Hockey may be her first love, but Sarah Nurse also enjoys showing her authenticity and personality to her social media followers.
NOTE: This article on Nurse was first published in August 2021. The information presented in the introduction has been updated.
Sarah Nurse’s life has been quite eventful over the past 18 months.
On the ice, she won two IIHF Women’s World Championship titles and an Olympic gold medal, setting two records for most points (18) and assists (13) in only one women’s Olympic hockey tournament. Off the ice, she is very active on social media and works with her partners to produce interesting content.
“I think I’ve evolved a lot over the last few years,” says Nurse. My interests are the same, but I always aim higher and I push various limits. »
Over the past year, Nurse has signed a groundbreaking partnership with EA Sports. In August, the video game studio announced that the forward had been chosen to cover NHL 2013 with Anaheim Ducks star player Trevor Zegras.
What’s better than one cover athlete?
Your two official #NHL23 cover athletes @tzegras11 and @nursey16 ⭐️⭐️
See the full reveal tomorrow
➡️ https://t.co/QhoZN09ldb pic.twitter.com/06XIVh92ud— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 24, 2022
“I wanted to make sure that the women had been integrated into the game in an authentic way. I didn’t want to play dumb just to tick a box or do something different. EA Sports promised me that Trevor and I would be on equal footing as professional hockey athletes.
“I think overall the reaction has been very positive. »
Nurse looks forward to more constructive collaborations as her career progresses.
“I’ve made great connections over the past few years. I want to solidify these partnerships and find original ways to work together. I define my personal brand image, and I aim for various collaborations with my partners, who greatly support me in everything I do. »
Here is the original article regarding how Nurse is building her brand in hockey and in life in general.
Photo : pam_tenwestphotography
For Sarah Nurse, the day begins as one would expect from any top athlete. Hockey being her absolute priority, she begins her day with a weight training session, which she will follow up with a morning skating session.
It was then that his day stood out from that of the other athletes. The 26-year-old will take part in meetings to discuss partnerships on social media, take part in video calls, shoot videos and create new concepts.
“I think social media is an incredibly powerful tool,” she says. Everyone uses them, they are really part of our daily lives. »
Nurse has always loved creating content. At school, she would often edit video from original content she created.
“I’ve loved expressing my creativity since I was little,” she says. I find it really enjoyable. I always approach content thinking regarding what appeals to me. I want to create things that I would like to watch – I tell myself that if it bores me, the others will be bored too. »
Whether it’s sharing her day-to-day, showing off a fun fashion look, or talking regarding a subject she’s passionate regarding, Nurse isn’t shy regarding showing her personality online. Her ability to network and her interpersonal skills introduced her to the world of brand partnerships.
“When I realized there were organizations, brands, and partnerships that aligned with my values, mission, and goals, I wanted to dive in. »
mom & dad just out for groceries pic.twitter.com/pdrtL6H1gd
— Sarah Nurse (@nursey16) December 30, 2021
Although she is present on several social networks, at the moment she particularly likes TikTok, a highly creative and entertaining platform.
“I feel like TikTok is just a place to hang out and have fun,” she explains. We post whatever we want, and we can go viral. We have the opportunity to see and meet people from all over the world. For me, TikTok is THE platform right now. »
Her love for TikTok is shared by many of her teammates, including Emily Clark. If the latter, who knew Nurse when they both played for the University of Wisconsin, likes the application so much, it is because she can put her sense of humor and her personality forward in the videos she makes with Canada’s National Women’s Team.
“When you’re shooting a video, you’re having a blast,” Clark says. It’s a nice way to show that we’re not only teammates, but also friends. For the public, the possibility of seeing that we are knit almost as tightly as a family is precious. »
The friendship between Clark and Nurse is evident on their TikTok profiles. The two attackers launched a series titled On the Mini Mic with 20 and 26 to take fans behind the scenes at the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
“One day, Emily came to see me and told me she had a mini-microphone,” says Nurse. I told him that I had one at home too… and we wondered how we might use them in a fun way. »
Both Nurse and Clark are very excited to evolve the video series throughout the tournament, including involving other teammates or even the coaching staff.
“It’s just a fun way for us to share our platform,” Clark explains. And since it seems to be popular, expect more episodes! »
Through this collaborative project, Clark says she is learning a lot regarding how to build her online presence. She really admires Nurse’s confidence and willingness to put herself forward on social media.
“It really is a skill. It takes work, but you have to get started, she explains. I think Sarah is a gigantic step ahead of the rest of the hockey world. Honestly, she teaches me a lot regarding different ways to create content, how to seize the opportunities that come our way, and how to reach people better. And on the time that must be devoted to all this. »
When it comes to partnerships, Nurse says she trusts her instincts on whether to green light a new collaboration with a brand. One of her favorite partnerships is with Tim Hortons and Barbie.
“When I was presented with this project, I was so happy,” she says. They told me they were going to make a Barbie in my image! It was very cool. I never would have dreamed of it when I was little.
“It’s exceptional to be able to combine two things that I love. There have been so many times where I’ve been seen as nothing more than an athlete, where I’ve been told I can’t like pink or Barbies, because it’s not for athletes. Seeing the fusion of these two universes was really special. »
Proud to inspire girls in hockey with the help of @Barbie, @nursey16 and @pou29. Pick up a Tim Hortons Hockey Barbie doll, donut or gift card at a participating restaurant near you. pic.twitter.com/Cu5hkZbq9E
— Tim Hortons (@TimHortons) November 12, 2020
A unique Barbie doll has been made for Nurse. “She looks like me like two drops of water! “, she says. This partnership also fits perfectly with its objective of being a model for the next generation, particularly for young black female hockey players.
“Often children think they can’t do something because they can’t imagine doing it,” she explains. This is why representation is so important. You have to be able to imagine yourself doing what you want to do. If I can be the model of even one child, I will be fulfilled. I really hope that over the next few years and decades there will be more and more young black girls who decide to play hockey. »
For Nurse, one of the most exciting aspects of social media is the special connection she has with her admirers. Years ago, athletes only had traditional media, such as newspapers and television, to communicate and promote their personality. Social media gives Nurse a great opportunity to show the world who she is.
“I want people to know that, yes, I play hockey. I love hockey, but I also have other passions. »
Hockey, fashion or beauty advice, it doesn’t matter: what Nurse loves is connecting with her followers through comments and messages. For her, the main thing is to remain authentic and sincere in all her publications.
“With social media and content, my only goal is to have fun,” she says. If we find something funny, if someone on the team finds something funny, we send it to each other in our group chat. It’s always fun. »
