Goaltender Small named general manager of CWHL’s Toronto Furies
Sami Jo Small will be managing the Toronto Furies next season instead of playing goal for them.
Small was announced Monday as the Furies’ new general manager.
The 42-year-old goaltender from Winnipeg has not only played in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League since its inception over a decade ago, but was integral in the league’s formation as its vice-chair back in 2007.
Small won an Olympic gold medal in 2002 as well as five world championships playing for Canada between 1999 and 2007. She and the Furies won the Clarkson Cup in 2014.
She says it would be a conflict of interest to play for the Furies and manage them at the same time, as she is now in charge of coaching decisions. “I’m not going to be Reggie Dunlop,” Small joked in reference to Paul Newman’s player-coach character in “Slapshot.”
“I wouldn’t be upset if, for instance, one of my goalies was hurt and couldn’t make it to practice. I would for sure step in, but by no means would I be stepping into games.”
But Small is not hanging up her goalie equipment.
“I’ll be 72 and I’ll still be playing,” she said.
The seven-team CWHL operates like the MLS in that the teams are owned by the league, so Small was hired by the league and replaced Nicole Latreille.
Small will decide if her coaches’ contracts will be renewed at the end of June, including the future of head coach Jeff Flanagan.
The Furies finished outside the playoffs this past season with a 9-19 record, including a shootout and overtime loss.
CWHL coaches and general managers are paid a stipend. Players were paid between $2,000 and $10,000 for the first time this past season, so Small has a salary cap to manage.
She’s no stranger to the work of running an operation. She also chaired the CWHL’s sponsorship committee in the league’s early days drumming up corporate money.
Small sees fundraising as a major part of her new post with the Furies.
“My vision is to build the organization to be amongst the best women’s professional sport organizations in the world,” Small said.
Small hopes she can provide women with an environment that keeps them in hockey longer.
“A lot of women within hockey tend to quit before I think they should,” Small explained. “They’re pushed out of the game because of family commitments or work commitments.”
She also has plans for Furies sniper Natalie Spooner.
“I want to make her a superstar in Toronto,” Small said. “She not only deserves that, but she is that.”