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, March 8, 2024
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Empowering Women in Hockey: If Not You, Then Who?
Kim Davis, Sportico, March 7, 2024
Today’s guest columnist is Kim Davis, senior executive vice president at the NHL.
March 8 is the NHL trade deadline, an important day across the hockey ecosystem. The flurry of activity, trade reports and breaking news will dominate the conversation across hockey channels as teams position themselves for the playoffs. But March 8 is also International Women’s Day—an important moment to pause amid the madness and recognize the progress and potential of women in the business of hockey who contribute to the game every day.
Carnegie Initiative, March 7, 2024
Monthly newsletter that includes:
– Q&A with Angela James
– Infographic: Indian-Origin NHL Players
– Toronto Six receive Isobel Cup championship rings
The PWHL makes me feel seen and inspires me to become a sports archivist
Seeing an athlete like Sarah Nurse, who looks like me, reminds me of the importance of representation
Sali Lafrenie, for CBC First Person, March 6, 2024
“Game 1. Day 1. Season 1.”
That tagline replays in my head whenever I think back to New Year’s Day and the inaugural PWHL game between Toronto and New York. Even though I was visiting my family in Regina, I knew I couldn’t miss the game. It was a historic moment in hockey and I wanted to be a part of it, no matter how many kilometres separated me from that arena in Toronto.
While my uncle was in the kitchen cooking the big meal and the rest of the family did their own thing, I had the big screen TV all to myself. It was perfect. I curled up on the couch and turned the volume up until it filled the living room. Across the screen flashed scenes of fans piling into the arena with bright purple and grey hats and little kids with signs that read, “In our PWHL era.”
Questions mount about firm investigating Hockey Canada abuse claims
A closer inspection of the independent third party that manages and investigates sexual abuse claims on behalf of Hockey Canada has produced more questions than answers
Matthew Hall, The Guardian, March 6, 2024
Mystery surrounds the legal business status of the independent third party that manages and investigates sexual abuse claims on behalf of Hockey Canada exposing an industry with no regulation or accountability.
Concerns have also been raised about how the unregulated independent third parties handle sensitive data and confidential information after allegations of abuse and alleged criminal acts have been exchanged via commercial email accounts and stored in online commercial file hosting service.
“The independent third parties are private enterprises and there are no set standards,” said one senior sports executive in an interview with the Guardian.
Ice hockey participants in Canada who want to report sexual and other abuse within the sport are directed by Hockey Canada, the sport’s national governing body, to file a complaint through the website of a for-profit independent third party called “Sport Complaints”.
Sport Complaints does not appear on Canada’s national registry of businesses and details of its legal status or principals cannot be found through any conventional search.
Adapted Floor Hockey: Brainerd’s title defense begins Friday
The Brainerd Warriors will open its state title defense against Minneapolis South 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 9.
Jeremy Millsop, Brainerd Dispatch, March 6, 2024
A 6-1-1 record and being the defending state champion still doesn’t get you a No. 1 seed for the upcoming state tournament.
But the Brainerd Warriors will persevere.
The Warriors landed the No. 3 seed and will open the state tournament against No. 6 Minneapolis South 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, at the Coon Rapids High School.
The Warriors defeated Minneapolis 10-4 Jan. 11. It was the start of a six-game winning streak the Warriors enjoyed to end the season.
Tom Farrey and Ashleigh Huffman, Aspen Institute, March 5, 2024
Three years after it was authorized, the final report of the group seated by Congress to study the organizations at the center of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement in the United States is now out. It’s big – 277 pages with 348 footnotes, 46 charts, 44 sections and 41 pages of historical background, all of which lead to 14 recommendations that aim to reimagine the way government supports our sport system from the moment a child first slips on a uniform.
The ambition of the Commission on U.S. Olympics and Paralympics is reflected in the report title, “Passing the Torch: Modernizing Olympic, Paralympic & Grassroots Sports in America.” The 13-member group took a home run swing.
It hit a broken-bat double.
Broken bat, because not everything connects.
A double, because it sets up a chance to score.
As part of the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program’s commitment to facilitate public conversation around how sport policy and governance impacts youth, we have analyzed the report, the first since the 1970s to recommend a new structure to develop and protect athletes while serving the needs of public health.
Breaking the ice: The Asian players of NYU ice hockey
Three NYU ice hockey players shared their experiences as players of Asian descent in a predominantly white sport.
Sydney Barragan, Washington Square News, March 5, 2024
Ice hockey is, and has always been, a white-dominated sport. Though the National Hockey League does not keep official statistics on the racial and ethnic demographic of players, the lack of, and resistance to, diversity on the ice is clear. Almost all coaches and officials, as well as more than 90% of players, are white.
NYU hockey’s roster is also primarily white, but the percentage of Asian players is still significant when compared to NCAA ice hockey as a whole — where less than 1% identify as Asian. For NYU, that number jumps to around 20%, according to players who spoke with WSN.
While hockey can be exclusionary and unwelcoming to players of color, the NYU club may very well be an exception to the rule. In interviews with WSN, three members of NYU’s hockey team of Asian descent said they feel as welcomed to the team as any of their white teammates.
Hockey referee Alicia Hanrahan brings Olympic pedigree to Alexandria’s programs
From officiating NCAA games to the women’s bronze medal game at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Russia, to local games, Alexandria resident Alicia Hanrahan’s journey with officiating games and coaching officials has spanned the globe. Now, she is working to enhance the next generation of hockey officials locally and globally.
Steve Stuve, Echo Press, March 5, 2024
Hockey has taken Alexandria resident Alicia Hanrahan all over the world.
Originally from Costa Mesa, California, Hanrahan didn’t play hockey until her early 20s when she played in a women’s amateur league for five years.
Skating to success: Laila Edwards shines on women’s hockey team
From youth MVP to collegiate sensation, follow Edwards’ journey to hockey stardom
Dani Savin, The Badger Herald, March 5, 2024
In the dynamic realm of women’s hockey, Laila Edwards emerges as a formidable force embodying resilience, skill and an unwavering commitment to excellence both on and off the ice.
Early Years
Edwards’ journey to hockey stardom began long before she stepped foot on the ice at the University of Wisconsin. Hailing from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Edwards’ love for the sport was ignited at a young age, inspired by her father’s passion for hockey and the physical nature of the sport.
At the young age of 11, Edwards realized hockey gave her an opportunity to earn a college degree.
“If I can have college paid for and play at the highest level that’d be amazing,” Edwards said.
UW-Superior women’s hockey head coach Dan Laughlin retires after 21 seasons
Laughlin was behind the bench for 308 wins out of 359 in all-time program history
Daniel Chiarelli, Northern News Now, March 5, 2024
After coaching for 21 years, the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s (UW-Superior) women’s hockey coach has announced his retirement.
Dan Laughlin, one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NCAA Division III women’s hockey, announced his retirement on Tuesday.
The 1994 UW-Superior graduate became an assistant coach for the Yellowjackets women’s hockey team in 2002 before taking over as head coach the following season.
In Laughlin’s first season behind the bench, he led the team to the second Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) regular season championship in program history.
Under his tenure, the Yellowjackets won three NCHA regular season championships, one NCHA playoff championship, and participated in two NCAA tournaments.
Jersey Girls Hockey Club’s Immediate Impact | FEATURE
The Devils Legacy Project will fill a void in the youth hockey landscape in New Jersey
Catherine Bogart, NewJerseyDevils.com, March 5, 2024
When National Hockey League teams are granted a Stadium Series game, they work with the league to give back to the community through a Legacy Project. These projects have brought over seven million dollars into the community and made lasting impacts.
The New Jersey Devils were driven to fill a void in the youth hockey landscape with their project. As a result the Youth Hockey and Growth Initiatives team went to work as they developed and launched Jersey Girls Hockey Club. The all-girls, recreational league is for girls 5-12 who have graduated from the organization’s Learn to Play program.
“It fills this great big gap,” Jillian Frechette, Chief Marketing Officer of the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center explained. “We stretch across New Jersey in 14 rinks, offering Learn to Play programming for little kids, boys and girls…”
Minnesota Wild to Hold Diversified Hockey Celebration on Sunday, March 10
Minnesota Wild PR, March 5, 2024
The Minnesota Wild today announced details of a Diversified Hockey Celebration presented by Gillette Children’s on Sunday, March 10, when it hosts the Nashville Predators at 2:30 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center on TNT and KFAN 100.3 FM.
Minnesota Diversified Hockey enables athletes to participate with other skaters with similar interests and abilities in the disciplines of: Blind Hockey, Deaf/Hard of Hearing Hockey, Special Hockey, Sled Hockey, and Warrior Hockey. Each of these programs incorporate elements that are unlike the typical sport of hockey, but at their core, they are designed to ensure hockey truly is for everybody.
This year’s tournament will see the highest number of female competitors in its history
Hydro One Inc. News Release, March 4, 2024
MARKHAM, ON, March 4, 2024 /CNW/ – In one week, more than 4,000 Indigenous youth will lace up their skates and take to the ice for the 50th anniversary of the Little Native Hockey League’s (Little NHL) tournament, sponsored by Hydro One Inc. (Hydro One). Ontario’s largest Indigenous hockey tournament will welcome players between the ages of five to 17 years old, coaches and their families from communities across the province to Markham to participate in games from March 11 – 14.
This year’s tournament has the theme “Honouring Our Water,” and will see the largest number of competitors, including the highest number of female skaters, participating in its history. Homegrown celebrities and hockey greats alike will add their support to the tournament with appearances by retired NHL player and coach Ted Nolan, singer-songwriter Jully Black, and blues and country artist Crystal Shawanda. The Opening Ceremony co-hosts are Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron Maclean and Anthony Stewart.
Request made for additional $104M in federal support to national sport organizations
CBC Sports, March 4, 2024
The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee requested an additional $104 million in federal funding on Monday.
The money would go directly to national sport organizations, whom COC president David Shoemaker described in a press release as being “on the brink of a crisis.”
“NSOs cannot continue on this trajectory. They can’t run deficits, and if nothing changes difficult decisions will have to be made,” he said.
There are 61 NSOs across the country, and they govern amateur sports. Citing a study on those organizations’ financial health from the accounting firm Deloitte, the COC and CPC said the entire sporting system in Canada would regress without increased support.
Color of Hockey: James honored by Capitals during memorable weekend
2010 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee also coaches youth players on trip to Washington
William Douglas, NHL.com, March 4, 2024
Angela James said she was flattered, and a little nervous, when the Washington Capitals presented her with a red game jersey Friday with her last name and No. 8 on the back.
“I was, like, ‘I don’t want to get beat up here, it should say ‘Ovechkin’ on the back,’” she said.
Alex Ovechkin may be known as “The Great 8” to Capitals fans, but James made the number her own long before he made his NHL debut in 2005-06.
James is regarded as one of the greatest women’s players of all time. Offensively gifted and physically imposing, she was known as the Wayne Gretzky of women’s hockey, a dominant force in Canadian college hockey, international tournaments and in the top North American women’s league of her era.
Diving into the costs the Michigan women’s club hockey team faces with pay-to-play setup
Mikaela Lewis, The Michigan Daily, March 4, 2024
It takes a lot to play hockey. Before anyone can step foot on the ice, they must have base-layer clothing, skates, shin guards, hockey pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, a helmet, a neck guard, a mouthguard, a practice jersey, a pair of socks and at least one stick. Of course, they will also need a bag to carry all of this gear, stick tape, a water bottle, skate guards and other often-forgotten accessories.
And it doesn’t stop there. To play on a team, a player will also have to cover the costs of ice time with coaches, their team uniform and travel to practices or games. Even if a player buys low-end equipment, the expenses for each season total up to thousands of dollars.
It is already a battle for women to play hockey. Despite the sport growing, it seems to mostly be growing for men and leaving women behind. The recent success of the PWHL is a glimmer of hope for female athletes, but still, the reality is there is rarely a place for women to play. Growing up, odds are that girls will only have access to a “co-ed” team that is just boys with male coaches and male referees and no other girls in sight.
Kings pro scout, growth & inclusion specialist represents team’s community and hockey development
NHL.com, March 4, 2024
The NHL is celebrating women in hockey, and every week this season, NHL.com will highlight a woman from each of the 32 teams. Today, a look at Los Angeles Kings pro scout, growth & inclusion specialist Blake Bolden:
Name: Blake Bolden
Job title: Pro Scout, Growth & Inclusion Specialist
Describe your job in 2-3 sentences: Serves as a Kings pro scout covering the American Hockey League. In addition, to her role with Hockey Operations, the San Diego-based Bolden serves as the club’s growth and inclusion specialist, where she represents the team’s community and hockey development.
What was the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
I dreamt that I would be a professional hockey player and be the first black woman to play on the U.S. women’s Olympic team. I met the team at an autograph session, and met Angela Ruggerio, she would later become one of my d-partners at camp – I idolized her…
New report says NSOs need $104 million increase in annual funding to avoid crisis
Rick Westhead, TSN, March 4, 2024
The 61 organizations that govern amateur sports across the country face financial peril if the federal government doesn’t address a funding crisis decades in the making by increasing financial support, according to a new report.
Funding for national sport organizations (NSOs) has been unchanged since 2005, according to a study commissioned by the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee and completed by the financial consulting company Deloitte.
The study is scheduled to be released on Tuesday. TSN obtained an advance copy.
Deloitte wrote in its study that a $104 million increase in annual federal funding for NSOs is required to avoid a substantial reduction in the services and programs operated by the organizations.
A five-year forecast shows that NSOs will run a deficit of $134 million, Deloitte said.
Diverse representation shines in women’s hockey as Minnesota and Toronto battle for overtime win
Charles Hallman, Spokesman-Recorder, Feb. 29, 2024
Although Minnesota lost Tuesday to Toronto 4-3 in overtime, it was indeed a successful night for diverse representation on the ice.
The local PWHL club celebrated Black History Month at the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena on Tuesday with several different activities, which began with Minnesota staff and players who wore PWHL Black History Month shirts designed by Black artist Dana Mclean. The local Black and POC youth hockey organization, Mosaic Hockey Collective, also played a shootout game on the ice during the first intermission.
Harris Finds Alignment Through NHL Player Inclusion Coalition Role
Through his role on the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, Jordan Harris is helping open doors for kids who may not have the resources to benefit from all that hockey can provide.
NHLPA.com, Feb. 29, 2024
For Jordan Harris, joining the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition has quickly helped him realize the impact he can have on young hockey players as a defenceman with the Montreal Canadiens.
Harris recently took part in his first event as an NHL Player Inclusion Coalition member, but it was last December when the 23-year-old became part of the group of current and former players who work together to advance equality and inclusion in hockey.
“I’m biracial and the work the coalition does helps kids of colour and those who might not have the financial resources to get into hockey,” said Harris, a second-generation African American hockey player. “It aligned with my ideals.”
“I had done some community work in college, which was a great experience. It was the same thing here in Montreal. Recently, I talked with the Habs staff with my girlfriend, and we spoke about what we wanted our community work to look like.”
Intentional inclusion is a great way to get everyone in the pool
It’s a safety issue as much as a societal one
Shireen Ahmed, CBC Sports, Feb. 29, 2024
Canada is well-positioned to cement its legacy in swimming this summer at the Paris Olympics, with stars such as Summer McIntosh, Maggie Mac Neil and Josh Liendo blazing trails.
But despite its popularity, elite swimming is also one of the sports that remains predominantly white in its participation. The IDEAS lab at University of Toronto authored a report detailing the racial breakdowns of sports across university and college campuses in Ontario. Unsurprisingly, the research shows swimming does not have racial diversity like football, basketball or soccer.
As a child, I swam competitively at the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club for two years and enjoyed it. There were zero discussions on inclusion and diversity and I felt out of place sometimes, but it was Halifax in the 1980s. To my recollection, there was not a single Black swimmer at the club at that time.
‘His influence made a difference’: The Carnegie Initiative Summit Celebrates Herb Carnegie
TSN, Feb. 28, 2024
The Shift had the privilege of attending this year’s Carnegie Initiative Summit and spoke with insightful attendees, who talked about what their take aways were from the summit and the impact of Herb Carnegie.