A life in love with hockey
As a young girl who wasn’t allowed to play, a trailblazing university athlete and a successful physician, Dr. Laura Bennion has always had a deep connection to Canada’s game
It was the late 1970s in Vancouver and a young Laura Bennion wanted to play minor hockey.
Her mom Glenda took her to the local arena to sign up, waiting in line for their turn to fill out the paperwork. When it was their turn, the Bennions were told seven-year-old Laura wouldn’t be allowed to play the game she loved.
“I was quite a little tomboy so I didn’t really look out of place there,” recalls Laura. “I got to the front of the line and my mom started to give my name and everything. The person at the desk looked at me and then looked at my mom and said, ‘No girls allowed. There’s no girls allowed in this league.’ And then she said, ‘Girls don’t play hockey.’”
That experience may have driven little Laura away from the game. But the story didn’t end there. As Laura and her mom stepped aside to figure out what to do next, a local minor hockey coach, Keith Morrison, tapped Glenda on the shoulder and offered young Laura a spot on his team.
Morrison was a longtime supporter of minor hockey in the community and a player himself, helping grow a group of UBC friends into the Vancouver Flames Oldtimers. Morrison, who passed away in January, was inducted into the Canadian Adult Recreational Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 1998. Bennion has been thinking about Morrison a lot these days, as the first person to give her a chance in hockey, something that led her to a lifetime love of the game.
“(Morrison) said, ‘We’ll figure something out; we’ll put Larry on her helmet and she can play on my team,’” says Bennion. “His kid was the same age as me and we had gone to hockey school together so he had seen me play, not that that really matters when you’re seven. He did that and I played hockey as Larry for the whole first year and it sort of started to leak out at the end that I wasn’t actually Larry. That’s how I got my start.”
As a young child, Bennion was seemingly one of those kids just destined to be in and around hockey for her whole life. Her mother Glenda, who continues to live in the Vancouver area, says young Laura would spend hours on their concrete deck in the backyard screaming ‘She shoots, she scores.’
“She had a love of hockey from the time she was a toddler. It did not come from me,” laughs Glenda. “Her father died when she was five months old of a brain tumour but he a was a rabid hockey fan. His team was the Toronto Maple Leafs. He never got a chance to teach her that, but I’ve always presumed it’s genetic, honestly. When they say nature versus nurture, I think it was just in her genes. She loved hockey.”
Today, Bennion is 50 and is a well-known and reputable doctor in Calgary, splitting her time between her family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, and sports medicine. Her husband, Ian Auld, is the team doctor for the Calgary Flames and the couple have two children – 15-year-old Evan, who plays hockey at Edge School for Athletes, and 11-year-old Carys, who is an avid volleyball and softball player.
Bennion has never lost her love for hockey and it continues to be a major part of her life. After that first year of playing minor hockey as Larry, she joined a girls’ league in the Lower Mainland, where she spent the rest of her minor hockey career. As a teenager, Bennion developed a keen interest in basketball (seeing more opportunities in that sport than hockey) and played varsity basketball in high school. She went on to play two years for the women’s basketball team at the University of British Columbia, thinking then her hockey career may be over.
Soon, though…
“I started to run into problems with my shoulder dislocating and it became clear that basketball – where obviously your arms are over your head a lot – was vulnerable for me and not a great sport for me and hockey was actually better,” says Bennion. “I heard there were some varsity teams in the eastern U.S., so I reached out to the coach of the Northeastern team in Boston and I went there for my third, fourth and fifth years of my undergrad (journalism). I quite fortunately found myself in a really good hockey program.”
Bennion would return to British Columbia after those three years to study medicine at UBC. She was instrumental in starting the women’s hockey team at the university in 1994, gathering players from across the campus and eventually helping it grow to a post-secondary power. Bennion coached the UBC team initially and then, due to the fact she still had university eligibility to play, spent three seasons (1996-99) with the team on the ice.
Bennion, who played forward and defence during her college/university career, also tried out for Canada’s National Women’s Team on two occasions, including in the mid-90s in the lead-up to the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Her work in starting the UBC women’s team was so critical that Bennion was inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
She continues to be active. She and Ian are avid cyclists, spending much of the spring and summer months on their road and mountain bikes. Hockey is still at the forefront of Bennion’s life, as well; she is a doctor for Canada’s National Women’s Team and worked with the Calgary Inferno during its Canadian Women’s Hockey League lifespan, dating back to its start as Team Alberta.
She shares a family practice with a partner in Calgary, practices sports medicine with Group 23, and continues to deliver babies. Bennion loves the diversity in the work she does.
“I think I’m a pretty even-keeled type of person. I don’t get flustered by much. That helps,” she says when asked how she succeeds. “Probably being involved in all of those realms has helped with that. I’m interested in a bunch of different things. I’m not an all-eggs-in-one-basket kind of person. I really thrive on the diversity.
“I never used to see many parallels between sports medicine and pregnancy but, actually, there are tons. Sports medicine people are trying to use their bodies in a way that challenges them and sometimes it doesn’t always go right and pregnancy, obviously, is one of the biggest challenges, physically, that a woman will go through in her life. I feel like those two things there are some natural comparisons.”
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Czechia
Monday, April 14 | 1 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (APRIL 14)
After a loss against the United States yesterday, Canada’s National Women's Team returns to the ice on Monday to face host Czechia in the final game of the preliminary round at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Last Game
Always the marquee matchup of the preliminary round, Canada dropped a 2-1 decision to the United States for its first loss of the tournament. The Americans held a 2-0 lead after two periods before Laura Stacey scored on a breakaway to cut the lead in half. Ann-Renée Desbiens made 26 saves in goal.
The Czechs dropped their second game in Group A on Saturday, losing 4-2 to Finland. Tereza Vanisova gave Czechia a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes, but Finland responded with four unanswered goals before Kristyna Kaltounkova scored with just over two minutes remaining. Klara Peslarova made 24 saves.
Last Meeting
Canada and Czechia last met in the 2024 Women’s Worlds semifinals, with the Canadians blanking the Czechs 4-0 on their way to a 13th gold medal. Blayre Turnbull kicked off the scoring 4:32 into the game, with Jocelyne Larocque giving Canada a 2-0 lead after the first period. Emily Clark and Sarah Fillier rounded out the scoring, while Ann-Renée Desbiens made nine saves for the shutout.
What to Watch
Line chemistry in short international tournaments is important, and the Canadians have the benefit of utilizing the Montréal Victoire’s top line on an international stage. Jenn Gardiner, Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey are the top three scorers for the first-place Victoire, combining for31 goals and 59 points. In three games in Ceske Budejovice, all three are top-10 in scoring and have combined for five goals and 14 points with a combined +17. Poulin has a goal and five assists, putting her atop the tournament scoring list and within shouting distance of a trio of all-time scoring records (more on that below).
The Czechs have some young talent emerging this season. Natalie Mlynkova—Chloe Primerano’s teammate at the University of Minnesota—notched 16 goals and 34 points in her fifth NCAA season, while 18-year-old Adela Sapovalivova recorded 15 goals and 36 points with MoDo in the Swedish women’s league. Kristyna Kaltounkova is making her debut on the senior team after becoming the first Czech player to be named a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award and leads the Czechs in the tournament with two goals.
Milestone Watch
Poulin has a few major marks in her sights. She needs five more goals to surpass Jayna Hefford as Canada’s all-time leading goal scorer at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, and three more assists and four more points to take over from Hayley Wickenheiser atop those categories.
In goal, Desbiens is even with Swiss netminder Florence Schelling for the most in Women’s Worlds history (21).
And keep an eye on a few more games-played milestones on the blue line; Erin Ambrose is set to reach 100 appearances in her Team Canada career when she takes the ice today, while Jocelyne Larocque is four shy of becoming the first defender to reach 200 games.
A Look Back
These two teams have a relatively new history at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. They have only met three times— once in Brampton in 2023 and twice at last year’s championship.
All-time record: Canada leads 3-0-0 Canada goals: 14 Czechia goals: 1
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. United States
Sunday, April 13 | 1 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (APRIL 13)
Always the marquee matchup of the preliminary round, Canada’s National Women's Team is back in action Sunday at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship to take on the United States in a first-place showdown in Group A.
Last Game
Canada made it two wins – and two shutouts – in as many games with a 4-0 blanking of Switzerland on Friday. Marie-Philip Poulin had three assists, Micah Zandee-Hart scored her first Team Canada goal in her 69th international game and the Canadians got three goals in 2:32 midway through the second period – from Natalie Spooner, Laura Stacey and Daryl Watts (also her first international marker) – to pull away. Ann-Renée Desbiens’ return from injury was a success as she turned aside all 17 shots she faced for the shutout.
The Americans also improved to 2-0 on Friday, shutting out host Czechia by a 4-0 score. Abbey Murphy scored in each of the first two periods before veterans Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter added insurance in the third for the U.S., which outshot the Czechs 48-10. Megan Keller added three assists in the win, while Gwyneth Philips recorded the shutout.
Last Meeting
The forever rivals closed out the Rivalry Series in Summerside, P.E.I., on Feb. 8, with the Canadians claiming the series for the third year in a row thanks to a 3-1 victory in the deciding Game 5. Jenn Gardiner netted her first international goal as the game-winner with less than seven minutes to go for the Canadians, who also got goals from Brianne Jenner and Stacey.
What to Watch
While young guns like Gardiner, Watts and Chloe Primerano have been making their presences felt through the first two games, the Canadians continue to go as Poulin goes. As the captain approaches 200 career games (she’s three away from becoming just the fourth player to reach the milestone), she shows no signs of slowing down. Poulin has a goal and four assists through the first two games, putting her atop the tournament scoring list and within shouting distance of a trio of all-time scoring records (more on that below). The 34-year-old has found tremendous chemistry with Victoire de Montréal teammates Gardiner and Stacey; they have combined for four goals and 11 points in two games and are a combined +14.
The Americans have gone with a scoring-by-committee approach in their first two games, getting at least three points from five different players (Carpenter, Keller, Knight, Murphy, Pannek). Knight continues to play at a high level in her 15th Women’s Worlds; the U.S. captain is already the all-time leader in goals (67) and points (114) in tournament history, and she’s two back of the assists record (she’s at 47), although teammate Kendall Coyne Schofield also sits at 47 and Poulin is up to 46, so any or all of the three should likely pass the legendary Hayley Wickenheiser and her 49 assists before the end of the gold medal is awarded in Ceske Budejovice.
Milestone Watch
As mentioned above, Poulin has a few major marks in her sights. She needs five more goals to surpass Jayna Hefford as Canada’s all-time leading goal scorer at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, and four more assists and five more points to take over from Wickenheiser atop those categories.
In goal, Desbiens’ win brought her even with Swiss netminder Florence Schelling for the most in Women’s Worlds history (21). While the starter against the U.S. won’t be known until closer to puck drop, Desbiens is 19-8 with a 2.28 GAA and .908 save percentage all-time against the Americans.
And keep an eye on a few more games-played milestones on the blue line; Erin Ambrose is two appearances away from 100 in her Team Canada career, while Jocelyne Larocque is five shy of becoming the first defender to reach 200 games.
A Look Back
It’s Chapter 191 in the story of Canada vs. United States, with the Canadians in search of win No. 109 in the rivalry.
This is the first-ever meeting in Czechia, making it the 11th different country to have hosted the North American rivals (in order of countries played in: Canada, Finland, United States, Japan, Sweden, Italy, China, Russia, South Korea, Denmark and Czechia).
All-time record: Canada leads 108-81-1 (25-21 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 529 United States goals: 465
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Switzerland
Friday, April 11 | 9 a.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWITZERLAND (APRIL 11)
Less than 18 hours after Canada’s National Women's Team opened with a win at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, the team is back on the ice to face Switzerland as the preliminary round continues at Budvar Arena.
Last Game
Canada got off to a strong start with a 5-0 shutout of Finland on Thursday. Jennifer Gardiner led the Canadians with two goals and an assist in her first Women’s Worlds game. Ella Shelton, Marie-Philip Poulin and Emma Maltais also scored and Kristen Campbell made 24 saves to record the shutout in her tournament debut.
Switzerland opened Wednesday with a 3-0 loss to the host Czechs. The Swiss threw 26 shots on Klara Peslarova and had six power-play opportunities, but were unable to convert. Andrea Brändli made 26 saves.
Last Meeting
The Canadians faced Switzerland in the preliminary round at last year’s Women’s Worlds, earning a 3-0 shutout win. Emma Maltais got Canada on the board 70 seconds into the game and Sarah Nurse doubled the lead just over six minutes later. Sarah Fillier added an empty-netter, while Emerance Maschmeyer made 17 saves for the shutout.
What to Watch
When Maschmeyer and Ann-Renée Desbiens both sustained lower-body injuries in March, it provided a chance for Campbell and Ève Gascon to shine on the international stage. In 19 games with the Toronto Sceptres this season, Campbell has a 2.23 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Gascon just finished her sophomore year at University of Minnesota Duluth, posting a 1.83 GAA and.942 save percentage while earning First Team All-American honours.
Switzerland’s offence is powered by three-time Olympians Lara Stalder and Alina Müller. Stalder, the Swiss captain, has 27 goals and 50 points in 22 games with EV Zug in the Women’s League, while Müller is in her second PWHL season, registering seven goals and 19 points with the Boston Fleet. Brändli had a strong performance at last year’s Women’s Worlds in Utica, facing 173 shots in five games and recording a .921 save percentage.
Milestone Watch
Jenner is just one goal away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Stacey is three points from 50 in her career. Marie-Philip Poulin has the potential to break several Canadian records at this Women’s Worlds: the captain is within striking distance of the records for career goals (needs five), assists (needs seven) and points (needs eight) by a Canadian at the tournament. She’s also four games from 200 in her Team Canada career, while stalwart defender Jocelyne Larocque needs six appearances to become the first blue-liner to get to 200.
A Look Back
Surprisingly, Canada and Switzerland have only faced off 20 times since 1997, but they have been frequent foes at the last four Women’s Worlds.
They last faced off in Europe in the semifinals of the 2022 tournament in Denmark, with the Canadians earning a 8-1 win. Poulin (2-1—3) and Fillier (1-2—3) each recorded three-point performances.
All-time record: Canada leads 20-0-0 Canada goals: 155 Switzerland goals: 9
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Finland
Thursday, April 10 | 1 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. FINLAND (APRIL 10)
Here we go! Canada’s National Women's Team opens its quest for a 14th gold medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship against Finland on Thursday at Budvar Arena.
Last Meeting
The Canadians faced Finland in its tournament opener at last year’s Women’s Worlds, coming away with a 4-1 win over the Finns. Brianne Jenner opened the scoring in the first period, and Emma Maltais and Julia Gosling scored in the second before Ella Shelton added a final insurance goal late in the third. Ann-Renée Desbiens made 32 saves between the pipes.
Last Game
Canada captured the Rivalry Series for the third-consecutive season with a 3-1 victory over the United States in Summerside, P.E.I., in early February. Jenner opened the scoring in the second period before the Americans tied it up just over three minutes into the third. Jennifer Gardiner’s first goal with Canada’s National Women’s Team was the game-winner and Laura Stacey added an empty-net goal to secure the win—and the series—for the Canadians.
Finland opened its tournament Wednesday with a 7-1 loss to the United States. Petra Nieminen scored the Finns’ sole goal on a power play in the second period, with Elisa Holopainen and Nelli Laitinen picking up assists. Sanni Ahola made 17 saves.
What to Watch
Canada has several new faces that will make their Women’s Worlds debuts in Czechia. Daryl Watts and Gardiner have joined the forward corps after strong seasons in the PWHL. Watts sits third overall in the league with 26 points (11-15—26) with the Toronto Sceptres, while Gardiner has recorded 16 points (4-12—16) with the Montreal Victoire. On the blue line, Sophie Jaques makes her debut after sitting fourth in the PWHL in assists with the Minnesota Frost. After a strong showing in November’s Rivalry Series games, Chloe Primerano will become the second-youngest defender to play for Canada at Women’s Worlds roster, six months older than Cheryl Pounder in 1994. Primerano recorded five goals and 31 points with the University of Minnesota this season and captained Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to gold at U18 Women’s Worlds in January. In between the pipes, Ève Gascon made her first Women’s Worlds roster after posting a .942 save percentage and 1.83 goals-against average with the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Notably, Finnish captain Jenni Hiirikoski, the all-time games leader at Women’s Worlds (96), will not compete due to illness. The Finns have a lot of young talent on their roster with seven players currently attending NCAA schools, including Primerano’s teammates Nelli Laitinen and Krista Parkkonen. Susanna Tapani has been a key contributor on the PWHL’s Boston Fleet this season, registering 11 goals and 18 points, and Ronja Savolainen has made an impact during her first season with the Ottawa Charge, earning 11 points (2-9—11).
Milestone Watch
Jenner is just one goal away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Stacey is four points from 50 in her career. Marie-Philip Poulin has the potential to break several Canadian records at this Women’s Worlds: the captain is within striking distance of the records for career goals (needs six), assists (needs eight) and points (needs 10) by a Canadian at the tournament. She’s also five games from 200 in her Team Canada career, while stalwart defender Jocelyne Larocque needs seven appearances to become the first blue-liner to get to 200.
A Look Back
Canada has typically had the upper hand over Finland historically, having lost just twice and tying once in 90 meetings, but the Finns are still tough competition.
This is the first time the teams will meet in Czechia. Canada and Finland last faced off across the pond at the 2022 Women’s Worlds in Denmark, with the Canadians earning a 4-1 win. Sarah Nurse, Poulin and Meaghan Mikkelson scored in that matchup, with Blayre Turnbull adding an empty-netter in the final minutes.
All-time record: Canada leads 87-2-1 Canada goals: 464 Finland goals: 115
Hannah Miller to miss 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship
Hockey Canada names Julia Gosling as replacement on Team Canada’s roster
CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Hannah Miller (North Vancouver, BC/Toronto, PWHL) has been deemed ineligible by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to compete for Canada at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, April 9-20 in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.
The IIHF stipulates a two-year timeline from when Miller last played overseas in order for her to be eligible to play for Canada.
“We are extremely disappointed to learn that Hannah is not able to compete for Canada at the upcoming world championship,” said general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda QC/Toronto, PWHL). “We remained optimistic and believed she had met all the conditions outlined by the IIHF to represent her country, including the two-year timeline around the transfer portal. Hannah has worked hard this season, earned a spot on our roster and we will look forward to future opportunities for her to wear the Maple Leaf.”
Miller, who was set to make her IIHF Women’s World Championship debut, was one of 25 players named to Canada’s National Team roster earlier this month. She is in her second season with the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres and is currently fourth in league scoring with 24 points (10-14—24) in 26 games.
Julia Gosling (London, ON/Toronto, PWHL) will be the replacement for Miller. Gosling made her Women’s Worlds debut last year and helped Canada win its 13th gold medal in Utica, New York.
Canada opens the tournament against Finland on April 10. It will face Switzerland on April 11 and the United States on April 13 before closing out the preliminary round on April 14 against Czechia.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will carry extensive game coverage throughout the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, airing all of Canada’s games. TSN will broadcast all 29 games from Budvar Arena. RDS will provide coverage of all Team Canada games, in addition to two quarterfinals and two semifinals, as well as the medal games.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
National Women’s Team named for 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship
25 athletes to chase 14th Women’s Worlds gold medal starting April 9 in Czechia
CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 25 players named to Canada’s National Women’s Team roster who will look for a fourth gold medal in five years at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, April 9-20 in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.
Three goaltenders, eight defence and 14 forwards were selected by general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL), head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL) and Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting. Assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ) and Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/Syracuse University, AHA), along with goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL), also provided input.
“We are excited about the team we have selected for Women’s Worlds, a team that is built on exceptional talent, character and commitment,” said Ryan. “We are focused on our preparation and ultimately winning a gold medal. We are ready for the challenge and proud to represent our country.”
The roster includes 18 players who helped Canada capture its 13th Women’s Worlds gold medal in Utica, New York, in 2024 (Ambrose, Campbell, Clark, Desbiens, Fast, Fillier, Gosling, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Nurse, O’Neill, Poulin, Serdachny, Shelton, Spooner, Stacey, Turnbull).
Five players will be making their IIHF Women’s World Championship debut (Gardiner, Gascon, Jaques, Primerano, Watts).
“With less than a year to go until the 2026 Olympics, this is our final opportunity to face a number of opponents and compete at the highest level as part of our preparation,” said Kingsbury. “We are excited about the team we have assembled to contend for a gold medal while also looking long-term on the road to Milan.”
The 10-team tournament features the defending champion Canadians in Group A with host Czechia, Finland, Switzerland and the United States, while Group B includes Germany, Hungary, Japan, Norway and Sweden.
Canada will travel to Tabor, Czechia, for its pre-tournament camp ahead of Women’s Worlds. It opens the tournament against Finland on April 10 and will face Switzerland on April 11 and the United States on April 13 before closing out the preliminary round on April 14 against Czechia.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will carry extensive game coverage throughout the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, airing all of Canada’s games. TSN will broadcast all 29 games from Budvar Arena. RDS will provide coverage of all Team Canada games, in addition to two quarterfinals and two semifinals, as well as the medal games.
For more information from the International Ice Hockey Federation, please visit the official tournament site HERE.
In 23 appearances at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, Canada has captured 13 gold medals (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2024), in addition to nine silver (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023) and one bronze (2019).
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
Leaning into a legacy
The U18 Girls Prep team at Shawnigan Lake School tapped into a piece of Canadian hockey history to help celebrate the successes and strength of women in sport
The stage that women and girls have in hockey today has been paved by many talented and dedicated women.
That history is not lost on the coaches and players on the U18 Girls Prep team at Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island.
It’s also a history they use to build their culture of mentorship, inclusivity and giving back to community so the next generation can achieve greater strides in the future.
“We have tried to teach the girls that there are other opportunities and there is more to life than hockey,” says Carly Haggard, head coach of the U18 team. “Hockey is a huge part of why they come here and what we do. We celebrate hockey, but there is a lot more that we try and teach them so that they are ready and successful at the next level – whether that’s university or whatever they want to strive for.”
Haggard helped start the girls’ program at Shawnigan almost 10 years ago and has overseen its growth on and off the ice. She is also a teacher and lives in one of the boarding houses on campus.
“I think one of the reasons why I love coaching at Shawnigan is the kids who come here,” she says. “They understand that there’s so much more than hockey. You build deeper connections, and you become family.”
Every year, the team holds a special game night with a theme, and donations are collected for the cause. Previous events included Lunar New Year, World Cancer Day and Breast Cancer Month.
This year, with women’s hockey in the spotlight in March, the team honoured women in sport and women in hockey. For their Senior Night game against the Greater Vancouver Comets, the players donned replica pink Team Canada jerseys from the 1990 IIHF World Women’s Championship. Donations raised went to the Hockey Canada Foundation’s Hockey is Hers initiative.
“It just felt right to celebrate … women in sport and honouring the generations of women that have paved the way to make this team have the opportunities they have now,” says Haggard. “We did the pink replica Team Canada jersey, and they were cool and special, and the girls loved them. They felt so proud putting them on and understanding the significance of what they were.”
For alternate captain Dawson Benson, one of the team’s seniors, wearing that jersey was a highlight of the year and an honour.
“Our special game nights are so much bigger than just the game,” she says. “It felt like we were part of something important and it was such a surreal experience. We took so much pride in playing for females in sport and women in hockey.”
Those iconic pink jerseys were symbolic because it was the first official Women’s Worlds, a groundbreaking moment in the history of the game, and Team Canada won gold on home ice in Ottawa. Wearing the jersey meant something different to every player.
“We wanted them to understand the women and female hockey players who paved the way – not only for them, but for other little girls that are coming up to play hockey,” says Lexxi Smith, the team’s assistant coach. “Every player has experienced women empowerment a little differently, but for them to be able to celebrate this event was special and they were excited.”
Haggard and Smith have been the driving force of building the game in the area by including local girls’ hockey teams and associations to share their knowledge and passion of the game.
“I’ve been at Shawnigan for five years now and one of the first things I noticed, and it’s been continuous through my time here, is the culture that this program has and recognizing that hockey is bigger than just us,” says Smith. “Being on Vancouver Island, female hockey is continuously growing, but having support from a program like Shawnigan in a small community is needed.”
Every year, the program hosts local girls from the Kerry Park Minor Hockey Association to join the team through mentorship opportunities. Their guests come to campus and can join the team on the ice as well as take part in the pre-game and post-game activities.
“The girls are constantly looking for ways to connect with the community and share their passion for the game with the younger generation,” says Smith. “The girls love it when we host our mentorship games. They adore when the girls come into the locker room and can share what it means to play hockey at Shawnigan.”
For Benson, it means so much to be able to share her passion through these mentorship games.
“It is so special to be able to have the opportunity to inspire younger girls,” she says. “Growing up, I played with boys most of my life, so I think it’s important for the next generation of girls to play against other girls and have female mentors. Seeing how much passion those girls have and their dreams they want to achieve makes you feel lucky to provide an opportunity to help them.”
Building a legacy for a better future of young hockey players is important to Haggard.
“We talk a lot about the impact they have without even knowing it,” the coach says. “We talk a lot about them being role models and the impact they have on the next generation, so those girls don’t have the same struggle. We can pave the way for future generations.”
That philosophy has been built into the culture at Shawnigan that the players live every day.
“These past years at Shawnigan have been an honour. It is something I hold close to my heart,” says Benson. “It is such a privilege to play here and wear this crest. It is a program that prides itself on player development, and not just on the ice. They care about every player. I am happy with what I am leaving behind. It is amazing that other players will come in and continue with the Shawnigan legacy.”
7 Questions with Vanessa Stratton
The officiating coach and long-time linesperson talks about her favourite moments on the ice and the thrill she gets working with young officials
One of Canada’s most decorated linespersons during her on-ice career, Vanessa Stratton has smoothly transitioned to her latest role as an officiating coach, one of just three dozen around the world.
The Toronto native’s career included 10 national championships, seven world championships, U SPORTS championships and multiple Clarkson Cup Final games in the now-defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League. She is also the only woman on the IIHF Officiating Committee and works as the female high performance officiating lead with BC Hockey.
HockeyCanada.ca got the chance to sit down with Stratton and ask about her journey, her favourite moments and her advice for young officials just getting into the game.
HC: You transitioned from competitive figure skating to hockey when you were 13. Who inspired you to become an official?
VS: I was fortunate enough to grow up on skates. From the time we could walk, my sister and I were enrolled in figure skating. Both of us took to it and ended up competing at various levels. When we moved to Windsor, I went on the ice for a practice, got off the ice and said to my parents that I was ready to try something different and wanted to play hockey.
Switching to hockey led to my journey in officiating. A lot of my friends were getting part-time jobs at different places. My dad suggested I try officiating. It was a way to make some cash, but also make my own schedule. I enrolled in a certification course, got connected to the local association and referee-in-chief and off to the races we were.
The cool part is my dad had a bit of a vested interest. He played in the OHL and NCAA and then had a similar pathway where it was suggested he try officiating. He climbed the ranks quickly, officiating in the OHL and IHL, and did a quick stint in the NHL for exhibition games. It’s fun to really look back and see how our journeys were different streams, yet similar pathways and I give him a ton of credit for promoting officiating to me as it wasn’t something I had considered at the time.
HC: What is the most memorable game you officiated?
VS: Anything at the international level is always such a privilege, but nothing beats a Canada-U.S. game. I was afforded the opportunity to do a few. Kamloops hosted the 4 Nations Cup in 2014 and Women’s Worlds in 2016, and I was selected to do both events. I was skating the gold medal game in 2014, Canada vs. United States. It was a sold-out crowd – at the time, women’s hockey was starting to really gain some traction and it was such an electric atmosphere.
Why this one was so memorable is that it just recently created a full-circle moment. Prior to some games, we have a group of young officials come on the ice with us for opening laps and the anthems. That game we had four young officials on with us. Fast forward to when I was living out in British Columbia and took on the role with BC Hockey, I found out that two of those officials were on the ice that day with me. Years later, it made that game even more special.
HC: What is your favourite part about your role as an officiating coach?
VS: Here’s the really unique thing about both officiating and coaching – the team that you work with is very rarely the same. In both roles, you have to adapt how you work together, communicate with one another and leverage each other’s strengths in short-term competition. It’s more prominent in my role as an officiating coach and it’s something I appreciate the challenge of.
Secondly, seeing the officials you work with gain success and achieve their goals is something that is just so special. And lastly, the people really make the experience. I get to work with such a variety of people in officiating – whether it be provincially, nationally or internationally – and many of them have become lifelong friends. Gabrielle Ariano-Lortie and I went to almost every one of our international events together, we were roommates at almost all of them and skated a good chunk of games together. Now we get to be officiating coaches together and she has become one of my very good friends.
HC: What do you look for in a young official that can help them get to the next level?
VS: Of course, the technical skills – skating is at the forefront of those skills. Agility and mobility, along with strength and speed, are all part of the toolbox. Then, how do they react in a game – positioning and movement, how they implement and manage the rules in game. Communication is also key – how an official communicates with coaches, players and their own teammates is a predominant trait that is of growing importance for an official who is striving to do higher levels of hockey.
With the evolution of the sport as a whole, one of the aspects in officiating that our different leadership groups are really focusing on is looking for the “whole official.” We want the best officials and those that have potential to grow, and they need to have the technical skills and abilities, but they also need to be well-rounded people and bring the off-ice skills that are necessary to being good teammates and good humans in our group as well.
HC: We’ve seen how women’s hockey has grown in recent years; what has that meant for officials and providing more opportunities to showcase their skills?
VS: International women’s hockey is thriving. Professional women’s leagues in places such as Switzerland and Sweden are continuing to grow and provide opportunities for officials overseas. Specifically in North America, the PWHL has brought a focused energy that has not existed through the previous leagues and a true professional mentality towards women’s hockey in the two largest markets in the world.
However, there is still a gap when it comes to the opportunities, specifically for female officials. We don’t need to provide equal opportunities, but we should be equitable. And while there has been a phenomenal number of opportunities and attention on the players, coaches and administrators within the league, the unpopular opinion is that there have not been equitable opportunities for officials. And this is something I would love to challenge and urge the various stakeholders and decision-makers to change. Let’s close the gap across all facets of the game and truly become equitable and provide the opportunities to women in the entire game.
HC: In 2023, you became one of four people—and the only woman—elected to the IIHF Officiating Committee. What does it mean to be able to have an impact over the development of hockey officials around the world?
VS: Well, when you read that, it hits a bit on how impactful my role can be. The truth is, I felt a bit of imposter syndrome when I first started. First of all, I’m thankful for the opportunity and the trust – both from the IIHF and Hockey Canada, who supported the nomination. To be able to be a part of the development of hockey officials at a global level is incredible.
At the IIHF, there is currently a shift happening – how we facilitate and implement officiating across licensing and selections, developing and growing member national associations (MNAs) along with coaching and education are key facets that are evolving and changing. My role in that process and to be fortunate to put my own stamp on pieces of a change is such a unique opportunity. It’s exciting to be a part of such a large-scale change that will benefit and impact so many across the world and hopefully be in place for the foreseeable future.
HC: What advice do you have for young women who are beginning their officiating journey?
VS: I have a few pieces of advice…
- Develop a strong knowledge of the game – Never stop learning.
- Physical fitness is important – Fitness will help you perform better and boost your confidence.
- Seek out mentorship – Find experienced officials to support you and help guide your journey.
- Learn from mistakes – We all make them; it’s part of learning and growing.
- Believe in yourself – Confidence is key.
- Advocate for yourself – Speak up when necessary; it’s important to voice concerns or seek opportunities.
- Be resilient – Especially for young officials; you will encounter challenges and still see biases, so it’s essential to stay resilient and focused on your path.
- Enjoy the journey – Make sure you take the time to enjoy the ride, because it is really something special!
Creating spaces for conversations
With the Rivalry Series in Halifax, local community leaders organized a mini summit to elevate the voices of Indigenous hockey players, like Team Canada veteran Jocelyne Larocque
When the announcement was made that the Rivalry Series would wrap up on the East Coast this year, the brainstorming began for Ryan Francis.
“We saw that there was an opportunity to elevate voices of Indigenous hockey players and people and share their experiences in a very specific context and environment,” says Francis, the Mi’kmaw sport, recreation and physical activity corporate strategist for the Nova Scotian government.
That’s where the Indigenous Hockey Mini Summit was born. In partnership with Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaw, Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre and the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund, the half-day summit had three segments featuring Indigenous players, including Canada’s National Women’s Team defender, Jocelyne Larocque (Métis) and a keynote speech from USA Hockey alumna, Sydney Daniels (Cree).
“For me, being a woman, being Indigenous, I think it’s important for young Indigenous girls to be able to see Indigenous women living their dream, having fun while they’re doing it and working hard,” Larocque says. “It’s important for me to share that message with all youth in the world.”
When Francis approached Larocque with the opportunity to get involved in the
mini summit, she was drawn to participate right away. Not only did Larocque
do a Q&A at the summit, hosted by TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde, but she also
made time for a meet and greet with Hockey Nova Scotia’s Indigenous Girls
Hockey Program after the Rivalry Series game in Halifax.
Kenzie Lalonde (left) interviews Jocelyne Larocque during the summit.
For Larocque, representation matters. Anytime she can give back to her community or share experiences to inspire others, she will.
“It’s very important for women playing professional hockey to have that exposure and for young girls to see us having a career playing hockey because I didn’t have that. A lot of my teammates didn’t have that,” Larocque says. “I definitely will always push towards a more inclusive, diverse and equal playing field, whether that’s hockey or anything in life.”
The summit also provided opportunities for informal conversations with speakers, like Larocque. Jordan Dawe-Ryan recalls one little girl sitting around a table eating breakfast alongside Larocque before the summit began and having a chance to ask the veteran blue-liner any questions she had.
“The girl’s happiness just shone right through the experience she had,” says Dawe-Ryan, the active living community coordinator at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. “With all the momentum that has been growing with woman’s hockey worldwide […] it’s amazing that they could sit down together, like two friends, and talk about who they are, what their goals are and their journey along the way.”
Erin Denny, who is in her fifth year playing at Saint Mary’s University, participated on the Mi’kmaw players’ panel at the summit. The 23-year-old feels she has grown into a role model and really takes pride in that role.
“As I transition out of my hockey career and more into that role, I think
it’s really important to share my story and my thoughts on everything so
there can be more success for Indigenous youth,” Denny says.
Sara-Lynne Knockwood (left), Erin Denny and Chad Denny during the Mi'kmaw players' panel.
Like Larocque, Denny says representation can open doors for youth, and having an Indigenous role model for Indigenous youth to look up to can make a huge difference in their lives.
“Especially as a minority group, seeing someone that is similar to you, lives a similar life and has the same struggles as you, I feel like it can make a world of a difference for youth,” Denny says. “Being in this position, I think it’s really important that I continue to share my experiences and be an outlet for youth if they have questions or want advice.”
There were additional events connected to the mini summit, such as a pizza dinner and poster-making night at the Friendship Centre before the Rivalry Series game. The Friendship Centre also provided smudging kits as the Player of the Game awards in Halifax. Despite some winter weather causing power outages in the city the morning of the summit, the event was a big success.
“It’s important to create that space, and when you do create that space and have it in an environment that people feel safe and comfortable, there can be really powerful discussions and perspectives that get brought forward that will help move conversations amongst decision-makers,” Francis says.
With such a positive response from participants, organizers are already brainstorming for another event in the future—this time expanding from a mini summit to a full, multi-day summit.
“Another one will be on the way and we’re hoping to make it even bigger and better the next time,” Dawe-Ryan says. “[We want to] provide more opportunities, provide more spaces for us to share our culture and have these safe spaces where we can interact, engage and really be our true, vulnerable selves in these spaces.”
Rivalry Series Preview: Canada vs. United States
Saturday, February 8 | 7 p.m. AT | Summerside, Prince Edward Island | Game 5
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 8)
It all comes down to Game 5. Canada’s National Women's Team faces its cross-border rivals from the United States in a Saturday night showdown to decide the Rivalry Series at Credit Union Place.
Last Meeting & Last Game
Canada dropped a 2-1 shootout decision on Thursday in Halifax, evening up the series at two wins apiece. Hilary Knight scored midway through the first period to give the Americans the lead, but it was the home-province hero, Blayre Turnbull, scoring with 2:20 remaining to send the game to overtime before the U.S. converted on three of four shootout attempts.
What to Watch
It’s been a warm East Coast welcome for Turnbull. The 31-year-old native of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, has two goals and an assist in this year’s Rivalry Series to go along with five goals and two helpers in 15 games as captain of the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Of course, in a winner-take-all scenario, we’d be remiss if we did not talk about Captain Canada, Marie-Philip Poulin. The Montreal Victoire captain has a history of scoring in clutch scenarios, whether it was the game-winner in last year’s Rivalry Series finale or gold medal games at four Olympics. She leads the PWHL with 10 goals in 14 games.
Gwyneth Philips was terrific in the American goal in Halifax, finishing with 31 saves in regulation and overtime before turning away all three Canadian shooters in the shootout to record her first international win. And, of course, Knight continues to make an impact in international games, with her goal in Halifax giving her three in as many Rivalry Series games. The 35-year-old, who leads the Boston Fleet with 11 points (5-6—11) in 13 PWHL games this season, has scored 159 goals in 235 Team USA games over her 19-year international career.
Milestone Watch
Brianne Jenner is just two goals away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Laura Stacey and Jamie Lee Rattray are both five points from 50 in their careers.
A Look Back
Winner-take-all games have been a common occurrence in the Rivalry Series lately. This is the third year in a row the series will be decided in the final game. Last year, Canada once again erased a 3-0 series deficit and completed the reverse sweep with a 6-1 win in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Natalie Spooner and Emma Maltais scored twice as Canada capitalized on special teams with two power-play goals and a shorthanded marker.
Saturday also marks the first time Canada’s National Women’s Team will play the United States on Prince Edward Island.
All-time record: Canada leads 107-81-1 (25-21 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 526 United States goals: 463
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