At the age of 3, when many of us were still learning to run in a straight line, Sally Butler was already well on her way to becoming the standout hockey player that she is today. The freshman forward from Etobicoke, Ontario, has scored three game-winning goals for the Princeton women’s hockey team (3-5-1 overall, 3-3-1 ECAC Hockey) to give the Tigers the advantage over Colgate, Rensselaer and Union. Last Tuesday she was recognized for her impressive contributions by being awarded the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week. Butler is currently ranked fifth in the conference for goals scored.
Butler said that her father was the one who really got her interested in hockey because he played when he was younger and loved it. When she was 3, he had her out learning to skate. Before learning hockey specifically, Butler played ringette, a sport primarily played by girls in Canada that involves using a straight stick to control a rubber ring. She credits this game with helping her learn to skate. Then, at age 7, Butler padded up and started playing hockey. “Once I started playing hockey, I fell in love with it and have played ever since,” Butler said.
An athlete who loves all sports and being part of a team, Butler participated in cross country, soccer, volleyball and tennis in high school but had to focus the majority of her time on training for hockey, her life-long favorite. “I love how fast the game is,” Butler said. Back in Canada, Butler played for the Toronto Junior Aeros for three seasons as well as the Under-18 Canadian national championship team.
Head coach Jeff Kampersal ’92 said that he first saw Butler play in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League a few years ago, for what he described as “a top-notch organization.”
Kampersal said he noticed that Butler was a “cerebral player.”
“She is strong on the puck, has a heavy shot and can make plays,” he added.
Off the ice, Kampersal said, “Sally is a very legitimate all-around person — very mature and very helpful in the community. She is at Princeton to explore and learn. She is an asset to this campus.”
When deciding where to attend college, Butler said that Princeton was the clear winner. “I decided to come to Princeton because it is a beautiful school, there is great coach and the girls on the team are awesome. I came on an official visit and they were all so welcoming. I was also interested in going to a school with superb academics, something Princeton clearly offers. Everything about it made it a great fit.”
Butler plans to study biology and take a pre-medical track. She said she is also looking forward to taking French and environmental studies courses in the future.
“My parents taught me the importance of hard work,” Butler said.
In her limited free time, when she is not doing coursework or spending time with her teammates, Butler said she enjoys giving back to the community.
“I volunteered back home teaching youth how to skate and play hockey, and I spent a summer volunteering at my local hospital,” she explained.
At Princeton, Butler said she hopes to continue her civic engagement with Princeton Disability Awareness.
“I also enjoy attending Canadian Club events,” she added. “Canadian Thanksgiving was a highlight!”
As much as Butler misses Tim Horton’s, a Canadian coffee shop, she said she misses her family and her routine at home the most. “My parents have both been very supportive of me throughout my entire career,” she said. “My mom came down one weekend, and my dad and uncle were here this past weekend to watch me play. They miss me, but I miss home too. I am looking forward to going home for Christmas and seeing my sister, who is at McGill.”
Princeton is quickly starting to feel like her new home, and the team her family.
“The team is a huge part of my life down here,” she said. “We mesh well on and off the ice, which contributes to our team chemistry. Our three seniors are great leaders all around. The other four freshmen are all great girls: smart and mature, love hockey, and competitive. We all push each other to be the best we can be, and that translates to the game.”
Like many great athletes, Butler realizes that she is not perfect. “There is always room for improvement,” she said. “I am focusing on my speed, especially the first three steps and being explosive so I can transition quickly. I also want to get stronger, which is a huge commitment off the ice.”
Ann-Marie Elvin, a junior defender on the hockey team with Butler, said, “Sally sees the ice very well, and that vision has allowed her to contribute offensively, even early in her freshman season. Moreover, she is confident with the puck on her stick, which is integral to her having registered three game-winning goals. With a strong skill set and heavy, accurate shot, it is not surprising that she has experienced this success early on, and with further coaching and acclimation to the Princeton system, she will only continue to improve for us. And that is something we’re all excited about, with all of our freshmen.”
Sally said she is excited for her next four years at Princeton, but added that she worries they will go by too quickly. “I know that the team is going to just keep getting better,” she explained. “I am going to make the most of my time here. My plan is to work hard and have a good time.”
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