“We have been capable of simply discuss to our experiences inside the sport, however then additionally to about our experiences as Black girls,” Payne mentioned. “Renee was there additionally to speak to her expertise and what made her even begin Black Woman Hockey Membership. For them to see individuals in areas and to see individuals which might be doing nice issues that appear to be them, was actually the essential half, in my view.”
Hess mentioned she was impressed by Payne’s ardour for hockey and dedication to serving the group.
“Raven has an genuine want to attach children of coloration in Cleveland to the sport of ice hockey,” she mentioned. “I used to be fortunate sufficient to see Raven at motion at a sport, and he or she is all the pieces, all over the place, in that area. She is aware of everybody by title and does her finest to attach and make every particular person she encounters really feel particular and seen.
“That’s such an essential ability to have within the office but additionally in hockey areas. The place some of us would possibly really feel much less comfy than others, Raven makes certain to let every particular person she meets know that they’re essential to her and to the areas they occupy.”
Jason McCrimmon had the identical impression after watching Payne chauffer and shepherd the seven younger Cleveland gamers throughout a Michigan weekend meetup, when the children skated, toured USA Hockey services in Plymouth, Michigan, and met Blake Bolden, a Clevelander and former skilled participant who’s a scout and group and hockey improvement specialist for the Los Angeles Kings and ESPN hockey analyst.
