Millie Sirum creates chances on the ice each time she plays with the NCAA’s Providence College, and she’s creating arts, crafts, and providing safe relaxation for her teammates off the ice.
Providence College Graduate transfer Millie Sirum found a way to bring her teammates together off the ice while, at the same time, relieving team stress. On the ice she creates plays, off the ice she creates with her arts and crafts.
Sirum began her 5th year at Providence College this season after spending her four undergraduate years playing ice hockey at Holy Cross.
Millie Sirum began playing girls ice hockey at eight years old in her hometown of Oslo, Norway. She quickly transitioned to playing with the boys team at 14 years old to get more experience.
“That helped my development a lot. Obviously boys hockey and girls hockey are very different in terms of the pace and body contact” she said.
Sirum quickly fell in love with the sport and decided to attend boarding school in Connecticut to improve her skills.
“My dream was always playing college hockey,” she said, “being able to combine hockey with my education is very important as well.”
After several years playing with the Kent School, Sirum fulfilled her dream in 2020 committing to College of Holy Cross, to play her next four years of ice hockey in the NCAA.
Sirum knew she had a love for hockey, but while at Holy Cross discovered another passion too.
“Growing up, I thought ‘I don’t care about school as much as I care about hockey, hockey is my dream,’” said Sirum. “Then I honestly started loving academics when being at Holy Cross.”
She enjoyed her studies so much Sirum decided to pursue a 5th year at Providence College to get her MBA.
“It kind of worked out for me, because before COVID, I didn’t think I’d have that opportunity. Getting my MBA was also very important to me, along with being part of a really good hockey program too.”
Sirum has played for several different teams in her career: Team Norway, the Kent School, Holy Cross and now Providence College.
She has learned what she values within a team, “Team culture is a big thing for me. Being happy in a place, and being surrounded by people who care about you, who are good human beings is the most important.”
Sirum has found a good team connection off and on the ice at Providence College. She even brought with her a hobby that the team quickly picked up on: arts and crafts.
The hobby began in Oslo for Sirum, “There are lot of local cafes where you sit down on a Sunday and have some fresh coffee and pastries. I went with a friend who had a box of bracelet making materials.”
Sirum went and bought a set of materials for bracelet making after that. She decided to bring her kit to China for a tournament she played in with Team Norway.
“All my teammates were constantly coming in and out of my hotel room, and began making bracelets for everyone,” she said.
She then brought this tradition to Providence College when she moved in this summer. As a part of her Masters Degree program, Sirum was at college early over the summer along with the incoming first years on the team.
Despite the age difference, she found a way to bring them together. Sirum invited her teammates over during the summer to make bracelets with her.
“My (Providence) teammates came over to the house all the time. I’m five years older than some of these girls, but they were like, ‘Wow, Millie, this is super relaxing and calming,’” she said.
A bond started to form, and more and more the younger players would visit Sirum for bracelet making and stress relief activities.
Sirum says it didn’t end with bracelet making, “I have drawing books as well, and it’s just very, calming, listening to some music, chatting with your teammates, and it’s a nice way to kind of connect with them.”
With the current season starting, Sirum says it is “a lot of go, go, go, all the time.” She has been able to provide relaxation for her teammates, while also bringing them closer together.
“Having that downtime and spending that time trying to relax your body as well, it’s good for the soul. I sound old, but I’m getting a little old,” she said.
As for Sirum’s future, she has no plans to stop skating yet.
“I got a lot of years in me still. I gotta have a good season here first, and then hopefully I can enter the PWHL draft. I’ve always thought that I’ll be playing until my body kind of stops letting me and I’m not there yet.”