Alumni Digest.

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A life beyond the rink

For Kristin O’Neill, graduate study created room for another kind of ambition. Published in Alumni Digest as verified reporting from the University of Waterloo.

For Kristin O’Neill, graduate study created room for another kind of ambition.

In the September issue
A life beyond the rink
Kristin O’Neill in training and with her parents at convocation. Photo: Source: University of Waterloo; see original article for photo credits.. Source image retained for editorial review; rights clearance is still required before any broader reuse.

The context

Where the work begins

Kristin O’Neill (MASc ’24) combined elite hockey with graduate study in psychology at Waterloo. Her work on child development and language helped shape an interest in speech pathology, a field she plans to pursue after hockey.

The takeaway

What follows

The university profile traces the support that made this possible, including flexibility as her professional career moved to Montreal. She later made Canada’s 2026 Olympic team and recently signed with San Jose. Her academic life provided a separate source of purpose during an uncertain sporting career.

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