Go ahead, ask Shelby MacIsaac what she does in her spare time.
Well, she has to sleep, but that’s about the only thing interfering with a busy schedule
Handling multiple projects is what drives MacIssac.
The Maritime Women’s Basketball Association will find out just how talented and driven the Riverview, NB, native is.
A fourth-year University of New Brunswick student-athlete, MacIssac is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in sports studies. An elite track and field athlete with the Atlantic University Sport Reds, she is also attempting to gain her proficiency in French.
That’s it, you ask?
Nope.
She is a marketing intern for the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats and also a member of UNB’s athletic media where she covers an array of sports under the Reds’ canopy.
MacIssac also volunteers for UNB’s Menstrual Health Society and you may just find her working the front desk of a gymnasium on campus.
She accepted the director of social media and marketing for the MWBA in early October. MacIssac replaces Anna Lee LeBlanc, who is now with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves.
‘I’ve always been the kind of person who, if I want to do something, I just go for it,’ said MacIssac. ‘Some of the positions I’ve held in the past include social media and special projects coordinator for Athletics New Brunswick, student marketing coordinator for Football New Brunswick, social media coordinator for UNB’s varsity men’s basketball team, brand ambassador for a Stingray radio station, and hosting my own short-form sports radio show on my campus radio station.’
She arrives in time for the MWBA’s preparation for Season IV, set to unfold in May of 2025.
The league will return Nova Scotia’s Halifax Thunder, Halifax Hornets, Dartmouth/Cole Harbour’s Lake City 56ers and New Brunswick’s Moncton Mystics, Fredericton Freeze, Port City Fog of Saint John and Miramichi Hericanes.
A multi-sport athlete, MacIssac loves the atmosphere surrounding all things athletic.
She credited teachers and parents who volunteered their time in Riverview, allowing her to play soccer, volleyball, track and field and also six years as a competitive wrestler.
‘Wrestling was a journey made possible by my dad’s commitment in founding Riverview’s Mountain Top Wrestling Club,’ she said. ‘He devotes hundreds of hours each year to this club, which has positively impacted the lives of many kids in our community. Alongside my dad, there are countless others in Riverview who give back through sports. Their generosity has truly shaped my experience and is a key reason I’m able to compete in sports at the level I do today.’
MacIssac is one of UNB’s top threats in the track and field world, the multi-dimensional athlete amongst AUS favourites in her competition.
She used to focus on sprints, but has moved into middle distance and long hurdles. Her main events are the 800-metre and 400-metre hurdles. She competed at the Canadian Olympic trials finishing seventh in the 400-metre hurdles. She is aiming for top three by 2008.
‘Balancing my studies with practices and traveling for competitions can be demanding, but with the support of my family, friends, coaches, and teammates, I find it all very manageable,’ she said. ‘I like to keep myself busy. With all the new commitments I’ve taken on this fall, I can confidently say I’ve accomplished that.’
The 21-year-old has been competing at the national level in track and field for eight years.
Physical skillsets are obviously critical in her competitive world, but the mental approach is critical, too.
‘I typically start my warm-up over an hour before the race, doing my usual dynamics and prep runs, but equally important, if not more, is preparing my mindset,’ said MacIsaac. ‘There are three things I tell myself in the days, hours, and minutes before I race. You are fast, you’ve worked hard for this, and enjoy it. It’s hard to put into words how nerve-racking the last few moments before a race can be. When I was younger, the nerves sometimes got the best of me and affected my performance. But now, as a more experienced athlete, knowing how hard I’ve worked in preparation helps ease a lot of that anxiety. And like I said before, staying grateful for every moment is key. Having the opportunity to travel and compete in something I love makes it easier to enjoy the process. How could I not have fun knowing that?’
She plans on enjoying the MWBA experience to the fullest.
The league has built a reputation of providing a safe space for its athletes while competition and performance in the league continues to grow.
MacIssac is all in.
‘I got involved with the WMBA because it’s an organization that truly resonates with my values,’ she said. ‘The Maritimes are home to so many incredible female basketball players, and if I can help shed light on their talent, I would love to do so. The players in the MWBA put in so much hard work for free, purely for their love of the game and to improve in hopes of finding more opportunities. As an athlete myself, I can definitely relate to that level of dedication, and I have nothing but respect for their commitment.’
The MWBA continues to make news in the off-season, but the crunch period for the league is later winter through early summer, culminating with the Pro*Line Stadium Series Legacy Cup championship.
The league final will be hosted in New Brunswick in June at a site to be determined.
‘Though it can be overwhelming at times, I stay driven by my gratitude for the opportunities that come my way,’ said MacIssac as she continues to learn the MWBA personalities and leadership team on the executive. ‘With different groups of people and learning through the classes for my degree has given me so much knowledge and perspective, which is a blessing I never take for granted. As a varsity track and field athlete, I push through multiple difficult workouts each day and run hundreds of kilometres each month. It can take a toll on my physical and mental health, but even on days when I don’t feel like doing that hour-long run or hitting the weight room, I remind myself how fortunate I am to have a body that can perform at this level and a support system of teammates and coaches who want the best for me. In the end, remembering all the blessings in my life is what keeps me motivated.’
MacIssac has grown up around a plethora of sports.
Whether competing or watching – or working – she knows the career she wants.
‘My ultimate goal is to continue working in sports, whether it’s through marketing, media, or even broadcasting, drawing from my experience in radio and public speaking,’ she said. ‘A couple of months ago, I wrote an article about my coach, and something he said really resonated with me: “In life, the ultimate goal is trying to find the way in which you can give back, and for me, I knew that would be through sports.” If I can put myself in a position to give back to athletes and organizations who share a true passion for what they do, I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished that ultimate goal. And as an athlete, I also have a personal dream—to wear Team Canada on my chest one day. That would be pretty cool too.’
With her drive, we can certainly expect to see a Maple Leaf on MacIssac’s attire sooner rather than later.