Annalise Wong Katie Chan interview on Ottawa Charge camp

The Annalise Wong Katie Chan interview covers Wong’s upcoming Ottawa Charge training camp, the confidence she has had to build since captaining the University of British Columbia hockey team, and why she tells young athletes to bet on themselves. Wong also explained how she resets after mistakes and stays motivated through a long season.

What did Annalise Wong say about Ottawa Charge training camp and her hockey start?

Annalise Wong said she is going to Ottawa Charge training camp in November and feels more excited than nervous about the opportunity. The former University of British Columbia captain wants to see what the camp is like and enjoy it. Her path into hockey began with watching her two older brothers play.

Getting ready for Ottawa Charge camp

Wong has trained with professional players ahead of camp. Seeing their level has shown her how much work she still wants to do to compete alongside them. She described that comparison as a challenge to her confidence, even as she looks forward to finding out what happens in Ottawa.

Growing up in Richmond

Raised in Richmond, British Columbia, Wong started playing hockey at five after watching her brothers. Their father had played beer-league hockey and got her brothers into the sport. Wong said wanting to be like them made hockey an easy choice when she was young.

She played for the seafare monahawk association in boys’ hockey before moving to the Richmond Ravens when hitting began in grade eight. In grade 12, she joined the Fraser Valley Rush, though she said COVID-19 severely limited that season.

How does Annalise Wong prepare mentally for games at the University of British Columbia?

Annalise Wong prepares for games by following a routine and narrowing her attention to the next shift rather than the crowd, the result or responsibilities outside hockey. At the University of British Columbia, she also used the act of entering the dressing room as a mental boundary between the rink and everything else.

A game-day routine built around rest

Her game day typically begins with movement, such as a skate or stretching. During her years as a student, she might then attend classes or do light schoolwork before a pregame meal and a nap. She tries not to spend much time on her phone on game days and avoids following other games too closely.

Wong said the team treated walking into the dressing room as a cue to leave outside concerns behind. That mattered during exam season, when school could otherwise occupy her thoughts. Before the puck drops, she tries to be present for the shift in front of her rather than think ahead to the next one or the final outcome.

Treating a championship game like any other game

Big games can bring nerves days in advance. Wong’s approach is to acknowledge that nervousness or excitement as normal, then keep game day as familiar as possible. The sport and the team’s systems have not fundamentally changed, she said, even if the stakes feel bigger. Treating the occasion like another game helps her stay present.

How did Annalise Wong learn to handle mistakes in hockey?

Annalise Wong learned to handle mistakes by treating each shift as finished once she leaves the ice. In her first years at the University of British Columbia, fear of making an error sometimes made her reluctant to play in demanding situations. Now she resets, looks toward the next shift and reconnects with teammates.

She recalled worrying about being the player responsible for a mistake on a power play, a penalty kill or late in a game. She also feared being scratched afterward. Over time, she came to see mistakes as part of playing and learning rather than a reason to avoid responsibility.

After a bad pass or a shift that falls short, Wong reminds herself she cannot get that moment back. Her response is to clear it from her mind and try to play the next shift better. Giving a teammate a pat or a tap helps her stay engaged with the group instead of getting stuck in her own thoughts.

How does Annalise Wong rebuild confidence in hockey?

Annalise Wong rebuilds confidence by acknowledging when it wavers, seeking support and remembering why she earned her place on a team. Training with professional players has made the gap between her current level and theirs feel clear. She said believing in herself remains her responsibility, even when that feels difficult.

Wong said she can struggle to stay out of her own head when she is not playing well. Rather than keep that feeling to herself, she sees value in discussing it with other people. During a season, that could mean speaking with coaches about how she feels or reviewing video to find a way forward.

She also returns to the fact that coaches chose her for a reason: other people saw something in her that warranted the opportunity. That reminder does not remove the work ahead, but it helps her resist letting comparison with more experienced players decide what she thinks she can do.

How does Annalise Wong stay motivated during hockey season?

Annalise Wong stays motivated during hockey season by making room for life away from the rink and remembering that she is grateful to play. At the University of British Columbia, dark November mornings, classes and midterms could make it harder to show up with energy. Walks, friends and cooking helped her return refreshed.

September and October felt easier to Wong, even when days were long enough to include both hockey and class. By November, she said, the darkness and academic workload could affect her excitement about going to the rink. She noticed that a loss of enthusiasm had affected her performance in the past.

Taking time for a long walk or making a meal to share with friends gave her a break from both hockey and school. In her senior season, she also thought about the uncertainty of what would come next. Because she did not know whether she would still be playing the following year, she tried to appreciate each day she could go to the rink.

What advice does Annalise Wong give young hockey players?

Annalise Wong advises young athletes to work hard, stay consistent and trust their own goals through difficult periods. She expects setbacks and discouraging comments to be part of pursuing something important. Her message is not that belief replaces effort, but that athletes need both effort and belief in themselves.

Betting on yourself

Wong said the advice applies beyond sport. A young person’s goals may be in hockey or elsewhere in life, but pursuing them will take work and perseverance when progress feels difficult. She put her central advice plainly:

just work hard and bet on yourself

Pregame choices and locker-room answers

Wong’s shorter answers offered a few details of her routine. Eggs and toast are a common pregame meal, though she also mentioned chicken and rice. She usually has coffee around noon because drinking it later can interfere with her sleep. Her order is a grande Pike from Starbucks, or she makes black coffee at home.

For music, she recalled listening to Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away” during her senior year and named Cody Johnson’s “Diamond in My Pocket” as the last song she had heard. She prefers white stick tape, considers sock tape overrated despite having started to use it at the University of British Columbia, and picked former teammate Ashton Thorpe as a funny presence in the locker room.