| Samantha Shirley | |
| Birth Date: | 2 May 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Position: | Forward |
| Shoots: | Right |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 10 |
| Played For: | Mercyhurst Lakers EV Zug Damen Vaughan Flames Burlington Barracudas |
| Sex: | f |
| Career Start: | 2001 |
| Career End: | 2012 |
Samantha Shirley (born May 2, 1983) is a former women's ice hockey player and member of the Canada women's national inline hockey team, appearing at eight FIRS Inline Hockey World Championships.
Shirley joined the Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey program in the autumn of 2002. Tying for the team lead in the 2002–03 Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey season, Shirley captured the College Hockey America Rookie of the Year Award. Serving as team captain for the 2005–06 Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey season, gracing the ice in all 37 games. Her 11 goals ranked fourth while her 26 points ranked fifth on the Lakers. Of her 11 goals, three were game winners.[1]
Following Mercyhurst, Shirley turned professional, joining the Switzerland women's ice hockey league EV Zug Damen for their 2006–07 season. The following season, she would join the Vaughan Flames of the newly formed Canadian Women's Hockey League. Of note, she would spend the last two seasons of her CWHL career competing for the Burlington Barracudas. Shirley appeared in 121 regular season games in CWHL play.[2]
On November 18, 2011, Shirley was one of several Burlington Barracudas players (including Christina Kessler, Shannon Moulson, Ashley Stephenson, Jana Harrigan, Amanda Shaw, Annina Rajahuhta, Amanda Parkins, and Lindsay Vine) that competed in the first ever Hockey Helps the Homeless Women's Tournament. Said tournament was held at the Magna Centre in Newmarket, Ontario.[3]
Debuting with the national team in 2005, Shirley captured her first gold medal at the FIRS Inline Hockey World Championships.
Versus host Italy at the 2009 FIRS Worlds, Shirley scored a pair of goals in a 6-0 Canadian victory, clinching a semi-final berth.[4]
Earlier in the tournament, Shirley registered a goal and two assists in a convincing 13–2 rout of Australia. A Canada Day 2009 contest versus Team Finland resulted in a 15–3 victory, as Shirley scored twice.
At the 2010 FIRS Worlds, it marked Shirley's fifth consecutive appearance with the Canadian contingent.[5]
As a side note, former Mercyhurst Lakers teammates, Michelle Bonello and Jackie Jarrell, also spent time with the Inline National Team.[6]