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, September 22, 2023
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Bruins’ Jakub Lauko believes a ban on fighting puts hockey on a slippery slope
Conor Ryan, The Boston Globe, Sep. 22, 2023
Jakub Lauko is not afraid to get his hands dirty.
Once considered a roster bubble fixture last fall, Lauko has carved out a role as a bottom-six spark plug with the Bruins due to a potent mix of speed and snarl …
… For the 23-year-old winger, it’s a necessary measure in a game of controlled chaos like hockey — serving as both a deterrent against liberties taken against his teammates, and an avenue toward sparking both the bench and thousands of fans in the stands …
… As such, Lauko opted to pull no punches in regards to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) decision to ban fighting, starting with the 2023-24 season.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for hockey overall,” Lauko told Boston.com on Thursday.
… New QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini stressed the need for a culture change back in March when the wheels were put in motion for these new protocols.
Indigenous hockey team helping at-risk kids thrive in Australia
Kaurna Boomerangs bond, share culture with Coyotes players ahead of Global Series
Amalie Benjamin, NHL.com, Sep. 21, 2023
DOCKLANDS, Australia — When the Kaurna Boomerangs left Adelaide, Australia, in January of 2020, bound for a hockey tour against First Nations teams in Northern Alberta, it was a bit of a shock to the system for the Aboriginal team based in South Australia.
“I think we left at 42 degrees and arrived at minus-50,” Marie Shaw said, laughing, with 42 degrees Celsius equaling 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
It was an adventure, a test, an expansion up of the world for the kids on the Boomerangs, a six-year-old team based out of Adelaide that is a branch of the Ice Factor ice hockey program set up by Shaw in 2005. It was a way for them to play against other indigenous teams, a way for them to share their culture with similar cultures in Canada.
It was exactly what the program was designed to do.
As Shaw said, “It’s not too much the hockey itself, it’s more the doors that open.”
Three years later, with the NHL in Melbourne, Australia for the first time for the 2023 NHL Global Series — Melbourne with the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings set to play on Sept. 23 and 24 at Rod Laver Arena, the Boomerangs are a thriving program that has helped dozens of at-risk kids who might otherwise have been left behind.
6 young Ukrainian hockey players who moved to Quebec blocked from going to school
CBC, Sept. 21, 2023
Seven months after a young Ukrainian hockey team captured the hearts of Canadians at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, six of the boys who have returned to the province to study and play hockey this year find themselves unable to go to school.
Almost three weeks after arriving in Quebec City, they’re still awaiting authorization from the Ministry of Education to study in English.
Sean Bérubé, the volunteer who co-ordinated the team’s involvement with the tournament and who has helped organize the boys’ move abroad, says he’s beginning to worry about their academic success.
Spokane Braves junior hockey returns to the ice for first season since COVID-19 pandemic
Howie Stalwick, The Spokesman-Review, Sep. 21, 2023
Three years removed from their last official hockey game, the Spokane Braves return to the ice with a new roster, a new coach and a new classification.
Sidelined by COVID-19 obstacles since last playing in 2019-20, the Braves make their debut as a Junior A Tier 2 franchise Friday night against the Columbia Valley Rockies in Invermere, British Columbia.
All 20 teams in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League were bumped up from Junior B to Junior A Tier 2 this season by the governing BC Hockey organization. The Braves, who were nicknamed the Rockets when the club joined the KIJHL in 1972-73, remain the only non-British Columbia team in the league.
Daryl Watts reconciled to pay cut in new women’s pro hockey league
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press, Sep, 21, 2023
Daryl Watts took a financial hit when the Premier Hockey League was bought out and the Professional Women’s Hockey League took its place.
The 24-year-old forward from Toronto signed a two-year contract in January with the PHF’s Toronto Six that would have paid her a league-record $150,000 US in 2023-24.
Within weeks of the Six winning the PHF championship Isobel Cup, it was announced that Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter had bought out the PHF and had also reached a collective bargaining agreement with players representing the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA) to pave the way for a new league.
That voided PHF contracts, including the deal that would have made Watts that league’s highest-paid player.
Watts was chosen by Ottawa in the sixth round of Monday’s PWHL draft.
“Financially, sure, my contract was voided, but I think at the end of the day, competing against the best players in the world and for there to finally be one singular professional women’s league, that’s priceless,” Watts said during a media conference call with other Ottawa draft picks.
Historic college hockey rink honors sports star turned war hero
Matthew Ward, Yahoo Sports, Sep. 21, 2023
The 2022-2023 NCAA Hockey season marked a significant anniversary for Princeton University in New Jersey and college hockey as a whole. Hobey Baker Memorial Ice Rink, home to the Princeton Tigers Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey teams, turned 100 years old. A cathedral of college sports, this venue opened on January 5, 1923, making it the second oldest active arena in NCAA Division I Hockey behind Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena.
Hanging in the rafters of this historic arena is a banner emblazoned with a black and orange Princeton Ice Hockey jersey and the text, “Baker ’14.” This banner is dedicated to the stadium’s namesake, Hobart Amory Hare “Hobey” Baker, a college ice hockey and football star for the Princeton Tigers. A 1914 college graduate, Baker worked a number of jobs, including journalist, banker, businessman, and amateur ice hockey player, before turning his attention towards the emerging field of aviation. It was as a military aviator during World War I that Baker, to the shock of the American public, lost his life in a plane crash in France.
University of Nebraska at Omaha, Sep. 21, 2023
University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, has been named the next Chair of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Board of Directors.
Chancellor Li replaces University of North Dakota President Andy Armacost. She will serve a two-year appointment through the 2024-25 season. Dr. Li will be joined by Chancellor Jeremy Haefner (University of Denver) as Vice Chair, President Robbyn Wacker (St. Cloud State University) as Secretary, and President Ed Montgomery (Western Michigan University) as Treasurer.
“I am humbled and honored to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, the premier collegiate hockey conference that seeks excellence not only on the ice, but also in the classroom and beyond,” Li said. “College athletics is at a pivotal moment, and it’s a tremendous privilege to play a larger role in moving the NCHC forward as it adds another powerful program to its roster.”
Color of Hockey: Thomas makes successful pitch on ‘Dragons’ Den’
Former minor pro player scores $70,000 investment deal for hockey stick company on CBC show
William Douglas, NHL.com, Sep. 21, 2023
Zechariah Thomas entered the “Dragons’ Den” well-prepared.
The 20-year-old former minor pro player/turned entrepreneur arrived with a Jamaica hockey jersey as an offering and knowledge from studying 300 hours-worth of episodes of the popular CBC TV series, Canada’s version of ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
“I watched every single person’s pitch, different ways they came up to it, different ways they talked during their pitch,” Thomas said. “No other TV, no movies. Just straight Dragons’ Den.”
The scouting paid off when Thomas scored a $70,000 deal for Swift Hockey, the low-cost hockey stick company he founded in 2022, in Dragons’ Den’s season premiere Thursday night.
New hockey team to make New Hampshire debut Friday
Mike Cronin, WMUR, Sep. 21, 2023
The New Hampshire Mountain Kings are part of the North American Hockey League. The Mountain Kings will make their Hooksett debut Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Tri-Town Ice Arena.
A South Florida hockey club carves out a space for women on the ice
Sherrilyn Cabrera, Alyssa Ramos, WLRN 91.3 FM, Sep. 20, 2023
It’s been a good year for ice hockey in South Florida.
This past summer, the Florida Panthers swept the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference playoffs and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 27 years.
But at a stadium just north of where the Panthers play, there’s another team that has found success on the ice.
It’s the Fort Lauderdale-based Lucky Pucks — an ice hockey club made up of girls and women of all ages. They swept the state championships on every level this past year. The division for women over age 40 won gold for the National Championships with USA Hockey.
The team’s biggest legacy, however, isn’t the trophies and accolades. It’s the generations who continue to pass on their love of the sport.
And it all started with one woman.
With draft in rearview, PWHL can begin turning focus to the ice
Schedule, playoff format, team names still to be determined ahead of January 2024 puck drop
Myles Dichter, CBC Sports, Sep. 20, 2023
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) didn’t even exist — at least publicly — until less than a month ago.
In the short time since, the six franchise locations have been announced, general managers were hired, there were landmark free-agent signings, coaches were brought aboard, and the inaugural 15-round entry draft was held in Toronto.
A whirlwind, to say the least. Yet there is still plenty more to be done before the season begins in January 2024.
For now, though, drafted and signed players can take a quick breath, resume training and make relocation plans if needed ahead of November training camp…
The game-changing training app for youth hockey organizations
Project Hockey, Sep. 20, 2023
Mike Bonelli is a hockey solutions architect. While that may be a self-proclaimed title, it’s spot on for what this former hockey-playing, long-time youth-coaching and program-developing individual does every day.
Bonelli works directly with youth hockey teams and coaches building unique systems and practices that meet their needs and grow their success. His guidance includes everything from setting up software and ordering uniforms to picking teams and configuring the best training programs.
“A lot of consulting companies work with individual rinks, but my focus is working directly with youth hockey organizations for custom solutions, whether it’s 80 kids, 500 kids or one team.”
His customized approach includes collaborating closely with associations and aligning with partners like Project Hockey — an anywhere, anytime hockey training app — to streamline and amplify the impact of their initiatives.
Project Hockey emerged during the pandemic offering a formalized curriculum and workout program that players and coaches can access remotely.
Highland Park hockey coach retiring after 75 years
Anthony Ponce, FOX 32 Chicago, Sep. 19, 2023
“Skate fast – skate hard – have fun.”
If you played hockey in Highland Park anytime over the last 50 years, you might recognize that slogan. Now, the coach who made it famous is retiring just shy of his 97th birthday.
Coach Wally Kormylo, 96, announced he is retiring after leading dozens of local and national hockey teams and spending a total of 75 years in the game of hockey.
“I did at one time work with Wayne Gretzky for two weeks in Canada, for an hour every day to work on his skating,” said Kormylo. “My profession was the power skating, making the skaters faster.”
Jordan Dunn, Hockey of Tomorrow, Sep. 19, 2023
Since the founding of the “You Can Play” initiative in 2012, the NHL has repeatedly been making attempts to grow the game and become more inclusive to anyone who wants to play hockey.
While the league’s messaging says that “Hockey is for Everyone,” recent actions have indicated otherwise. With the decision to scrap cause-based warm-up jerseys entirely next season, it may feel as though hockey is a sport that’s actively trying to turn away its fans.
Thankfully, while the NHL may be coddling the handful of players who don’t want to make hockey a more welcoming sport to everyone, plenty of other players, teams, and organizations are actively doing their part to make the sport a better place for anyone who wants to play.
Hockey IS for everyone, and there are plenty of organizations making sure their actions match those words.Here are just a few of them …
The vibes of the PWHL draft were immaculate
The elation and excitement was real for many of the picks
Shireen Ahmed – for CBC Sports, September 19, 2023
As girls in sport, we are often told that sports is not about the score. We are told it is about the fun and the experience — and to be grateful for the opportunity.
Sometimes it’s OK to be boastful. Monday was one of those days. The first PWHL draft was executed at the Barabara Frum atrium of the CBC Broadcast Centre in downtown Toronto. I arrived early to an absolutely beautiful set up of white, purple and blue (periwinkle is the official colour of the league).
There was a purple carpet with red velvet rope and space for fans. There were volunteers and staff in purple clothing with PWHL on the chest. There was ample space for media and different rooms, with access to strong WiFi and electric outlets. There was live streaming on CBC Gem, TikTok live and many others. There was a massive digital and social media presence. There was catering and Tim Horton’s coffee. There were rooms for family and spaces. There were babies, parents and family there supporting the players and the teams. And there were the young fans lined up alongside the purple carpet…
Henry Boucha, legend of Minnesota hockey from Warroad, dies at 72
Chris Miller, David La Vaque, (Minneapolis Star Tribune), Sep. 19, 2023
Henry Boucha, who became a high school hockey legend when he led Warroad to the championship game of the 1969 Minnesota state tournament, has died at age 72.
His daughter, Tara, confirmed his death on Monday. He died in the Twin Cities, where he was being treated for heart issues at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
Boucha, an Ojibwe who championed causes on behalf of Native Americans, also played in the NHL, World Hockey Association and on the U.S. Olympic team, winning a silver medal in 1972.
Former junior hockey coach pleads not guilty in Regina sex offence trial
Bernard Lynch, 68, accused of assaulting 17-year-old in 1988
Alexander Quon, CBC News, Sep. 19, 2023
Warning: this story contains distressing details of an alleged sexual assault.
The trial of a former junior hockey coach accused of sexual offences against a 17-year-old in 1988 began at the Court of King’s Bench in Regina on Tuesday.
Bernard “Bernie” Lynch is facing charges of assault and sexual assault. Lynch entered pleas of not guilty to both counts Tuesday morning.
Lynch, 68, coached hockey in North America and Europe for more than 40 years, including Saskatchewan. He was the subject of a CBC News investigation in 2021, in which parents and players alleged abusive behaviour.
Hockey culture shift: Women’s dreams ‘come true’ as PWHL holds first draft
Global News, Sep. 18, 2023
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has held its first draft as interest in women’s sports surges around the world. Eric Sorensen explains how the new league could set the bar for hockey’s next generation of players, and how the sport’s culture is long overdue for change.
Bowling Green hockey coach put on leave amid hazing probe
Associated Press, Sept. 18, 2023
Bowling Green State University has put hockey team head coach Ty Eigner on administrative leave and put three players on interim suspension as it investigates a report of alleged hazing at an off-campus event involving players on the team.
The Ohio school made the announcement in a statement posted on its website Monday but did not name the three players nor specify any details about the alleged hazing.
The school said it immediately notified law enforcement and initiated its own investigation upon receiving the report.
Just getting started: Tennis, equality icon Billie Jean King sets stage for PWHL ‘trailblazers’
Rory Sumner, CBC Sports, Sepy. 18, 2023
Billie Jean King: tennis icon, women’s rights advocate … hockey ambassador?
While the 12-time Grand Slam champion admits she does not know much about the sport of hockey yet, there really was no other option to kick off the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft on Monday at CBC headquarters in Toronto than King, whose name has long been synonymous with gender equality in sports.
“A trailblazer is one that blazes a trail to lead and include others, the first person to do something or go somewhere who shows that it is also possible for other people,” said King before calling out Taylor Heise’s name as Minnesota’s first-overall pick of the inaugural draft. “Trailblazing is bold, it’s brave, and it can be very scary and lonely.
“But it’s worth it. It’s really worth it. It’s worth it for each one of us who have fought so hard for this day. And it’s worth it for the generations of girls and women who will come behind us.”
Minnesota selects Taylor Heise No. 1 in inaugural PWHL draft
Associated Press, Sept. 18, 2023
If Minnesota regards itself as the State of Hockey, the Twin Cities’ Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise will feature plenty of homegrown players, including Taylor Heise.
The 2022 women’s college hockey player of the year, who played for the Golden Gophers and grew up 75 miles from Minneapolis, is staying home after the yet-to-be-named Minnesota franchise used the No. 1 pick to select Heise in the newly launched league’s inaugural draft on Monday.
Game-Changing Event: The Future of Hockey Forum!
Amy Walsh, Future of Hockey Lab LinkedIn, Sept. 17, 2023
As a legacy of the Kraft Hockeyville NHL exhibition game on October 1st, I’m thrilled to share that Cape Breton University will host the Future of Hockey Forum on October 2 at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre.
Join us for a day of inspiration, innovation, and action! The full-day event promises captivating presentations, esteemed panelists, and dynamic discussions, all geared toward transforming ideas into impactful action.
Get ready to witness the brilliance of innovative solutions from our very own Future of Hockey Lab community cohort fellows.
Prepare to be wowed by an exceptional lineup of special guests, including accomplished figures from both the hockey and academic communities!
With the combined dedication of these changemakers and the active participation of leaders like you, we’re bound to create an unforgettable experience. Together, we’ll celebrate remarkable achievements and delve into actionable ideas, illuminating a brighter future for the world of hockey.
What does the new PWHL mean for women’s hockey? A guide for those who aren’t fans — yet
Stephanie Hogan, CBC News, Sept. 17, 2023 3
Monday is shaping up to be a historic day in Canadian hockey with the first draft of the brand new Professional Women’s Hockey League.
The league was formed over the summer with details announced Aug. 29.
“We have never seen more excitement and demand for women’s sports, and through the launch of this league, the top women’s players in the world will have the opportunity to reach even greater heights,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL senior vice-president of hockey operations, at the time.
Interest in the women’s game is high.
Photos: East Baltimore hockey club offers lessons for a lifetime
Jessica Gallagher, The Baltimore Banner, Sept. 15, 2023
Myron Green rummages through bags and walks gingerly around corners of the Mount Pleasant Ice Arena in Northeast Baltimore. He’s unsteady on his feet, balancing on skates that he hasn’t worn for eight months.
It’s early spring, and he is frantically searching for the one piece of equipment – a helmet – that he needs to join his teammates on the ice. It’s also Green’s last chance: Today marks the final practice of the Baltimore Banners ice hockey team’s season…
Green’s story reflects the mission of the Baltimore Banners, a volunteer-run team that was founded in 2003 and aims to teach on- and off-ice skills to at-risk youth in East Baltimore. The team is run by the Tender Bridge Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Noel Acton.
Chris Torres Wants Hockey to Become a Norm in Puerto Rico
The 16-year-old played for the 16U Puerto Rican national team at the Amerigol LATAM Cup in 2022
Steve Drumwright, USA Hockey, Sep. 15, 2023
Like many who get their start in hockey, Chris Torres was hanging out with his brother when they went to go see a friend play.
What else is there to do when you are a 4-year-old learning about the world?
Chris Torres’ life changed that day, as he fell in love with the game immediately.
“I was wondering where he was going. I just tagged along,” Torres said. “At this time, he was already 14 and they were hitting. I thought it was so cool that on these little, thin blades, and they were hitting each other and shooting these pucks, going real quick. After that, my mom put me in Learn to Skate and then it just took off from there.”
Torres is now 16 years old, a junior at Fountain Inn High School in South Carolina and an aspiring hockey player.
In fact, his parents’ roots have opened unexpected playing opportunities for Torres.
Torres was born in the U.S. after his parents moved from Puerto Rico to Atlanta in 2005. In 2021, one of Torres’ teammates with the Carolina Rage youth hockey program — who was also of Puerto Rican descent — reached out and invited him to participate in a camp.
NHL to co-sponsor Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Leadership Conference
Partnership at event in Washington ‘critical part’ of League’s strategy to grow sport
William Douglas, NHL.com, Sept. 14, 2023
The NHL is co-sponsoring the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Leadership Conference for the first time in the event’s 46-year history.
League representatives will also be active at the Sept. 19-21 gathering of Latino national leaders, corporate executives, elected officials, policy-makers and influencers in Washington.
Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez will be part of a panel discussion on how Latino fans have become a driving force in today’s sports market, how Latino athletes are leading the way for teams and how Latinos remain underrepresented in sports ownership and media.
Gutierrez, the NHL’s first and only Hispanic president and CEO, will be joined on the panel by Major League Baseball human resources vice president Frances Isabel; Stacie M. de Armas, senior vice president, DEI, diverse insights, intelligence & initiatives for Nielsen; Erika Ruiz, an agent for Klutch Sports Group; and moderator Claudia Pagan, a host and sideline reporter for D.C. United of Major League Soccer.
Hockey Alberta’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Sept. 13, 2023
The past two years have seen Hockey Alberta undertake several initiatives and engage numerous individuals to help us better understand the challenges faced by participants in our sport related to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Hockey Alberta hosted an Indigenous Hockey Summit in August 2021, and then created and hosted the inaugural 11.4 Awareness Day in 2022 with a focus on maltreatment and Hockey Canada’s new rule 11.4.
A key part of the work undertaken by Hockey Alberta has been through the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. This committee is comprised of diverse individuals with a wide range of life and athletic experiences. Members of the committee attended the Hockey Alberta Member Summit in June 2022, where they discussed the findings of the organization’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion survey.