Hockey Canada pushing to grow women’s hockey in Manitoba

Women’s hockey in Manitoba is taking a big stride forward as Hockey Canada has formed a committee of stakeholders to oversee a discussion paper that will guide the organizations strategic plan, with a goal to work together and win together.

The steering committee was announced at Hockey Canada’s Spring Congress here in Winnipeg and will be made up of fifteen stakeholders, with current board member and National Women’s Team alumna Gillian Apps leading the charge.

“Gillian will be leading a committee of stakeholders that will oversee the development of the national discussion paper and consultation work that will really lead to a blueprint for the future of the girl’s game here in Canada,” Jonathan Goldbloom, the chair of Hockey Canada Board of Directors.

The paper will identify six barriers that need to be fixed to move along women’s hockey in Canada, with the initial discussion taking place in July, and hopes to have it fully published by 2025.

Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer Katherine Henderson says this is essential to grow the game.

“We’re really taking a holistic look at everything from pay, to facilities, to governance, to access, to all of the things that are currently barriers for women’s and girls being able to play where they want and how much they want,” said Henderson.

This announcement comes following the conclusion of the PWHL’s remarkably successful inaugural season, which peaked interest across Canada on the development of women’s hockey.

“Women’s and girls’ hockey, it’s a very exciting time for us right now,” said Gillian Apps, Hockey Canada Board of Directors & NWT Alumna.

Apps, who is a three-time Olympic gold medallist and played 164 games for Canada’s National team says when she was growing up, the goal was to play on the National team, but with this new initiative and success of the PWHL, she believes those goals will change.

“I think right now little girls can grow up and dream about playing in a professional league, have a hockey player as a career, and also playing on the National team, so I think it’s just a great time for Women’s and girls’ hockey in our Country.”