Maria Dennis – Sr. Legal Counsel and Sr. Director of Player Health And Safety for the NHLPA (yeah, THAT NHLPA) is our guest this week.

Are we bias? Yes.

Is Maria a dear friend Biff and Jacques have admired and have skated with for close to 3 decades? Yes.

So, when WE say, the contributions to woman’s hockey Maria has made since the early 80’s (on and off the ice) truly make her the shoulders every proceeding generations is standing on … that’s expected. But when writers from The Hockey News, ESPN and USA Hockey laud over her like we do … you know it’s true.

From being only 1 of 2 girls in organized checking hockey in Connecticut in the mid-70’s to Yale teammates labeling her “The Franchise” in the 80’s to being on the 1st USA Woman’s National Team in 1990 (winning Silver in Ottawa) Maria (who still plays) had an amazing playing career and since 2011 is having equally impressive and important career as a hockey executive.

Maria and the NHLPA are leading the way in professional sports with the first of its kind program: First Line.  A player driven mental health program that strives to teach players about topics such as depression, anxiety, substance use and self-harm.  To hear the pride and passion in Maria’s voice talking about this program lets you know as great a player and lawyer she is … she’s even a better person.

We’re calling this PART ONE as we’d love Maria to come back on soon and maybe with her mom and dad who were way ahead of the curve on inclusion and diversity in hockey and in life.

Follow Maria on Twitter @HockeyMaria

CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast

Biff on Twitter is @BiffPlaysHockey

Joe on Twitter is: @Optigrabber

Jacques on Twitter is @CarnivalPodcast and FB @JacquesLambert

Opening Song: Hartford Whaler Fight Song by Brass Bonanza!

Closing Song: Other Break by Beyond Id