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.
Please feed us news! We welcome submissions to be considered for the weekly “CI Aggregator. Send stories to “[email protected]” with “CI Aggregator” in the subject line.
WEEKLY RECAP: Friday, September 1, 2023
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New general managers Darwitz and Sauvageau head list of Pro Women’s Hockey League’s six leaders
John Wawrow, Associated Press, Sept. 1, 2023
Retired U.S. national team captain Natalie Darwitz and former Team Canada coach Daniele Sauvageau head a list of four women and two men named general managers of the newly established Professional Women’s Hockey League’s original six franchises on Friday.
Darwitz is staying home to oversee the the PWHL’s team in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Sauvageau also will be working in familiar surroundings as GM in Montreal, where she established Canada’s first only recognized high performance women’s hockey training center.
Rounding out the hirings are former Hockey Canada executive Gina Kingsbury (Toronto), Michael Hirshfeld (Ottawa), who spent the past seven years serving as the NHL Coaches’ Association’s executive director, Danielle Marmer (Boston) and Pascal Daoust (New York).
NHL Coaches’ Association Appoints Lindsay Pennal as New Executive Director.
Nhlcoaches.com. Sept. 1, 2023.
The National Hockey League Coaches’ Association announced today that the Executive Committee has unanimously appointed Lindsay Pennal as NHLCA Executive Director. The news comes following the departure of former Executive Director, Michael Hirshfeld, who on September 1, 2023 was named General Manager of the newly formed Professional Women’s Hockey League team in Ottawa. Pennal has been working with the NHLCA since the beginning of the 2016-17 NHL season and has served as NHLCA President since January 1, 2019.
“We are excited to name Lindsay Pennal as the next Executive Director of the NHLCA,” said Bruce Cassidy, Head Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights and the NHLCA Executive Committee’s President. “Lindsay is a proven leader with a strong business background. She’s been instrumental in the growth of the NHLCA since she first joined us and her passionate, forward-thinking approach is well-suited for the role. We look forward to the NHLCA’s future under Lindsay’s leadership.”
At Detroit’s Hamtramck Stadium, volunteer crew revives Negro Leagues history
Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, Sept. 1, 2023
The scene at Hamtramck Stadium was a mess. Only a few short years ago, the old playing surface was covered with tall grass and tangling weeds. There were worn-down patches in the outfield, where local children played soccer. There was a concrete strip where they played cricket. The front of the dilapidated grandstand was covered with trees and twisting roots. There were no dugouts, no dirted infield, no fence, no baselines.
There was almost no reminder of what this place once was, and of why it matters today, as one of a handful of Negro League ballparks still in existence.
It’s hard to believe how far it has come since that time. Hamtramck Stadium has now been revived. A couple of summers ago, they had the infield laser-graded, laid Kentucky Bluegrass sod and poured DuraEdge sand mix on the ground. They dedicated the field and named it after Negro Leagues legend Turkey Stearnes. The people who did much of this, who helped transform a forgotten ballpark into a gem restored, are all volunteers.
“Carnegie Corner” (No. 6, August 31, 2023)
The CI’s newsletter published every other Thursday. This edition includes a Q&A with longtime NHL exec and new Executive Director of the PWHLPA Brian Burke. Other stories include an update from The CI Board member Chi-Yen Tse, the awarding of Black Girl Hockey Club scholarships, a recent development camp held by Canadian Blind Hockey, and more!
Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge kicks off in Green Bay
Mallory Allen, FOX 11 (WLUK – Green Bay), Aug. 31, 2023
For the second year straight year, Green Bay is hosting the Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge.
The tournament is scheduled to run from Aug. 31 through Sept. 3.
Four teams — USA, Canada, Great Britain, and a Team World comprised of athletes from different nations — will compete in a three-day round-robin style tournament, followed by a medal round on the final day of competition. In total, 67 total women will participate.
Professional Women’s Hockey League: Predicting the top 18 players who could sign
Hailey Salvian, The Athletic, Aug. 31, 2023
The Professional Women’s Hockey League officially has its original six teams. Now, it’s time to add some cornerstone players.
The league’s first free agency is set to open on Friday with a deep player pool of Olympians, future Hockey Hall of Fame candidates and longtime professionals on the market.
With the first contracts fast approaching, it feels like a good time to go over the top candidates who could sign over the next two weeks. But first, there are some ground rules to cover.
Agenda and Speakers Announced for Inaugural Beyond the Boards Summit
First session of Beyond the Boards set for Sept. 8-9 in Calgary
Hockey Canada, Aug. 30, 2023
Hockey Canada has announced the agenda and list of speakers for the first Beyond the Boards Summit, which will take place Sept. 8-9 in Calgary.
Announced in June, Beyond the Boards is a series of sessions that bring together leaders in hockey, external subject-matter experts, individuals with lived experiences and other stakeholders to identify ways to guide future discussions and actions that will make positive changes to the culture of the game.
“It is clear the issue of toxic masculinity in hockey is pervasive and threatens the future of the sport we all love,” said the Hon. Hugh L. Fraser, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors and honorary chair of the summit. “Although we recognize it cannot be solved during a two-day conference, we need to start somewhere and hope to look back on the inaugural Beyond the Boards Summit as a turning point for the culture of hockey in Canada.
Katie Falkingham, BBC Sport, Aug. 30, 2023
Dani Czernuszka-Watts’ partner was trying to take her mind off the situation at hand when he showed her a video on YouTube.
Grainy footage of a game of ice sledge hockey at the Paralympics filled the screen. She was drawn to it, a spark was lit – but reality bit.
It was 2017, and Czernuszka-Watts was in hospital. She had recently become paraplegic after a “revenge” tackle during a rugby match left her with a permanent spinal injury, for which she won a compensation case at the High Court earlier this year.
Nearly six years on from that day, she is an international athlete and a history-maker. Sport, she says, has brought her “normality”.
“I think my first pair of trainers was a pair of Mitre football boots,” she tells BBC Sport, looking back at her “football-obsessed, Dennis Wise-obsessed” Chelsea-supporting younger self.
Who Could (And Should) PWHL Teams Target In Free Agency
Many players will hope to land in familiar cities, while others will be free to move as they please. Here’s The Players Each Market Could And Should Be Targeting In PWHL Free Agency.
Ian Kennedy, The Hockey News, Aug 30, 2023
The obvious answer to this question is “national team players.”
Although it seems obvious, some general managers may approach this process differently. They could decide to lock in a young core of NCAA graduates, or a win now group of household names.
The only certainty, is that each PWHL team will have the opportunity from September 1-10 to sign three players prior to the September 18 draft.
Youth Movement Highlights U.S. Roster for the Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge
Team USA’s roster features six players under the age of 21
Greg Bates, USA Hockey, Aug. 30, 2023
For the second straight year, the Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
And for the second straight year, the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team is hoping to earn the title on its home ice.
In last year’s inaugural tournament, the U.S. beat Canada 5-1 in the title game to cap off a 4-0 record.
Team USA returns 16 players who competed in last year’s tournament. Missing from this year’s squad is captain Erica McKee, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.
The U.S. roster features a nice balance of veteran leadership mixed with young, up-and-coming players.
Nina Rodgers Named Women’s Ice Hockey Assistant Coach
GoBlackBears.com (Univ. of Maine sports), Aug. 30, 2023
ORONO, ME – Women’s ice hockey head coach Molly Engstrom has completed her staff for the 2023-24 season with the hiring of Nina Rodgers as an assistant coach.
“I could not be more excited to have Nina joining the squad. Our relationship has grown over time; her work ethic, knowledge and attitude are going to help project this team forward, I am certain of that,” said Engstrom. “It’s great to have her back in Hockey East. Her passion for player development is something we look forward to as well as her ability to make a community a better place. We are looking forward to all she has to offer.”
Rodgers spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College, but is not a new face to Hockey East. The Minnetonka, MN native graduated from Boston University in 2018 with a degree in health sciences. Rodgers started her collegiate career at the University of Minnesota, winning two national championships while there before transferring to Boston University. She ended her four-year playing career with 56 points (26-30-56) …
Rodgers is believed to be the first Black woman to coach in NCAA Division I hockey.
Brian Burke named executive director of pro women’s hockey players’ union
Sportsnet, Aug. 29, 2023
Former NHL general manager Brian Burke has been named the executive director of the union that represents professional women’s hockey players.
The announcement was made as part of a wider unveiling of the new Professional Women’s Hockey League during a media conference on Tuesday.
Burke will lead the union — renamed the PWHL Players’ Association — that will represent players competing for the six teams in the new league.
Blind Hockey Summer Programs Welcome New Participants
Amanda McGee, Hockey of Tomorrow, Aug. 29, 2023
THE IMPORTANCE OF BLIND HOCKEY SUMMER PROGRAMS
Canadian Blind Hockey Manager and General Manager of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team Luca DeMontis is a believer in equitable sport opportunity.
Through numerous blind hockey programs being held across Canada this summer, DeMontis is hopeful to expand knowledge of blind hockey, a growing parasport played on ice by players with 10 percent vision or less.
The first Try Blind Hockey Program of the summer commenced on May 23 in Red Deer, Alberta. Several more have taken place in regions across Canada, with the most recent event held in Regina, Saskatchewan, on August 4.
“There are opportunities for participants who are blind and partially sighted from across this country to get on the ice and learn more about the game and potentially fall in love with it,” DeMontis told Hockey of Tomorrow. The Try Blind Hockey Overtime Programs have been operating since 2011 and run throughout the offseason.
New Professional Women’s Hockey League reveals six franchises
Greg Wyshynski, ESPN, Aug. 29, 2023
The new Professional Women’s Hockey League was officially revealed Tuesday with six inaugural franchises and a 24-game regular season that begins in January 2024.
The PWHL will feature three teams in the U.S. and three teams in Canada. The American franchises are located in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and the New York City area, which could include Connecticut and New Jersey. The Canadian franchises are located in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario.
Details on home arenas, team names and logos are forthcoming. The PWHL will play its games in a variety of facilities, from NHL-sized rinks to minor and junior league arenas. The league plans to stream each game digitally, but also hopes for linear television coverage.
Robert Morris ice hockey teams return after hiatus
The school cut the teams in 2021, but the hockey community fundraised to bring them back
Tom Garris, WTAE, Aug. 29, 2023
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Around two dozen players were flying around the ice early Tuesday morning at Robert Morris University’s Island Sports Center on Neville Island.
“We’re all just very excited and ready to go,” said defender Gillian Thompson, a graduate student.
She and her teammates are once again wearing the school’s red, white, and blue after a difficult time for hockey at RMU.
“Heartbreaking, nobody saw it coming,” Thompson said. “It was a huge shock.”
In 2021, the university announced it would be cutting the men’s and women’s Division-I ice hockey programs as a part of “a series of strategic initiatives.”
A large fundraising campaign brought in nearly $3 million. By the end of the year, RMU reinstated both programs, but not until this fall.
Proceeds from Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada Distributed to Community Foundation Grey Bruce
Meaford Independent, Aug. 28, 2023
The City of Owen Sound has announced that the proceeds from the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada event have officially been distributed to Community Foundation Grey Bruce and will be held in perpetuity. The interest earned from the funds will support projects helping children in Owen Sound who are facing financial barriers to playing hockey.
Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada 2023 was broadcast live across the country from the Good Cheer Rink in Harrison Park and the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The event was presented in partnership with The City of Owen Sound, Sportsnet, and Scotiabank.
How Many NHL Players Are Canadian
JStationX, Aug. 27, 2023
How Many NHL Players Are Canadian?
The National Hockey League (NHL) is widely considered the premier professional ice hockey league in the world. With its origins in Canada, it is no surprise that a significant number of NHL players hail from the country. In this article, we will explore just how many NHL players are Canadian and provide answers to some frequently asked questions about Canadian players in the league.
According to recent statistics, approximately 45% of NHL players are Canadian …
FAQs about Canadian NHL Players ….
6. Are there any Canadian NHL players of Indigenous descent?
Yes, there have been several Canadian NHL players of Indigenous descent, including Ted Nolan, Reggie Leach, and Jordin Tootoo. These players have not only showcased their skills on the ice but have also become role models for Indigenous communities across Canada.
Color of Hockey: Daley, Kessel embrace new roles with Penguins
2-time Cup champion, U.S. Olympian promoted to special assistants to Dubas
William Douglas, NHL.com, Aug. 27, 2023
To say that Trevor Daley and Kyle Dubas have a history together is an understatement.
Daley was a promising young defenseman for Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League in the early 2000s when Dubas was the team’s stick boy and dressing room attendant.
And it was Dubas who played matchmaker for Daley, setting him up with his future wife, Kristy West, by forwarding him her phone number.
The connection continues as Dubas, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager, promoted Daley and three-time U.S. Olympic medalist Amanda Kessel to be his special assistants on Aug. 3.
Argentina wins 2023 Amerigol LATAM Cup championship
Defeats Greece Heritage HC in 2OT; Country’s U-16 team also wins division
William Douglas, NHL.com, Aug. 27, 2023.
Owen Haiek said he doesn’t recall exactly how he did it, but his teammates and dad sure do.
Haiek scored in double overtime to give Argentina a 3-2 win against Greece Heritage HC in the 2023 Amerigol LATAM Cup Division I men’s championship at Florida Panthers IceDen on Sunday.
“I blacked out when I scored,” said Haiek, who is a forward and captain of Argentina. “I just celebrated. I couldn’t believe it.”
Haiek’s goal brought a smile and tears to his father, Dicky Haiek, who is Argentina’s coach as well as the founder of the Argentine Association of Ice and In-Line Hockey.
“My son, it’s crazy, so crazy, my feeling is so … I don’t have words for that,” Dicky said. “He’s great. He’s incredible. He’s a great man and a good person.”
New York Rangers hire Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero as adviser
Associated Press, Aug, 25, 2023.
The New York Rangers have hired Hockey Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero as a hockey operations adviser, it was announced Friday.
Ruggiero, 43, won four Olympic medals as a defenseman for the U.S. She helped the country win gold at the 1998 Games in Nagano — the first Olympics with women’s hockey — followed by silver in 2002 and 2010 and bronze in 2006.
The Michigan native skated 15 years with the national team, putting up 58 points in 61 international games. Ruggiero was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
The move was one of several front office changes made by the Rangers on Friday. They also promoted former NHL forward Ryane Clowe to co-senior adviser to president and general manager Chris Drury and hired retired defenseman Paul Mara as player development assistant.