The registration of female players, coaches, and officials in hockey has seen an increase, but it still makes up less than 20% of the overall programming, as reported by the organization.
Gillian Apps, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, expressed the need for further growth beyond the current numbers. She chairs a subcommittee dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women and girls in the sport.
Notably, female hockey registration in Canada has been on the rise, reaching 115,000 last season. Hockey Canada aims to achieve 170,000 registrations by the year 2030.
Hockey Canada’s board chair, Jonathan Goldbloom, highlighted the necessity of accommodating this growth, underscoring the importance of proactive measures.
Apps, Goldbloom, and Hockey Canada’s women and girls vice-president, Marin Hickox, presented 14 recommendations at Rogers Place ahead of a match between Canada and the United States in the Rivalry Series.
One of the key recommendations is for each provincial and territorial association to have a dedicated salaried employee focused on women and girls hockey, with the aim of reaching full coverage in the next three years.
The blueprint titled “Rise As One” also emphasizes the importance of providing equal access to ice and facilities, as well as promoting inclusivity for girls and women of all ages and skill levels to participate in hockey.
Apps, who is involved in management consulting in Toronto, emphasized the need for tangible changes and committed efforts from Hockey Canada to uplift the women’s and girls’ game.
Apps, a decorated Olympic champion, shared her personal motivation, driven by her daughters’ potential involvement in the sport and the desire to enhance their experience compared to her own.
Hockey Canada’s immediate goals include bolstering leadership and coaching roles for women, as well as amplifying the visibility of women’s hockey to attract more interest and support.
The organization also aims to increase revenue through events like the upcoming 2027 women’s world championship in Quebec City, intending to invest the proceeds into further women and girls programming.
Reflecting on the attendance at a recent Rivalry Series game in Edmonton, which drew over 3,000 spectators, Hickox expressed optimism for future turnout and emphasized the commitment to fostering community engagement and revenue growth.
Hockey Canada conducted a research survey aimed at garnering 600 responses but exceeded expectations by receiving over 6,000 responses within an 11-day period.