Saturday, March 2, 2002
Silver lining to Oly gold
By PAUL FRIESEN -- Winnipeg Sun
Jennifer Botterill and Sami Jo Small have a little problem. But it's a nice dilemma to have.
How to spend $20,000?
Actually, Botterill isn't even sure she can accept the money. On the other hand, Small already knows what she wants to do with hers.
You see, after skating in relative poverty for years, the two Winnipeggers are about to experience the biggest puck payday of their lives.
Members of our Olympic champion hockey team, Botterill, Small and each of their teammates are beneficiaries of a $1 million donation by Molson Canadian to the men's and women's teams that captured gold medals at Salt Lake City.
Now, the $20,000 per player that it works out to won't even cause the millionaires on the men's team to blink.
But it does represent a significant boost in income for the women, who, as carded athletes, were getting by on $1,100 per month in federal funding.
"It's more money than we essentially make in two years, all in one fell swoop," Small was saying the other day. "I don't know if my bank account can handle that. It's huge.
"It means the difference between toiling away below the poverty line, struggling to make ends meet every month, and being able to put something into savings."
The reward came as quite a surprise, too, as Molson had pledged just half that in advance, should Team Canada win it all.
But in the jubilant women's dressing room after their win over the U.S., a Molson executive shocked everyone by announcing he was so thrilled he was doubling the prize.
"It was like we won the gold medal all over again," said Small, Canada's backup Oly goalie.
Small, 25, says she'll likely put some of her money toward a down payment on a Winnipeg home.
"I have no base, no forwarding address," she said. "It would be so nice to have a home base."
She and her teammates, based in Calgary, had been training full time in the eight months leading up to the Games. Before that, she stopped pucks for the Brampton Thunder of the National Women's League.
After a quick stop in Winnipeg yesterday, Small next week leaves for Switzerland, where she's been asked to join a Div. II women's team near Zurich for its playoffs.
It's not a bad deal, either -- the team will pay her expenses and put her up with a host family, plus she gets to do some sightseeing.
For Botterill, 23, the Olympic payday has entirely different ramifications.
As a member of the Harvard University team, she has to comply with NCAA regulations which just might prevent her from being paid to play.
"I have to look into that," a cautious Botterill said from Calgary this week. "Sometimes it's a little tricky."
Botterill is hoping to benefit from rule changes that allow U.S. athletes to cash in on similar Olympic incentives.
The American women, for example, also received cash for their silver medal finish.
Whatever happens, she's still basking in the golden glow.
"It took a little while to really sink in," Botterill said, recalling the moments after the 3-2 win. "It was a moment of pure joy. It sank in a little more when I looked down the line and saw my teammates receiving their gold medals."
Botterill should make it home next week, when she expects to be bombarded with well-wishers, just like she and Small have been in Calgary.
"You can never talk about it too much," she said.
Like the money, that's a problem these two don't mind dealing with at all.
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2002 Games Women's Hockey Coverage
