The Whistler Winterhawks girls' hockey team is known for being active in its community, holding an annual food drive to help those in need. Now, it is hoping to engage with Whistlerites in a different way: by encouraging more young ladies to hit the ice.
On May 28 and June 4, the Winterhawks will be holding open ice times from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Meadow Park Sports Centre (MPSC). Girls of all ages and skill levels are invited to lace up their skates and try out the sport of hockey.
The Whistler Minor Hockey Association (WMHA) has already seen substantial growth of female participation in recent times. Before COVID-19, there were just seven girls among its players, a number that had grown to 50 last year during a successful campaign.
According to hockey mom Jodi Carter, the team is trying to build further momentum by attracting more girls for the 2023-24 season.
"Just looking to increase awareness in our community around female sports. It's so important," she said.
Winterhawks players get to do more than just score goals and run food drives. Earlier in February, the U13 team journeyed to Surrey to participate in Wickfest: a star-studded celebration of women's hockey led by four-time Olympic gold medallist Hayley Wickenheiser.
For more information, visit the WMHA website.
