Defining the Standard for Female Athletes

The female game continues to grow, and that growth is showing up at every level of hockey. With the rise of the PWHL, young female athletes now have more visibility, more opportunity, and more examples of what high-level women’s hockey can look like than ever before.

As the game continues to evolve, the expectations around development should evolve with it.

Elite female hockey requires a tremendous amount of commitment from athletes and their families. Long drives, travel, training, and packed schedules become a normal part of pursuing higher levels of the game, and that kind of investment reflects how seriously these athletes approach their development.

Because of that, female athletes should expect opportunities that match the level of commitment they are already bringing themselves. They should expect experienced coaching, strong development models, and programs that are built to help them continue progressing as players.

For years, we have believed female athletes deserve the same level of structure, detail, and long-term development that high-level athletes in any area of the game should receive. That belief has continued to shape how we approach female development and the standards we hold ourselves to as coaches. Over the last decade, we have offered tiered female Spring teams, female-only development opportunities and advanced performance programs for elite female athletes. We have also welcomed dozens of female athletes into co-ed teams and programs over the years, providing a place for females to play that matches with their ability and aspirations. Notable female athletes, like Ava Wood and Jenna MacLean, have come through our programs and gone on to achieve success at the international level.

We are fortunate to have coaches who have played and coached at high levels of hockey, and that experience carries over into how they teach, communicate, and work with athletes every day. Understanding the game matters, but understanding how to teach it in a way that helps players continue to grow is just as important.

The growth of the women’s game has created more opportunities for female athletes than ever before, but opportunity alone should not be the standard. Female athletes are just as capable, just as driven, and just as deserving of high-level coaching, structure, and development that helps them reach their full potential.

As expectations for the women’s game continue to rise, the standard surrounding female athletes should continue rising with it.

Special thanks to Art Wood, Ava Wood, Laura Barr, Rebekah Connors, Amy Nelson and Christa Mullaly for contributing to this article.