When a young hockey player with the Capital Region Female Minor Hockey Association takes to the ice this year, she will play on an all-girl team with a more than 90 per cent chance that the game will be officiated by all-female referee crew — a dramatic improvement over prior seasons.
Girls who wanted to play hockey used to have to join integrated teams with boys, which didn’t always work out. Enrolment of girls and young women in the sport saw steady declines.
The association, which formed in 2017 and started offering programs in 2019, was created to give girls and young women the opportunity to play together on all-female teams.
“It was fragmented back then. There were four community teams in 2018, but nothing regionally under the same umbrella,” said Ian Fleetwood, CRFMHA president. “We now have 23 teams competing on the ice as the Victoria Reign this season. Players can play in recreational or competitive hockey, move up-and-down or side-to-side in the league.”
They are entering into their fifth season with over 300 players registered. They range from five to six year-olds in the U7 to 19- and 20 year-olds in the U21 program.
Their efforts have earned the association B.C. Hockey’s Minor Hockey Association of the Year award this year.
“We accept all ages, all skills from in and out of the CRD. We have players coming from Shawnigan Lakeand Mill Bay,” said Fleetwood. “We even have a number showing curiosity about the sport in the U13 and U15 categories — which is typically very late for boys — but a good place for girls to land.”
Some enjoy hanging out with others who have a common interest and when they age out (at 21 years old), return to coach or mentor the next generation.
An officiating program offers training and mentoring to produce young female referees and linespersons.
Introductory programs, such as the National Hockey League/National Hockey League Players Association’s First Shift and Hockey Canada’s Esso Fun Days help get the word out. The former is credited with introducing 194 girls to the sport, while the latter saw an additional 277 participants.
“Over the years, we’ve had 292 players register for the hockey season who are new-to-hockey,” said Fleetwood. “We have seen growth of more than 20 per cent every year since we started. Our numbers are 50 per cent higher than in 2019.”
The cost of hockey equipment can be considerable. To ensure the sport is as low-barrier as possible, the association administers a gear-lending program.
“Many kids new to the sport come in without equipment,” said Fleetwood. “For them, we have a collection of helmets, skates and possibly the smallest elbow guards you have ever seen. The program eliminates the barrier of equipment costs for parents.”
The organization even has an ice allocator, the mastermind who solves the massive weekly jigsaw puzzle of assigning ice times between 23 teams at 13 rinks in 10 facilities across the Capital Regional District.
The young players can hone their skills by joining a competitive program like Reign Spring Hockey, with six teams competing in tournaments in Vancouver, Whistler and Kelowna.
“We are all about player development. The players who want more ice time, get more ice time.”
With a growing membership base, the association undertook to hire an administrator to oversee operations and policy development this year. This was made possible by a grant from the Victoria Foundation’s Community Grant Program through a collaboration with the B.C. Amateur Sport Fund.
“To keep our house in order, we need someone steering the ship,” said Fleetwood. “Could I add that we still have space remaining in the First Shift program, which begins in October?”
The program is for girls aged six to 10 years old who have never previously enrolled in minor hockey within Canada. This program is $299, which includes being custom-fitted with brand new Bauer gear (which is theirs to keep). The program features six one-hour ice sessions. The welcome event takes place Oct. 29.
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Pedro Arrais
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