Episode #61
PWHL, NIL and the Growth of Women's Ice Hockey Teddi-Jann Covell
In this episode of the Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast, host Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable Marketing talks with Teddi-Jann Covell about her lifelong connection to women's sports, art, leadership and advocacy. Before Title IX was fully implemented, Teddi-Jann knew that playing college sports was her dream. Raised in a sports-minded family, she was inspired by her father, a two-sport varsity athlete at the University of Maine during the 1950s. He declined an opportunity to play minor-league baseball to become a coach and teacher, and his contributions to the game later earned him induction into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. Teddi-Jann carried that athletic tradition to Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, where she pursued her passion for art while playing both field hockey and ice hockey. During the episode, Teddi-Jann shares stories from the early years of women’s college hockey and discusses how Cornell invested in its women’s ice hockey program. She and Greg explore how opportunities for female athletes have evolved, the continued growth of women’s hockey and what may be ahead for women’s sports. Teddi-Jann also discusses her 30-year career as an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration. Her leadership roles included serving as vice president of Professional Women Controllers and as the local BGR ATCT president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Now 70, Teddi-Jann continues to play ice hockey at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine. She also paints plein air and advocates for women’s health through Nueva, a startup global wellness company. In the episode, Greg and Teddi-Jann also highlight University of Maine women’s ice hockey player and Pliable athlete Lulu Rucinski. Lulu has used her platform to promote and raise support for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine through her “I Love Orono” campaign. Greg and Teddi-Jann discuss plans for a future collaboration with Lulu that combines their shared passion for hockey, creativity and community impact. Episode Highlights Teddi-Jann’s experience pursuing college athletics before Title IX was fully implemented Growing up in a family shaped by baseball, coaching and the University of Maine Playing women’s ice hockey at Cornell University Cornell’s early investment in its women’s ice hockey program The history and continued growth of women’s college hockey and the PWHL Teddi-Jann’s career as an artist and her passion for plein-air painting NIL for women's ice hockey players Lulu Rucinski’s work supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine Plans for a future collaboration involving Teddi-Jann, Lulu and Pliable What the future may hold for women’s hockey and women’s sports About the Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast Hosted by Greg Glynn, founder and CEO of Pliable Marketing, the Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast features conversations with athletes, sports leaders and industry professionals who are building meaningful brands and creating an impact through sports. The podcast explores athlete branding, name, image and likeness opportunities, community involvement, career development and the changing sports landscape.
