East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s Abbie Culshaw will be swapping the ward for the ice hockey rink, and going up against opposition from national teams such as Latvia, Mexico and Spain, as she represents Great Britain in the upcoming Women's Ice Hockey World Championships. We caught up with Abbie to find out how it felt to be a part of both Team ELHT and Team GB, and her thoughts on the upcoming World Championships.
Tell us a bit about yourself – Who are you, where are you from, and what is your current role at ELHT?
I’m Abbie Culshaw, I’m 24 years old and from Darwen. I’m currently in Training to be a qualified Orthopaedic Plaster Technician within the Fracture Clinic at Royal Blackburn Technicians.
How long have you been working at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust?
I have been here for almost 5 years, but I have been in my current role in Fracture clinic for 3 years.
What inspired you to get into Ice Hockey?
I have always been very sporty, playing all sorts of different sports, but when I was 11 years old my father took me to watch a men’s game at the ice rink in Blackburn. I instantly took a liking to the fast-paced nature of the game, and how challenging it looked to play. I decided to teach myself how to ice skate and use a hockey stick and have never looked back since.
When did you start representing Team GB?
I first represented Team GB at under 18’s Junior Women when I was 14 years old. I played all the way up until the age of 18 for that age group, but have been representing GB women since 2018.
How are you feeling about the upcoming Ice Hockey World Championships?
Definitely confident. We missed out on a gold medal in our last two tournaments and only came away with silver both times, so we definitely have a gold medal mindset. Latvia will be the team to beat as they have come down from the division above, so they will be looking to go straight back up again. Spain will also be a tough opponent with them being the host nation - but hopefully we can perform well and come back with the gold.
How does it feel to be a part of Team GB?
It’s always an honour to be picked. It’s a great feeling knowing that all the hard work and commitment has paid off; especially after not being able to play during the pandemic with the tournament being cancelled for the past two years. Representing my country is the pinnacle of my career. Hopefully I can help to bring success to the team and inspire others.
Is this the first tournament you will be competing in as an ELHT employee?
No, I have been at the Trust since 2017 and since then I have represented Team GB in two previous World Championships – Slovenia in 2018 and Dumfries, Scotland in 2019. In October I competed in the Ice Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Nottingham, but unfortunately we missed out on qualification.
What has motivated you to continue playing Ice Hockey outside of work?
My determination to succeed and my love of the sport help keep me motivated. I love being on the ice and it’s a great form of stress relief away from the work environment. The feeling I get when I step onto the ice is motivation enough and to pull on the jersey for Great Britain and hear the national anthem is just something else.
Are there any skills you’ve picked up from working in your current role that you’ve taken into Ice Hockey?
Working in the Fracture and Orthopaedic Clinic you see a lot of sports injuries – I have learnt a lot about the bones, muscles and loads more in the body.
Are there any skills that you’ve picked up from playing Ice Hockey that you’ve brought to your role at ELHT?
Ice hockey is a fast sport so the ability to make quick decisions is something I’ve been able to apply to my role. Also, working as a team and supporting each other helps me in my job role.
Are there any similarities between your current role at ELHT and your role as an Ice Hockey player?
My role at ELHT and my role as a hockey player both involve working in a team environment, only one is less slippery and not on skates! Communication is also very important key factor for each role. There is no “I” in team and we are all in it together.
Who would you say is your biggest supporter?
I would say my father. He has supported me ever since I first started, he has sacrificed a lot and given up so much of his time, sleep, and money to support me all over the country and sometimes World. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for him.
What has the reaction been like within your department?
They are always so pleased for me and are so supportive. They will always watch my games if they are on the TV, and some staff even travelled down to Nottingham to watch me in the recent Olympic Qualifiers.
Have you got any advice for any ELHT staff out there that are considering taking up Ice Hockey outside of work?
Ice hockey is an amazing sport to play, I would encourage anyone to give it a go or at least go and watch a game being played.