Hockey Canada Changes Women's Team Prep After PWHL Growth

Canada's women's hockey team preparation is changing. 23 of 25 players at the recent world championship were from the new PWHL league.
By Newsroom | Sports, Hockey |

The preparation and future direction of Canada's national women's hockey program are undergoing a significant reassessment, spurred by recent performances, the emergence of new professional leagues, and identified systemic challenges. While the program has a history of success, including Olympic gold medals, recent outcomes and a growing body of analysis suggest a need for substantial change to maintain its leading position and foster broader growth within women's hockey.

Why Hockey Canada must rethink the women's program right after these Olympics — not later - 1

Programmatic Adjustments and Performance Metrics

Canada's approach to preparing its women's national team for international competition, particularly the Olympics, is being radically revised. Historically, the team engaged in practices and games against local male triple-A and Junior A teams during centralization periods. This practice appears to be changing as the landscape of women's hockey evolves. The recent performance at the women's world championship, where the Canadian team secured silver, saw a significant representation from the newly formed Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), with 23 out of 25 players hailing from the league. This trend suggests that the PWHL is becoming a primary feeder for the national team, influencing player selection and potentially altering the traditional preparation models.

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Why Hockey Canada must rethink the women's program right after these Olympics — not later - 2

The Influence of the Professional Women's Hockey League

The establishment of the PWHL has profoundly impacted the pathway for players aspiring to represent Canada. What was once a path that included NCAA seasons, now sees players earning invitations to national team camps based on their strong performances within this professional league. This shift highlights a growing structure for elite women's hockey in Canada, providing a more consistent and high-level environment for players to develop and showcase their abilities. For younger players, like Chloe Primerano, who previously had to record games to watch them later, the existence of a professional league signifies a more accessible and visible future in the sport.

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Why Hockey Canada must rethink the women's program right after these Olympics — not later - 3

Systemic Challenges and Calls for Enhanced Support

Analysis indicates that Hockey Canada faces persistent challenges within its women's and para hockey programs. Reports and discussion papers have highlighted key barriers impacting the growth and potential of women's and girls' hockey. These include:

Why Hockey Canada must rethink the women's program right after these Olympics — not later - 4

  • Equity in resources and funding: Women's para hockey, despite recent successes, receives no direct funding from Hockey Canada, a stark contrast to men's para hockey.

  • Inconsistencies in governance and program delivery: Issues have been noted regarding the standardized delivery of girls' hockey programs across regions and overarching governance structures.

  • Barriers in underserved communities: Efforts are underway to address obstacles preventing participation for girls and women in less-resourced areas.

  • Visibility and celebration: Increasing the visibility of women's and girls' hockey is identified as crucial for its advancement.

A "Rise As One" blueprint, unveiled by Hockey Canada, outlines 14 national recommendations aimed at elevating women's and girls' hockey. These recommendations address standardization, governance, funding, access to ice time, and gender equity, reflecting a comprehensive approach to long-term development.

Comparative Performance and International Standing

Recent outcomes suggest a tightening international field in women's hockey, with Canada experiencing challenges against traditional rivals like the United States. The national depth of Canada's women's team has been noted as sinking below the United States, and skill levels have reportedly fallen behind during events like the 2025 Rivalry Series. This dynamic, coupled with the PWHL's influence, points to an ongoing need for adaptation and innovation within Hockey Canada's development and high-performance strategies to maintain a competitive edge on the global stage.

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Expert Perspectives and Future Directions

Hockey Canada has acknowledged the need for change, with a "Blueprint for Building Women's and Girls' Hockey in Canada" and a "Discussion Paper on Women's and Girls' Hockey" serving as foundational documents for reform. These initiatives seek input from various stakeholders to inform future strategic plans. The stated goal is to eliminate gender-based barriers and ensure the sport reaches its full potential. The success of these reforms will likely depend on effective implementation of recommendations concerning improved funding, enhanced coaching pathways, and greater collaboration with the PWHL and other partners.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Hockey Canada changing its women's program?
Hockey Canada is changing its program because of how the new Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is growing and recent team results. They want to make sure Canada stays a top team.
Q: How is the PWHL affecting the national team?
The PWHL is now a main place where players are found for the national team. Most players on the national team in the recent world championship came from the PWHL.
Q: What are the problems in women's hockey in Canada?
There are problems with fair money and resources, especially for women's para hockey which gets no funding. There are also issues with how programs are run and making sure girls in all areas can play.
Q: What is Hockey Canada doing to fix these problems?
Hockey Canada has a plan called 'Rise As One' with 14 ideas. These ideas are about making things the same everywhere, getting more money, and making sure girls and women have the same chances to play and succeed in hockey.
Q: Is Canada's women's team still the best?
Recent games show that other countries, like the United States, are getting stronger. Canada's team depth is seen as less than the US team, so Hockey Canada needs to adapt to stay competitive.