On Friday, March 24, the Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association (SCMHA) hosted an Esso Fun Day that brought together 21 female hockey players. The event was an opportunity for the girls who are currently playing hockey on the Sunshine Coast to meet, interact and be inspired.
With ages ranging from five to 14, there was a diverse group of skill levels on the ice – from girls who have just finished their first season of minor hockey to girls who are playing rep hockey. Girls from both SCMHA and the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) program participated.
These girls all routinely play with the boys. Parent Danielle Heguy said, “My twin 10-year-old daughters have played minor hockey since they were five years old and next year will be playing Pee Wee. They have always played on a co-ed team. It has always been a positive experience, but it was nice for them to have a chance to just play with the girls, too.”
Women’s ice hockey is one of the fastest growing female sports in the world and this is evident on the Sunshine Coast. This past season, 30 per cent of the SCMHA’s Tyke division (five and six years old) were girls.
Funding from Esso’s Fun Day Hockey Program covered all the expenses for the event and allowed for all the girls participating to take home a jersey, puck and bag of swag. On-ice the girls were led through a variety of drills before finishing up with a scrimmage. After the on-ice session they went upstairs for some off-ice team building activities and refreshments.
Organizer Christie Totten felt it was important to have some women coaches/helpers on the ice to show the girls that hockey can be a lifelong sport. Participation in all sports amongst girls drops off dramatically when girls start to enter high school. Events like this demonstrate that it is socially acceptable to participate in hockey and sport.
Girls can be found playing hockey with a variety of programs on the Sunshine Coast, with a majority playing with the SCMHA. The Sunshine Coast Women’s Hockey League welcomes girls and women over the age of 13. Several girls participate in the weekly HEROS program that uses hockey to teach life skills and empower Canada’s youth. Girls are also playing hockey at the SCRD’s drop-in hockey programs: pond hockey and stick and puck.
If the smiles on the girls’ faces when they left the ice are a true measurement of enthusiasm, there is no denying that this event was an overwhelming success.
If there is a girl in your life who is interested in playing hockey, do not hesitate to contact the SCMHA, which partners with several organizations to reduce the financial barriers to playing hockey. Information about these funding sources can be found on the SCMHA’s website. The SCMHA Gear Swap Facebook Page is a good resource for finding used equipment. The SCRD offers the One Goal Program, which is committed to helping kids and families take those first steps onto the ice. This program is a great way to learn why youth hockey is a fun, safe and confidence-building part of a child’s life. Registration in One Goal includes a kit that can be borrowed for the program and that includes all the necessary equipment to get a child playing hockey.
– Submitted by Christie Totten
