Laila Edwards shakes her head knowingly, reflecting back in being the first to admit how unprepared she was at her first U.S. women鈥檚 national hockey team camp in the summer of 2022.
At 18, Edwards was in awe and awkward. She was surrounded by many of her childhood idols and, at 6-foot-1, 188 pounds, still adapting to her size following her latest growth spurt.
鈥淚 definitely had a lot to work on. I wasn鈥檛 athletic. I wasn鈥檛 super fast,鈥 Edwards said, before recalling her nerves lining up opposite Hilary Knight. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥楬oly smokes.鈥欌
It鈥檚 a reaction Edwards now evokes from others in being regarded the future face of not only the U.S. program, but women鈥檚 hockey overall.
She鈥檚 a two-time NCAA champion in helping lead Wisconsin to a , following a season in which the Badgers junior was an MVP finalist after leading the nation with 35 goals and finished third with 71 points in 41 games.
Internationally, competing in her second women鈥檚 world championship, and a year after earning MVP honors and tying for first with six goals in seven games.
Edwards鈥 emergence is as captivating as her journey as a Black player from the non-traditional hockey market of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. It鈥檚 where she was introduced to the sport by her father Robert, who grew up playing hockey but earned a Division I college scholarship through baseball.
Skating since she was three, Edwards caught the attention of an elite girls hockey development director, and by eighth grade was enrolled at the Bishop Kearney Selects academy in Rochester, New York.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really an amazing story,鈥 U.S. coach John Wroblewski said in crediting Edwards鈥 determination to develop into the player he saw glimpses of in 2022.
鈥淩ight away, her physical presence on the ice was noticeable. But back then there was, I would say almost zero hunger to go after a loose puck,鈥 he said, recalling a time Edwards was out-matched by veteran Kendall Coyne Schofield.
Her developmental jump was apparent by November 2023, when in a Rivalry Series game against Canada, Edwards became .
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to say you saw a new player, but you saw that advancement. And that鈥檚 ultimately what got her a spot on the team last April,鈥 Wroblewski said. 鈥淚t was her response to these little challenges. And for her to realize it, and be able to make adjustments like that is so impressive.鈥
In another twist, and a reflection of her all-around ability, was Edwards approaching Wroblewski last year with the suggestion of switching from forward to defense.
Wroblewski first considered it a joke before buying into the idea. Aside from Edwards鈥 size, speed and reach being ideal for the position, the switch also filled a hole on his blue line, while freeing up another spot at forward.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have a couple of opportunities to revolutionize what I think a defenseman is at the women鈥檚 international level,鈥 he said, referring to Edwards and fellow Wisconsin play-making junior Caroline Harvey. 鈥淎nd I think Laila will be somewhere, once it鈥檚 all said and done, in the realm of a Victor Hedman.鈥
Edwards wasn鈥檛 fazed when informed of Wroblewski's comparison to the do-it-all Tampa Bay Lightning player, who was the NHL鈥檚 top defenseman in 2018 and 2020 playoff MVP.
鈥淚 like that a lot,鈥 Edwards said, noting she鈥檚 followed Hedman to model her game after him.
With the U.S. off to a 2-0 start this week, Edwards has been limited to one assist, with a combined four shots over 34:34 of ice time.
Though still listed as a forward at the worlds and at Wisconsin, and unsure if she鈥檒l make the switch permanent, Edwards is intrigued by the idea.
鈥淚 like to see the ice. And so with everything being in front of me, it鈥檚 kind of like being a quarterback,鈥 she said. 鈥淥bviously, I enjoyed forward. I had some success there. But I think on this team, I鈥檓 more useful at D.鈥
Team Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin is impressed no matter what position Edwards plays.
鈥淭he way she sees the game, her shot is a threat every time, and the poise she has with the puck is impressive to see,鈥 Poulin said. 鈥淗er future is so bright.鈥
Edwards鈥 drive to succeed is fueled by a desire to pay back her parents for the sacrifices they made in backing her pursuit to play hockey. She also draws on confidence, something that wasn鈥檛 easy to maintain when living away from home and the challenges of adapting to her size. Edwards grew about five inches during her five years at Bishop Kearney.
鈥淚 had a growth spurt and I kept falling. It was awful,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t was challenging and frustrating, but it was a good lesson and put me in a good position today.鈥
Edwards, however, isn鈥檛 satisfied, appreciating how much better she can become.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big thing that keeps me going,鈥 Edwards said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e reached my ceiling yet.鈥
___
AP Women鈥檚 Hockey:
