By: PWHL Toronto Media
May 4, 2024
Carly ‘CJ’ Jackson and forward Emma Maltais are two of the biggest personalities in the PWHL, with dedicated fan bases.
A native of Amherst, NS, Jackson spent their five years in the NCAA at the University of Maine before heading to the PHF. Last season, they captured the Isobel Cup as a member of the Toronto Six —and was selected as one of the Fans’ Three Stars of the Year for the second time.
Maltais, who hails from Burlington, ON, honed her skills with the Oakville Hornets and was a part of two silver medal campaigns for Canada at the U18 World Championships before heading to Ohio State University. She played there for five seasons, taking a year off between the fourth and fifth to centralize with Hockey Canada and came home with an Olympic gold medal.
Let’s get to know more about our PWHL Toronto players!
What is your favourite thing about Toronto?
Jackson: The people and the food! I’ve found family here in Toronto and I’m always exploring the food scene - there’s endless wonder and options!
Maltais: My favourite thing about Toronto is definitely the support and the fans. Personally, being from Burlington, I have a lot of ties to the Toronto area and a lot of my friends from childhood and high school now live in or near the city. Having the support of them and their families, as well as my own family, has made this experience incredible thus far. Not to mention the Toronto fans in general have welcomed us into the sports scene in Toronto with open arms which is another reason why it makes it so special.
What's your favourite memory of the season so far?
Jackson: The record-breaking attendance game at Scotiabank Arena vs Montreal! The energy in the building was undeniably extraordinary and a true testament to the power of people, the love of our game, and the pride of our league.
Maltais: I am going to go in a bit of a different direction on this one. Obviously, I could say the first ever PWHL game or the Scotiabank Arena game because those moments are so cool. I think as athletes we get competitive and into the game, so I am going to say watching the broadcast of other games has been so surreal and so much fun!
What was your favourite childhood TV show? Is there a particular episode that stands out to you?
Jackson: ‘Avatar: the Last Airbender'. I love the character development and storytelling based on character traits and connection to the elements.
Maltais: I was a big ‘Gossip Girl’ fan… Also loved watching ‘Sex in the City’ with my mom as I got older - love the episode when Carrie talks about her shoe addiction.
What is the favourite gift you've ever received and who gifted it?
Jackson: Family dinner each year. Our tradition is that you get to choose your meal to the finest detail, and we all share it together at home.
Maltais: Every Christmas my mom gifts me a surprise that is usually something that taps into my creative side - for example this year it was a picnic set with a cookbook, and the year before it was a charcuterie starter kit.
Who is your favourite roommate over your career so far and why?
Jackson: Britt Howard is up there, but I’ve gotta go with my OG Jillian Flynn who frequently laughed and chirped me when I would rip my scooter into her room. Alyson Matteau is also up there, we used to play tennis in the house and watched the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe movies (in order) during COVID with my favourite pup Miley. Cailey Hutchison was pretty great to me too, I would purposefully make lots of noise at 6:00am in the morning before goalie ice, so she would wake up and shoot on me, and she did every single time!
Maltais: This year I have been living with Maggie Connors and she has got to be one of my faves if not my fave! We joke about how we are opposite in our strengths, and we really balance each other out as roommates, and of course it’s tons of fun.