In the middle of winter in Ottawa, a three-year-old girl ran up to a hockey table. She was desperate to be on the ice but was denied due to her age. Turning to ringette as an alternative, she spent a year learning how to skate. Before the next season — she wouldn't be turned away again.

That young girl was Britni Yammine. Ever since she was three years old, spending time with her father and running around hockey rinks, she knew where she wanted to be — on the ice. Now, all those years later, she finds herself playing with the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's hockey team.  
 
There were many bumps along the road in the 19-year-old's journey to U SPORTS, but in her eyes, she was destined to be at TMU. 

"I was taking a look at schools and there were always advertisements for [TMU] and I was like 'What is this?'. I realized it was in Toronto and I love this city," Yammine recalled. "I came on a visit here three or four years ago and I absolutely fell in love with the school." 

The forward notes her unusual background when it comes to hockey. Sporting a Lebanese lineage but growing up in a non-diverse area made her feel as if she was truly at home when walking down the streets of Toronto. 

"In my mind, I was thinking 'Okay, there are Lebanese people here,' so I immediately felt like I was in the zone," she said with a smile. 
 
Prior to being at the university, Yammine represented Lebanon at an International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) event in France in August 2021. The women's national team was first launched in December 2018 and recruited players from North America. 

Heading into the tournament, this was only their fifth event as a team. In it, they played friendlies against France to see how they measured up. 

In one of the games, Yammine scored a goal that would enter the history books. The forward potted the first-ever goal for Lebanon at an IIHF event. The puck was then sent to the Hockey Hall of Fame due to how meaningful the moment was for the Lebanese national team.  

"It's pretty cool to be the one to score that goal. I haven't had the chance to see where the puck went," said Yammine. "It was such an amazing experience." 
 

Having a blast in France and making Lebanon proud! #IIHF #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/OwpDw650Dx

— Britni Yammine (@Britni28371510) August 27, 2021

The first-year forward reflects on her time with Lebanon positively as she has seen a noticeable improvement in the program itself.

"The level we were at then compared to where we're at now is completely different. We now have former U SPORTS and NCAA players on the team and the development is only going to go forward from here," said Yammine. 

Nonetheless, the goal in France wasn't the only special one for Yammine in recent memory. Earlier this year, she scored one of two goals in TMU's homecoming event in front of a near-capacity crowd at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. 

In what was her first taste of U SPORTS hockey, the rookie took the puck from the blue line and skated into an open area near the left faceoff dot. She went bar-down and sent the packed house into an absolute frenzy.  
 

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"I can't stop watching the video sometimes," Yammine said with a laugh. "It was a humbling experience to come here and show everyone what I have to offer the team, but overall it was a memorable moment and I can't say it any other way."

She credits her journey to this point to her father, who, like most parents, did the most he could to help his child achieve their dreams. 

"My dad never came from a background of hockey, but he used to always play outside with me and my older brother," said Yammine. "He's the one who taught me how to shoot a puck." 

While growing up, Yammine played boys hockey for a long portion of her young career. One day after one of her games, a trainer walked up to her dad and said:

"Your daughter shouldn't be here."

Yammine's father, immediately taken aback and offended by the comments, responded, "What do you mean?" 

The trainer, wanting to clarify his comments, said, "Well, your daughter needs to change to girl's hockey so schools can see her."

What, at first, seemed to be an insult, turned out to be extremely helpful as the trainer simply wanted the best for the young Yammine. She ended up making the switch and went on to play for the Ottawa Junior Lady 67's for seven years — a move that ultimately led her to TMU.

A first-year criminology student, Yammine is learning to balance sport and school as a student-athlete. Her goal is a future in law and to be suited up for the courtroom instead of the ice.

At times, you can find her on the team bus deep in her books studying or completing readings for her upcoming class. Currently, there are five players on the hockey team, including Yammine, who are involved in the criminology program. 

"Recently, I was on the bus reading my books, and they said 'Oh, stop studying so loud.' I told them I was studying for my upcoming criminology midterms and some of them said they were in criminology as well, which I didn't know," said Yammine. 

"It's never really a topic of discussion in the room. I try to separate academics from hockey, but it definitely helps to know that they can help." 

Regardless if it's on the ice or in the classroom, it is clear Yammine is passionate about whatever she is doing. In each moment, you can catch her being motivated and driven as she thinks about the three-year-old kid determined to put on skates.