Layne Sleeth’s Journey from Hockey to Pickleball: Layne Sleeth, a rising pickleball star, is expected to keep an eye on the highly anticipated Canada vs. USA matchup at the 4 Nations Face-Off, taking place at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The 23-year-old, now making waves in professional pickleball, once pursued a different sport—hockey.
A Childhood on the Ice
Before earning a paycheck in pickleball, Sleeth grew up playing hockey in Markham, Ontario, a city just outside Toronto. With a mother who was a figure skating coach and a brother, Connor, who played college hockey at Oswego State, the sport was ingrained in her family.
“My mom was a figure skater, and then she became a figure skating and power skating coach, so I started skating basically when I started to walk. I was on the ice at 18 months maybe, so I just grew up skating,” (Layne Sleeth).
Her love for hockey deepened as she followed in her brother’s footsteps. Playing on all-boys teams from ages five to 12, she started as a defenseman before switching to forward, inspired by NHL stars Steven Stamkos and Kris Draper. However, she later found her true calling as a goaltender.
Finding Her Passion in the Net
Sleeth spent several years as a goalie for the Markham Waxers, a role that suited her well.
“I started training to be a goalie because I just liked my own space out there. I ended up playing goalie for four or five years on the Markham Waxers, and that was my favorite position. I loved being a goalie. It made me super athletic,” (Layne Sleeth).
She also enjoyed the pressure of backstopping her team.
“I always liked not letting my team down. Obviously, we needed to score goals, but it’s also one of the most important positions by not letting the opposition score. And then I also liked reacting to how fast the puck was coming at me. I really liked doing anything I could to stop the puck.”(Layne Sleeth)
Sleeth’s brother compared her style of play to legendary NHL goaltender Martin Brodeur.
“He would always tell me that I played like Martin Brodeur, kind of like flopping around and stuff,” (Layne Sleeth).
Transitioning to Pickleball
After winning the Under-12 Canadian Nationals in tennis, Sleeth decided to focus on racket sports, leaving hockey behind. However, her years on the ice continue to influence her athleticism on the pickleball court.
“I think the reason I can fly and move so well on the court is because of my skating. I can still do the splits just because I was a goalie and had to be so flexible,”. “I think a lot of how athletic I am right now comes from playing hockey.”(Layne Sleeth)
Although her busy schedule limits her time on the ice, she recently laced up her skates again.
“Not the last time I went to Canada, but the time before that I went on the ice and my dad and brother shot pucks at me. I put a bunch of goalie stuff on and it was a lot of fun,”. “I loved getting back on the ice. There’s no better feeling than being on the ice and the smell of the rink. There’s nothing that compares to that. Skating is so freeing.”(Layne Sleeth)
Staying True to Her Roots
Despite living in Florida now, Sleeth remains loyal to her Canadian roots. When asked about the 4 Nations Face-Off, she had a clear favorite.
“I’m cheering for Canada,”. “I’ll always stay Canadian.”(Layne Sleeth)
News in Brief: Layne Sleeth’s Journey from Hockey to Pickleball
Layne Sleeth, a professional pickleball player, grew up playing hockey in Markham, Ontario. A former goaltender, she credits her skating and flexibility for her success in pickleball. While she rarely gets on the ice these days, she remains a proud Canadian and will be supporting Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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