What are you seeing firsthand that you just mentioned? Yeah,

good question.

I mean, people just coming up to me saying like, I saw you play hockey or you're the reason, like a lot of people have come to me and say, you're the reason I started hockey.

Or it's like, I started playing because of you or I didn't think people like that look like me played.

And then I saw you.

So I think it's just been things like that, which is really cool.

And even people who don't play hockey, they're like, oh, you've inspired me to do what I love.

If not, when you first realized you were going to make it to the national team and play in the Olympics, what was that conversation like when you first made the roster?

[laughs]

And I just remember talking with USA, and at first they were like, "No, let's just stick with forward." I'm like, "Okay.

Yeah, that's fine." And then, um, they called me again and like, "Actually, let's revisit this." And so we talked about it, and it was like, "All right.

Let's try it.

Let's see." And I still haven't even had a full year at D yet at the high level, so I'm excited for the progress I can make in that area.

But I don't, I don't know if my forward days are over yet.

Um, just for yourself then, in terms of your, um, uh, you know, your, your, your career in three years, then, where do you kind of see yourself in three years in terms of positionally? Do you think in three years maybe you'll l- you'll pick a position? Or like you said, you know, you're not done with forward, that in three years maybe you can be this, like, this two-way monster? We have no idea where Layla is on the ice at all times.

Yeah, I mean, that's, that's a great question.

[laughs]

No, I'm kidding.

[laughs] Um, it's funny 'cause the timing of it, so my first worlds were in 2024, and I got MVP as a forward, and it was like not too long after that I had the conversation with the USA staff about defense.

And it was like, okay, this team is very heavy up front, and there's a lot...

Like, we had good D too, of course, but it was like number-wise where I'd fit in, where I'd impact the team, where I played the most.

And at first we just tabled the conversation, like, "No, you're staying a forward." I was like, "Okay." And then they called me in September, like, "You know what? Actually, let's, let's try this out." So I'm like, okay.

The hell with it.

[laughs]

What has it been like to have your family here in Milan cheering for you?

Yes, it's been so awesome.

And, and this has been one of my favorite things to talk about, too, because, you know, everyone's talking about how, you know, those guys donated, and it was really nice.

But um, I think it just goes to show, it's like, everyone knows them as really good athletes, and I think only a, a handful of people get to know how good they are as people, and I think it's just really cool.

And I can't thank them enough, you know, just for helping out, because my family means the world to me.

And so to have them here, just that sense of love and support, it allows me to play my best hockey.

... maybe those early practices, um, that extra work that you put in to get here? 'Cause I'm sure that it wasn't just practice time.

Right, right.