For the Love of the Game

Having already been inducted into the Guinness World Records as the oldest female hockey player, it would be easy for 82-year-old Linda Sinrod to finally call it a career and hang up her skates for good. However, that isn't who Sinrod is.

"Linda is a pretty quiet and reserved person," said Stephanie Ciulla, who has known and played with Sinrod for 17 years. "That hides a woman with drive and ambition and a positive stubbornness that has allowed her to excel in other areas of her life, as well as keep her on the ice. She is a genuinely nice person, and she just loves the game as we all do. For many, she is an inspiration."

Despite holding a world record for being the oldest female player, Sinrod actually got a late start playing the sport.

It wasn't until the age of 35 that she played hockey for the first time. Sinrod was a figure skater in college, but she hadn't skated since graduating.

"One day I went to a frozen pond to skate at Northern Virginia College, and a person approached me and asked if I wanted to play hockey," said Sinrod. "It sounded like fun, so I joined the first women's ice hockey team in the D.C. area in their first year. Everyone else was at least 10 years younger."

Sinrod played on that team for 10 years before taking a break from the sport to return to college and earn a second degree in computer science. That hiatus lasted 22 years until she got the itch to lace up her skates again.

"I missed playing and saw that a former teammate was coaching the Prince William Wildcats," said Sinrod. "So, I decided to join the team, even though she warned me that I was too old. Everyone else on the team was at least 20 years younger."

This is when Ciulla and Sinrod formally met for the first time, with Ciulla serving as commissioner of that league.

"Honestly, I didn't know how old she was and just looked at her as another player in the league," said Ciulla. "We have many players of varying skill levels, so her age never played a role."

Sinrod played for the Wildcats for nearly a decade before joining the Capitals Women's Hockey League (CWHL), which Ciulla also plays in.

Playing in the CWHL is where Sinrod officially set the world record as the oldest female hockey player at the age of 80 years and 305 days.

"It felt great," said Sinrod. "I've never been a great player and certainly aren't one now, but at least I have achieved something."

While she definitely achieved something, Sinrod is selling herself short with that evaluation, according to Ciulla.

"I never saw Linda play when she was younger, but I can safely say that she knows the game very well," said Ciulla. "She may not have the speed or agility of the younger players, but she always knows where to be, and that works in her favor and in the favor of teammates. Knowledge of the game can be the most important tool in any player's bag of skills."

Sinrod has always enjoyed playing hockey because she finds it fun and views it as great exercise.

"I am inspired to continue playing hockey for the same reasons," she said. "Also, I now want to break my own record and see how long I can continue to play."

This dedication to and love of the sport is not lost on those around Sinrod.

"I believe she is well known for being the most senior player in the league," said Ciulla. "Players recognize that and respect her a great deal. I also think in the back of all of our minds we all hope we can still play at that age and that there will be a league where we can still play and be accepted."

For Sinrod, Ciulla and other players, the chance to do that comes as a result of the CWHL's existence and support from the Capitals. The league has been around for 17 years, and in 2021, the Capitals began supporting it and led to its rebranding.

As a Capitals-supported league, the CWHL plays its games at MedStar Capitals Iceplex (MCI) and is a part of the organization's ALL CAPS ALL HER platform, which provides access to hockey and elevates the game for women and girls in the D.C. area.

"I think it is great that the Capitals support a women's league," said Sinrod.

Ciulla added, "With the recognition and support of women's hockey in the area, the Capitals organization has played a big role in moving us forward."

Throughout the league's history, MCI Director of Hockey Operations Brad Surdam has supported expansion and providing the opportunity for more women to play. He led the charge in making it possible for the league to expand from four teams to six this past season.

"Brad Surdam was a major reason why we were able to expand," said Ciulla. "I know he pushed to get us more ice, so we could get more players into the league."

She added, "The feedback I have gotten from the players has been fantastic. Mostly, they are so happy to have more variety in the teams they play."

To learn more about ALL CAPS ALL HER, visit https://www.capsyouthhockey.com/allcapsallher.