Hockey Canada Launches New Strategy to Expand Women’s and Girls’ Hockey
Strong Growth, But Gaps Remain
EDMONTON — Hockey Canada has introduced a new national blueprint aimed at strengthening participation and development in women’s and girls’ hockey across the country.
Although the number of female players, coaches, and officials continues to grow, Hockey Canada says women and girls still make up less than 20 per cent of its total programs. As a result, the organization believes stronger action is necessary to support long-term growth.
“We don’t want to simply accept growth and carry on as usual,” said Gillian Apps, a three-time Olympic gold medalist who led the committee behind the initiative. “If we want real progress, we must set higher goals and push the sport further.”
Ambitious Targets for the Future
Female hockey registration in Canada has increased steadily and reached 115,000 players last season. However, Hockey Canada has set a new target of 170,000 registered female players by 2030.
According to Hockey Canada board chair Jonathan Goldbloom, maintaining current systems will not be enough to meet future demand.
“If we make no changes, we will not have the capacity to handle continued growth,” Goldbloom said on Saturday.
Clear Recommendations for Change
To address these challenges, Hockey Canada presented 14 recommendations designed to improve access, development, and leadership opportunities for women and girls. Officials revealed the plan at Rogers Place ahead of the final game of the Rivalry Series between Canada and the United States.
Apps was joined by Goldbloom and Hockey Canada’s vice-president of women and girls hockey, Marin Hickox, during the announcement. Together, they emphasized the need for coordinated efforts at all levels of the sport.
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