The CI Aggregator is a compilation of recent stories regarding the hockey world, The Carnegie Initiative, our Board members, other industry influencers, similar organizations doing work to change the culture of the game, related issues, and anything aligned with our important mission to make hockey more inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.
A new edition is posted each Friday.
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WEEKLY RECAP: Friday, December 15, 2023
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High Marks for NCAA DI Hockey Players in Latest Graduation Report
Both women’s, men’s hockey rank in top five among all sports academically
College Hockey, Inc. Dec. 15, 2023
NCAA Division I women’s and men’s hockey players continue to thrive as student-athletes, consistently scoring above the national average, according to the latest Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data released by the NCAA.
Both women’s and men’s hockey ranked among the top five of all sports in this year’s report. Women’s hockey boasted a 97-percent four-class GSR, tied for fifth-highest among Division I women’s sports. Men’s hockey tied for fourth among men’s sports in four-year GSR (93%) and recorded the highest single-class average (96%)…
UNC Club Ice Hockey Shares Early Designs, Vision for $20 Million Arena Project in Chapel Hill
Brighton McConnell, Chapelboro.com, Dec. 15, 2023
The UNC Club Ice Hockey team is in the middle of 2023-24 season, sitting with a winning record during a winter break before preparing for the last third of games in the regular season. The program’s leaders and supporters, though, are looking far beyond this season with a major project.
The team’s booster club recently purchased nearly four acres of land in Chapel Hill’s Carraway Village development with the goal of building a permanent hockey arena to help the team achieve its fullest potential – while also further bringing together the local hockey community.
…. it was flattering to be considered and became impressed when he learned that the club team had been around for more than 40 years.
Canadian Blind Hockey has announced the first half of the nation’s Blind Hockey team
CanadianBlindHockey.com, Dec. 14, 2023
Canadian Blind Hockey has named the first phase of players to the 2024 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team. The team is gearing up for the 2024 International Blind Ice Hockey Series in St. Louis April 12 – 14 as Team Canada looks to defend their title against Team USA.
The National Blind Hockey Team Program is celebrating its five-year anniversary and has already set a high standard for excellence on and off the ice. Team Canada has celebrated four gold medals in their history and has completely changed the competitive side of Blind Hockey. They continue to build momentum and strive to continue going for gold, while encouraging other international countries to participate in the growing Para sport of Blind Hockey.
Matthew Semisch, USCHO.com, Dec. 14, 2023
It was only a month ago when Colorado College coach Kris Mayotte found out that Emily West, the Tigers’ first-year director of hockey operations and video coach, had scored a NCAA national championship game-winning goal on a penalty shot.
“No (way),” Mayotte said, shortly before seeing YouTube footage of West’s goal for Minnesota in the 2012 Women’s Frozen Four title game against Wisconsin. And then that moment came up, however casually, in a private conversation at CC’s Ed Robson Arena.
“I walked into the coaches’ room one day, and we all hang out after practice and discuss players, plays, just coaches’ talk, but Kris approached me and was like, ‘You didn’t tell me you won the national championship on a penalty shot.’” West said. “‘Oh. Where’d you hear that?’”
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League changes name to better represent its 6 Maritime teams
QMJHL now stands for Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
CBC.ca, Dec. 14, 2023
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is changing its name to better represent its sizeable contingent of Maritime-based teams.
The league announced Thursday it will be known as the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (la Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Quebec in French).
An English version of the league’s logo was also released.
The name change was passed unanimously at the league’s assembly of members.
League commissioner Mario Cecchini said including the Maritimes in the league name has been a priority of his since taking over the position in May.
The QMJHL currently has three teams based in New Brunswick, two in Nova Scotia and one in Prince Edward Island.
NHL to host free outdoor fan festival ahead of Winter Classic
Interactions, experiences, visit from Stanley Cup scheduled
NHL Public Relations, Dec. 14, 2023
2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic® festivities will begin at the Lumen Field North Lot in Seattle with the Enterprise NHL Fan Village™, a free two-day fan festival open to the public. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, the NHL and its corporate partners will treat hockey fans to many fun interactions and experiences, including family-friendly hockey interactives, giveaways, food, and a special appearance by the oldest and most revered trophy in sports – the Stanley Cup®.
The two-day outdoor fan festival will serve as a preview of the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic®, the much-anticipated outdoor game between the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park on Monday, Jan. 1 (12 p.m. PT, broadcast exclusively on TNT, B/R Sports on Max in the U.S. and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada). A 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic® game ticket is not required for entry into Enterprise NHL Fan Village, but all fans will be required to enroll for free at this website before entering.
Capitals invite Quinnipiac women’s hockey coach to assist at practice
Turner takes part in staff meetings, drills during ‘outstanding’ experience
Tom Gulitti, NHL.com, Dec. 13, 2023
Quinnipiac women’s hockey coach Cassie Turner would normally spend the first week of her winter break relaxing. Instead, she was a guest coach with the Washington Capitals at practice the past two days.
Turner preferred the working vacation.
“This was outstanding because I think anything I could’ve done to get refreshed and ready would not have been like this,” Turner said Wednesday. “That’s how I feel. I just feel excited for the second half of our season, and I don’t need any time off. This was the time off and it’s got me in such a great place.”
Turner is in her ninth season as Quinnipiac’s coach after seven as an assistant and associate with the women’s ice hockey program. She was connected with Washington through the NHL Coaches’ Association’s Female Coaches Development Program.
Providence Bruins Host New England Bombers Sled Hockey
Stephanie Parrillo, LinkedIn, Dec. 13, 2023
Before the Providence Bruins December 3rd hockey is for everyone game, we had the pleasure of hosting skaters from New England Bombers.
The New England Bombers are the only fully sled team AMERICAN SPECIAL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION thank you to Jennifer O’Brien for the connection.
Everyone was amazing to work with and my team was very excited to see the sleds in action. We are so glad that the skaters enjoyed a full day of hockey including a P-Bruins win!
Erie Otters Hockey Club hosted their Native Heritage Celebration Night
Stephane Friday, LinkedIn, Dec. 13, 2023
On December 9th, 2023 the Erie Otters Hockey Club hosted their Native Heritage Celebration Night and we were excited as Hockey Indigenous was invited for their game and dropping the ceremonial puck drop. Carey Terrance (Akwesasne Mohawk) was the headline leading up to the night as he is such a great Role Model to Indigenous Youth and promoting the importance of Culture. The game and celebration was a success with the partnership with Orange Jersey Project and Indigenous Artist Kory Parkin.
Black women hockey players on the rise
Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Record, Dec. 13, 2023
The Edwards sisters say it’s a dream come true
It would be perfectly fine to call 2023 “the year of the Black female hockey player.”
This year, Canadian native Sophia Jacques won the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s best women’s collegiate hockey player. The Ohio State graduate later became the only Black player drafted in the new PWHL, which starts in January 2024. Sarah Nurse, another Canadian, was the only Black player signed as a free agent earlier this year.
Wisconsin’s Laila Edwards became the first Black woman to make the US national women’s ice hockey team. She and sister Chayla both made history as the first Black sisters to play on a Division I national championship team in March, defeating Jacques’ Ohio State squad.
Jacques, the Edwards sisters, and Minnesota’s Crystalyn Jenkins were among the nearly 30 Black women hockey players on Division I and Division III teams this past season.
PWHL Toronto single-game tickets go on sale Thursday after season ticket packages sell out
Toronto faces New York at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Jan. 1 in downtown Toronto.
Mark-Colley, Toronto Star, Dec. 13, 2023
With season ticket and half-season ticket packages sold out, PWHL Toronto’s single-game tickets will go on sale Thursday morning on Ticketmaster.
The puck will drop on the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League season on Jan. 1, when Toronto faces New York at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto. Seating capacity at the venue is about 2,600.
“Everyone’s going to be buzzing for that game,” goaltender Carly Jackson said at practice Tuesday. “It’s so sick. It’s just going to be full-tilt and I’m so excited for people to see it.”
The ultimate pond hockey road trip
Nick Villano, Fansided, Dec. 13, 2023
Pond hockey is a pastime that isn’t unlike many other sports. There are players young and old hitting the rink every weekend with their equipment because it’s more than a passion; it’s a lifestyle. Spending Saturdays with the boys and girls is something between heavenly and meditative.
It’s something between the fantastic views, the sound of skates on ice, and the competition of hockey, the world’s most beautiful game. The NHL Winter Classic created more intrigue for outdoor hockey, and pond hockey is the most popular and most accessible of any style of outdoor hockey. The reason is simple: all you need is a frozen pond and players to get a game going.
Pond hockey is the “Rucker Park” of the hockey world. It’s the backyard style of the game, but there are more than enough formal tournaments and rinks that you need to visit once in your lifetime. So, we created the Ultimate Pond Hockey Road Trip. It calls for 63 hours in a car, but these six rinks combine amazing views, fantastic ice, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Let’s start in the most obvious place, Alberta, Canada.
Kings dads enjoy the opportunity to give back to girls & womens hockey, growing the game
Jack Jablonski, LAInsider.com, December 12, 2023
Three girl dads, three supporters of growing the game of women’s hockey.
Earlier this month, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Trevor Lewis took the ice with the LA Lions youth hockey program, a program for up-and-coming girls players. The Kings trio of veterans skated with the 12UAA, 10U and 8U programs, as they joined the players for a practice as a part of the organization’s annual Rink Tour.
It’s not the first time these guys have been a part of the tour, as this organizational tradition goes all the way back to the beginning of their respective careers with the Kings. Heartwarmingly, Kopitar, Doughty and Lewis each noted how much they enjoy getting to spend time with those who’ve supported them since they came into the organization.
Key Number One for a program like this – growing the game.
Marvis Chipunza part of fascinating time for Falkland Islands hockey
Mark Staffieri, womenshockeylife.com, Dec. 12, 2023
Becoming a focal point for the Falkland Islands women’s ice hockey team, Marvis Chipunza is making key contributions on and off the ice. Originally from Zimbabwe, she relocated to the Falkland Islands in 2012 as her father belonged to an admirable group working to remove land mines. Having found her niche in hockey, Chipunza is competitive in other facets of the game, including Dek and Inline, both highly popular in the nation’s sporting and cultural fabric.
Although there is no ice arena, it has not discouraged the formation of a national team. Despite standing as one the world’s most remote teams, found between the frozen continent of Antarctica and the Patagonian Coast of South America, where the Falkland Islands are also known as Islas Malvinas, there are hopes to participate in events in Canada and the United States.
Canadians dominate first Professional Women’s Hockey League rosters
Donna Spencer, Toronto Star, Dec. 12, 2023
Canadians dominated Professional Women’s Hockey League rosters declared Tuesday for the league’s inaugural season starting New Year’s Day.
The yet-unnamed PWHL teams in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Boston and Minnesota will each carry 23 players, plus three reserves.
The rosters total 157 players from 12 different countries, including a league-leading 90 Canadians. The United States has 53 players on rosters with another 14 women from outside North America.
Death of Adam Johnson from skate blade prompts new look at neck guard mandates in youth hockey
Pat Eaton-Robb, Associated Press, Dec. 12, 2023
SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. (AP) — A day after professional hockey player Adam Johnson suffered a fatal cut to his throat during a game in England, Dan Sacco went out and ordered his 10-year-old twins new neck guards.
Colton and Harper Sacco play together as squirts — 9- and 10-year-olds — for the youth hockey program in North Branford, Connecticut. They already had neck guards, which are required for youth hockey in the state, but Sacco said he took another look at them after Johnson’s death in October.
“They were small,” he said. “So I got new ones that are made not to be sliced through and they’re bigger. It’s scary.”
AHL head coach suspended 10 games for directing homophobic language at official
Bob Nardella will be permitted to participate in team practices on non-game days
The Canadian Press, Dec. 12, 2023
The American Hockey League has suspended Chicago Wolves head coach Bob Nardella for 10 games for using homophobic language against an official.
Nardella was assessed a game misconduct for abuse of officials at 8:48 of the third period of Chicago’s 8-5 loss at Texas on Saturday.
The AHL said in a news release Nardella will be permitted to participate in team practices on non-game days.
He will be eligible to return to the Wolves bench on Jan. 6.
The AHL also announced Wolves forward Dominic Franco has been given an automatic one-game suspension for picking up his second game misconduct for abuse of officials of the season.
Coyotes’ Logan Cooley set for full-circle moment vs. Pens
There will be an interesting matchup Tuesday when the Arizona Coyotes visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.
CBSSports.com, Dec. 12, 2023
There will be an interesting matchup Tuesday when the Arizona Coyotes visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And that’s in addition to a game between two clubs trying to get into a playoff position. Arizona has lost three in a row since a five-game winning streak, while Pittsburgh has lost four straight (0-2-2).
The game will mark the first time Arizona rookie Logan Cooley will face Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby.
The ties between them might not be readily evident. Cooley is 19, the Coyotes’ first-round pick in the 2022 draft. Crosby is 36 and has helped the Penguins win three Stanley Cups. They aren’t buddies. They aren’t offseason workout partners.
But they are well aware of each other.
Their connection goes back to when Cooley, who is from suburban Pittsburgh, got signed up as a 5-year-old for the Sidney Crosby Little Penguins program the first winter it was offered.
Cooley is the first “graduate” of that learn-to-play program to make it to the NHL, and now he will share an NHL sheet of ice with the namesake of the program.
Six On Six: Comparing Each PWHL Team’s Six Three-Year Contracts
Each of the PWHL six teams have secured their six guaranteed three-year contracts. Here’s a look at how each team’s three-year deals stack up.
Ian Kennedy, The Hockey News, Dec. 12, 2023
The PWHL collective bargaining agreement mandated teams sign six players to guaranteed three-year contracts. Those six players represent the core, and the lions share of salary cap allocation through the 2025-2026 season.
Who each team chose to take these six contracts will have a significant impact on their success over the first three seasons of the league. Here’s a look at each of the PWHL’s six team’s six three-year contracts.
Hockey Sask. hopes to expand new Para Program at provincial tryouts by encouraging ‘all’ to attend
Brit Dort, CTV News Regina, Dec. 11, 2023
Hockey Saskatchewan (Hockey Sask.) has announced the launch of a new Sask. First Para Program for able and non-able-bodied athletes and is hosting open tryouts this weekend for anyone to come give the sport a try.
The first-ever provincial camp will be held this week in Outlook, Sask. on Dec. 17.
“That’s one of our values is being inclusive. We approached Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports, we’ve been involved with them for some time, and we said we’ve been doing a lot of ‘Try Para Days’, ‘Try Sledge Days’, around the province for years,” Sask. Hockey Association general manager Kelly McClintock said.
The NHL’s United by Hockey Mobile Museum Set to Visit San Jose December 18 & 19
This free fan experience celebrating hockey’s trailblazers, changemakers, and business leaders will be open from 3PM-9PM at Sharks Ice at San Jose.
NHL.com/Sharks, Dec. 11, 2023
The San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) announced today that the National Hockey League’s United by Hockey Mobile Museum, a free fan experience that celebrates hockey’s trailblazers, changemakers and business leaders spanning various demographics, will visit Sharks Ice at San Jose (@SharksIce) on Monday, December 18 and Tuesday, December 19. The exhibit will be open from 3-9 p.m. both days.
The unique experience of 840 square feet of history includes exclusive artifacts from players from a wide array of backgrounds; video components; and a look at the next generation of young stars, NHL Officials, broadcasters, and women in the game. The traveling museum, in collaboration with ALXMOBILE and supported by the Hockey Hall of Fame, began its seven-month tour across North America in Ottawa on Oct. 14.
Part of the Hockey Is For Everyone initiative, the traveling museum demonstrates the ongoing commitment from the NHL and National Hockey League Players’ Association to raise awareness and provide information about diverse individuals in hockey.
Attendance And Ticket Sales Soaring For Women’s Hockey In Canada
Kitchener is sold out, Sarnia is standing room only, PWHL Toronto sold out season ticket packages, and seats at other PWHL and Rivalry Series events in Canada are rapidly disappearing. Demand is high in Canada for women’s hockey.
Ian Kennedy, The Hockey News, Dec. 10, 2023
If you were hoping to attend a December Rivalry Series stop in Sarnia, Ontario or Kitchener, Ontario, unfortunately, that wish will take a holiday miracle.
If you wanted to buy PWHL season tickets in Toronto? Sorry, they’re sold out and PWHL Ottawa and Montreal are seeing their seats rapidly disappear as well.
This Thursday’s Rivalry Series game in Kitchener, Ontario is completely sold out, filling the 7,131 seat Kitchener Memorial Auditorium to the brim. The rink is home to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers who are averaging just over 6000 fans per game this season. It’s a hockey hot bed, that is also ready to consume women’s hockey.
Color of Hockey: Kennedy co-founder of academy growing game in Australia
Former player, coach raised in Michigan aims to ‘ride this wave’ started by NHL Global Series
William Douglas, NHL.com, Dec. 10, 2023
John F. Kennedy Jr. says the NHL Global Series – Melbourne preseason games between the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings in September is still the talk of Australia.
“The country is still buzzing about the games and the highlights from the weekend in Melbourne,” said Kennedy, an Australia transplant from Saginaw, Michigan. “We are hopeful that the NHL comes back in the near future, and I hope we can ride this wave to grow the sport down under.”
Kennedy has been working to grow hockey in Australia for more than a decade as a player, coach, and co-founder of the National Sport Academy (NSA) that helps and advises the country’s top players in their efforts to be recruited overseas and operates performance camps and skills clinics from Melbourne to Brisbane.
“Right now, I’m doing my bit to grow the overall knowledge to help develop players and well as coaches to leave a legacy,” Kennedy said.
Safety in the future of Ice Hockey discussed after tragic event
Wyatt Williams, WAOW.com, Dec 10, 2023
Safety in Hockey has been a major discussion recently following the death of a former NHL player
The ex-NHL player Adam Johnson passed away in October, while playing in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
The moment caused the entire sport of hockey to take a step back and look at the future to see where the next steps are.
Malik Andrews, a Wausau West Hockey Player said, “I want to be able to play this sport for as long as i can and just be able to play it without having to worry about the risk of getting my throat cut because a skate slashed me when i was falling down on the ice.”
Nick Giovanni, CBS News Boston, Dec. 8, 2023
Sisters Caroline and Maggie Averill have been teammates since they were toddlers.
“Both our parents played hockey, so it was a pretty early age. They would build a rink in our backyard, we got out there when we were like two or three,” Caroline said.
Hockey is in their blood, and they have always bled red, white, and blue. “We always had the USA jerseys and would put those on in the backyard rink,” Caroline said.
The two grew up with a homemade rink in their backyard, and now they have come up the ranks together.
Caroline is now a sophomore forward, at Phillips Academy in Andover. Maggie, is a freshman forward for the school…
World’s largest hockey stick looking for new home
Feliks Banel, MyNorthwest and KIRO 7, Dec. 9, 2023
On Vancouver Island in British Columbia, a community that has been home for nearly 40 years to “the world’s largest hockey stick” is getting ready to say goodbye to its iconic roadside treasure.
News of the giant piece of athletic gear facing an existential threat was first reported earlier this week by Justin McElroy of CBC Vancouver.
Duncan is on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley, along the highway between Victoria and Nanaimo. Since 1988, the community has been home to the world’s largest hockey stick, as certified by Guinness World Records. But now, the stick must find a new home…
STROBEL: Variety’s comeback kid making the best of a bad break
Keenan ‘Kiki’ Sadler, 17, is a true competitor who refuses to let cerebral palsy or a recently broken left femur get him down
Mike Strobel, Special to Toronto Sun, Dec. 8, 2023
Keenan “Kiki” Sadler has cerebral palsy.
“It sucks,” he says, “but what are you going to do? There are people with far worse problems.”
That tells you a lot about the kid. So does this story…
Last month, two days before his 17th birthday, he broke his left leg playing sledge hockey. I mean, c’mon, really?
Keenan is a playmaking centre, No. 34, on the Markham Islanders. His dad, Ryan, is an assistant coach.
At the Cruisers Cup, an international tourney in Brampton, an Ottawa player tipped over and landed on Keenan. The collision looked harmless enough…
Burke ‘real underdog’ carving path to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
Outspoken 2023 inductee worked for NHL, was front office executive for 6 teams, player agent
Mike Zeisberger, NHL.com, Dec. 6, 2023
If you want to know what Brian Burke is really like, Lou Lamoriello, his longtime friend, mentor and one-time coach, has the perfect way to find out.
“If you want to know about Brian or anything else, just ask Brian,” the New York Islanders general manager said with a chuckle about the always candid, often outspoken Burke. “He’ll tell you whatever you want.
“I do know this: He just keeps going and going and going …”
In this instance, he is going right into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.
And rightly so.
The Minority League, Dec. 5, 2023 (Season 3/Episode 5)
National anthem singer Sonya Bryson-Kirksey tells us about her role in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. We first noticed her when she was singing the national anthem during Tampa Bay Lightning playoff games with her vibrant blue lipstick and her killer pipes. She loves introducing people to hockey and being a role model for women and people of color.