Kaitlin Willoughby Skates A Career Balancing Act

For many athletes, the offseason is the time to relax and prepare for the upcoming season.

Not for Kaitlin Willoughby.

The Toronto Sceptres forward, who appeared in 20 games last season, has more on her plate compared to the average athlete. Alongside her commitments as a professional hockey player, she is also a part-time operational nurse.

She began nursing five years ago, moving to Calgary following her graduation from the University of Saskatchewan and got a full-time nursing job there. At the time she was also playing for the Calgary Inferno from the now-defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL.)

“I’d work a night shift and then go to a practice right after,” she said. “It was not a glamorous lifestyle.”

At the time she would take vacation time when needed to play CWHL games, which was not always easy.

“It’s kind of taking a sacrifice on my career because you’re paying into a pension and all that good stuff to plan for your future,” said Willoughby.

This is a reality for many women in professional sport, as many take on a second career during the offseason for a multitude of reasons. According to UN Women, despite the fact that women athletes are making “rapid gains,” there are still hurdles to overcome. UN Women states that “women athletes continue to struggle with fewer professional opportunities, a massive pay gap, fewer sponsorships, less airtime and unequal playing conditions.”

Willoughby says that it is a “secure feeling” to work as a nurse in the offseason.

“It’s fun to just take a break from [hockey] and then when I go back to nursing, I’m actually excited,” said Willoughby.

Once she joined the Sceptres last season, she had to become a casual nurse, which she says allowed her to take a leave for up to six months. She says she was able to get some leeway last year with the beginning of the hockey season, but still has to work every six months to keep her position.

Willoughby acknowledges that it was a “very busy” offseason for herself.

“My life is very hectic,” she said with a smile.

After Toronto’s elimination, she went back to Calgary and took a month off for herself to recover, which Willoughby said is not very easy for herself to do.

“I think athletes are the worst at taking a rest day and actually resting because we feel like we need to be doing something, so that’s something I’m not very good at,” said Willoughby. “I’m like ‘oh, I should still do a little workout,’ and I’m like ‘no, rest your body.’”

She then found a position in Minnesota to be a travel nurse, which according to the Canadian Health Care Agency “carries out short and medium term assignments that require travel.” The Canadian Health Care Agency also states that these nurses “work in hospitals, clinics and other institutions that are faced with unfilled vacancies and patients in need of care.”

What led her to finding the position was because she had to drive from Calgary to Toronto for the upcoming season, and found it would be best to spend some time developing there.

“I’m like ‘why don’t just go there, work for a bit and skate there,’” said Willoughby. “A lot of really trying to take my game to the next level with trainers and working out, and then also a little bit of work in there.”

Despite all the turnover, Willoughby is ready to stay put in Toronto for the upcoming season.

“It feels good to just be in Toronto now, and solely focused on my training”

Willoughby says that what helps her navigate all the change she goes through is “being OK with uncertainty.”

“It’s that uncomfortable feeling because you’re like ‘OK, I might make this team, this might be an amazing year for me, I might not make it,’ so I’ve learned to really learn to just sit with it and be like ‘you know what? It’s OK.’ Either outcome, I’m going to be OK,” said Willoughby.