Grace Elliott on a stellar season with UBC Thunderbirds women’s hockey team

Grace Elliott capped off her fourth season with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds women’s hockey team in spectacular fashion,  taking home the 2025 Brodrick Trophy for the U SPORTS women’s hockey player of the year after leading the league in points, goals, and plus-minus.

The White Rock, B.C. native’s love for the sport began at a young age, growing up in an athletic household where competition was second nature. Her father, who helped run a small rink in Surrey, B.C., had played hockey, basketball, and baseball, while her mother had a background in ringette. It was on that family rink where Elliott first developed her skating and puck-handling skills, setting the foundation for a future in elite hockey.

“I grew up skating and playing hockey there,” said Elliott. 

“I also played basketball and softball for most of my life. It was tough juggling all three, but hockey just pulled me in the most. I had the most fun and loved the culture around the sport.”

As the Thunderbirds wrapped up a great season, Elliott had played a crucial role in the team’s success, helping them secure a lengthy 14-game winning streak. Despite the streak, she remained mindful of staying focused and not getting complacent.

“It was really important not to get complacent,” said Elliott. 

“Sometimes it was easy when we were always winning, but we set small goals for ourselves and focused on maintaining trust in each other. Everyone on the team had their role, and we made sure to keep fulfilling them without getting ahead of ourselves.”

Elliott’s individual success was driven by her work ethic, but she always emphasized the collective effort. Despite her standout statistics, she remained grounded, giving credit to her teammates.

“I didn’t focus too much on my stats because it could become consuming,” she explained. 

“The team goals were more important. I couldn’t have achieved anything without my teammates. Being able to put up points definitely boosted my confidence, but it was always about the team first.”

Away from the rink, Elliott is focused on her psychology degree, a field she finds both challenging and rewarding. She believes understanding how people think not only enhances her academic journey but also makes her a better teammate.

“I always liked taking care of people, and psychology just made sense,” she said. 

“Learning how people think was eye-opening, and it definitely helped in sports too. Sometimes teammates might be going through things you don’t know about, and having that awareness helped build stronger bonds.”

Elliott finds balance between her athletic commitments and academic life by taking advantage of Vancouver’s scenic beauty. Whenever she needs a break, she goes outdoors, often for walks near the mountains or the beach.

“Going for walks always left me feeling refreshed,” said Elliott.

“Sometimes I just needed to get outside after being hunched over my computer for too long. It was beautiful here, especially by the ocean. It helped clear my head and gave me a fresh perspective.”

As she heads into the last year of her university career, Elliott is considering her options in professional hockey. Initially unsure about pursuing a pro career, she became increasingly interested as the visibility and opportunities in women’s hockey grew.

“When I first got to UBC, I didn’t think about playing professionally,” said Elliott. 

“But now that there are more opportunities, I definitely want to explore my options, whether it’s playing in Europe or in the PWHL. Women’s hockey has grown so much, and it’s amazing to see little girls now have role models to look up to.”

Elliott had the chance to see her former UBC teammate, Rylind MacKinnon play for the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres in Vancouver, an experience that made a lasting impression.

“It was awesome to watch her play, and the support was incredible,” she said. 

“The arena was packed. It’s crazy to think that women’s hockey can draw that kind of crowd now. Seeing it first hand made me realize how far the game has come.”

Throughout her career, Elliott had drawn strength from her family’s support, particularly her father’s influence. She often trained with him during the off-season, honing her skills in the same rink where she first learned to skate.

“This past summer, I worked a lot with my dad, and it really helped me coming into the season,” she said. 

“He always pushed me to improve, and it made a big difference in how confident I felt on the ice.”

Reflecting on her time at UBC so far, Elliott feels grateful for her experiences. She cherishes the friendships and the lessons learned through the highs and lows of university sport.

Her advice to younger athletes is simple: “Trust the process and don’t overthink every little thing that happens. Sometimes it feels like things aren’t going your way, but if you keep working and stay confident, your moment will come.”