International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to recognize some of the amazing and successful women we have right here in our community. One of those women is Dr. Chelsea McQuade, Assistant Therapist and Chiropractor for the Peterborough Petes.
Established in 1956, the Petes are one of the most storied junior hockey franchises in the world, having produced more NHL players than any other franchise in history.
Names like Bob Gainey, Steve Yzerman, Larry Murphy and even Wayne Gretzky come to people’s minds when talking about some of the greats that have played here. A new name is quickly emerging within the organization though, Dr. Chelsea McQuade.
Dr. McQuade is the team’s Assistant Therapist and Chiropractor and one of the first females ever to work on the Petes bench during games. She is also one of only a handful of women in the 20 team Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to hold a bench position, something she is very proud of and doesn’t take for granted.
Helping people is something the Port Hope native has always been interested in and something she always wanted to do. At a young age, before her soccer games in Pickering, she would venture to the drug store with her mother where she would pick up items to make small medical kits that she would bring with her so that she could fix up her teammates on the sidelines.
Fast forward several years and she found herself continuing to chase her dream, studying at the renowned Canadian Memorial Chiropractor College (CMCC), a school that is known for it’s long hours and grueling schedule.
While in school the CMCC Summa Cum Laude honours graduate landed a role with the Petes that eventually led to a job with the team, a position she credits to General Manager Mike Oke, Head Trainer Brian Miller and Athletic Therapist (and the first woman to hold a bench position with the Petes) Natasha Lagacé.
When the Petes are in their off-season Dr. McQuade’s schedule doesn’t slow down, she just switches gears, spending her summers working with the Brooklin Lacrosse Club of the MSL, the same league that the Peterborough Lakers play in …and the same team that Lagacé just happens to work for.
Dr. Chelsea McQuade is an inspiration for not only young girls who look up to her, but for anyone out there who aspires to follow their dreams and reach their goals; she is the true definition of ‘if you believe it, you can achieve it’.
Click below to hear the full conversation with Dr. McQuade
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
