BUFFALO, N.Y. - Twenty-seven years of hockey has given Shannon Szabados exactly four chances to play against women — three trips to the Olympics with Team Canada, and the upcoming season with the Beauts.

"It's fun - especially in the dressing room," she says. "Being more among my peers and playing with and against other Olympic players. Other players that have a similar background to me."

Szabados grew up in Edmonton during the Oilers glory days, becoming a goalie out of necessity.

"My dad coached me when I was younger. Anytime it was someone's turn to go in net, you'd usually rotate at that age. No one wanted to go in net. My dad being the coach, he'd say, 'you have to go in net again,'" she says.

A quarter-century later, she’s excited for a full-time job playing with and against women.

"The women's game has a little more patience, a little more puck possession," she says. "Coming over from the men's game, there's a little disadvantage for me sometimes. Making wrong decisions, but that's what makes this all fun. It's all part of the learning process for me."

Szabados has put together a ton of accomplishments in her career; she was the first woman to play in multiple junior and pro leagues, and her trophy case contains a silver medal and two golds. Her teammates show respect in different ways.

"[Taylor] Accursi kept her first practice puck that she scored on me, and got me to sign it," she remembers.

Szabados hopes for one more milestone in her trailblazing career — helping the Beauts win the NWHL's Isobel Cup.