The Rise of Girls’ Hockey in Ontario

For Jennifer Soulliere and other girls who wanted to play hockey in the ’90s, it often meant joining the boys – and getting dressed alone, isolated from the rest of the team.

“There would be maybe four or five girls in Essex County playing in boys hockey,” Soulliere says. “Of course we all knew each other, and then ended up playing together and moving forward with our hockey careers.”

Soulliere, a La Salle, Ont., native whose last name was Hitchcock during her hockey career, went on to make her mark as a skilled goal-scorer in the NCAA and then in a European professional league.

As players like Soulliere and Meghan Agosta paved the way for local girls wanting to try the male-dominated game, the sport exploded in Windsor-Essex and beyond. 

Bill Atkinson, left, is the head of the South County Predators Girls Hockey Association. In the 90s, he was also one of Jennifer Soulliere’s (right) coaches. Now Soulliere’s daughter has started playing with the organization. (Emma Loop/CBC)

Thirty years ago, there were 9,626 registered players with the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA), which includes girls and young women – a record at that time.

Since then, registrations have hit a new all-time high: 41,019 players for the 2024-2025 season according to fresh data from OWHA. In Windsor and Essex County alone, registration reached 2,245 last season – which is not only its highest number in at least 12 years but likely ever (OWHA did not have local data available for seasons prior to 2012).

The sport’s increasing popularity among girls coincides with the launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League across various cities on the continent; this gives women’s hockey unprecedented visibility.

“There’s no more exciting time than now for girls hockey,” says Candice Chevalier, head coach of the under-15 AA Windsor Wildcats. “It’s absolutely exploding especially with PWHL coming up.”

For Chevalier and others who began their journey in early 2000s playing hockey meant waiting every four years for Olympic competitions to witness elite women’s hockey.

“So to see it through these girls’ lens is just incredible where it’s just part of their everyday life where they can throw on TV and see professional women at a high level playing,” she said.

This surge is also happening within a broader boom in women’s professional sports driven partly by greater acceptance and respect for female athletes.

“It’s OK for girls to play hockey. It’s OK for girls to wrestle or play more physical sports where it just wasn’t normal before,” says Bill Atkinson, Soulliere’s former coach now president of South County Predators Girls Hockey Association.

“Everybody’s considered equal so you get equal opportunity,” he said. “And I think it’s thanks to people 30 years ago or even 40 years ago really pushing for equality. It’s finally happened after all this time.”

For Soulliere’s four-year-old daughter this means having many choices when she wants to join teams tailored specifically for girls.

But expanding opportunities in girls’ hockey hasn’t come without challenges.

Skepticism & Criticism

“For over 100 years women have played hockey in Ontario – a surprising revelation to many,” reads OWHA’s annual report from the 1997-1998 season. “For close to 100 years many skeptics have questioned and even ridiculed those who enjoy playing.”





The year also marked more than16 thousand player registrations while highlighting recognition gained due Olympic debut at Nagano Olympics by female ice-hockey players due their skill & passion.

Naysayers towards female-focused sports didn’t completely vanish even after entering new millennium though..

Jason Trealout , head coach U18 Wildcats BB travel team recalls reactions received upon starting coaching girl’s team:

“When I left Windsor AAA [boys]to come coach Wild Cats , I had gentleman telling me ‘Oh so you’re moving down TO GIRLS HOCKEY” Trealout states : ”It hurt my feelings! I corrected him saying ‘No no! I’m transitioning OVER TO GIRLS HOCKEY!’”

At that point , he coached under fifteen Wild cats squad.”Those Girls competed equally hard AS BOYS” He shares proudly

Proudly continuing HE COACHES U18 WILDCATS BB NOW…” The growth experienced IN SPORT made IT UNDENIABLE,” adds Jason excitedly. “It’s electrifying FUN AND Physical!”Reese Losier(right)and Abby Mac Lellan(left)after practice AT FOREST GLADE ARENA IN WINDSOR ONTARIO, january eighth TWENTY twenty-six(08/01/26)(EMMA LOOP/CBC)

Proud players testify IS NORMALLY ACCEPTED FOR THEM TO PLAY NOW.. “I’m In school, hockey Boys are awesome, talking about ALL things Ice-related-World Juniors/Olympics upcoming too!” Reese Losier expresssing herself candidly WHO STARTED PLAYING age three. “This feels natural!”

LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS SEE CONTINUOUS GROWTH

The Sun Parlour Female Hockey Association — home Of Wildcats — HAS grown exceeding FOUR hundred twenty-five members SINCE founded IN Nineteen ninety-three(past entry).

Kristin Barone, the association secretary And One Of Its first Players SAID “it’s totally AMAZING ACTUALLY!” When I began THERE WERE only A few GIRLS! [..] No ages/divisions EITHER–I Was JOINING THINGS WITH nineteen-year-olds..

In neighboring Lakeshore , Lightning program GREW FROM TWO DOZEN initial PARTICIPANTS To nearly FIVE hundred THIS SEASON!(congrats!)ATKINSON REVEALS SOUT COUNTY PREDATORS ORGANIZATION(EXAMPLES AMHERSTBURG, HARROW, KINGSVILLE )HAS around TWO HUNDRED MEMBERS RIGHT NOW —- WHICH SEES steady GROWTH MOREOVER HE STATES:”This association generally gains thirty-to-forty kids EACH YEAR..”

We occasionally lose twenty-five-to-thirty DUE TRAVEL HOCKEY OR AGING OUT but despite THAT OUR NUMBER STILL RISES!!!”HOWEVER THE PWHL HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TOWARD ATTRACTING YOUNG FEMALE ATHLETES WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE CONSIDERED FUTURE CAREERS IN SPORTS BEFORE!!!

“Yes definitely impacts positively”, Additonally notes Atkinson.”Growth occurring Female side PUSHES momentum FURTHER toward success like synergy effect going ON HERE”.

Your Personal Takeaways From This Phenomenon !

Olivia Versnel, a goalie FOR Predator’S U15 BLUE TEAM, Alyssa Middleton CENTER PLAYER SHARE how joyful FRIENDSHIP MAKES learning skills enjoyable along WITH FUN TIMES spent PLAYING TOGETHER..

“Exciting seeing females gaining recognition within SPORTS thanks To initiatives including impact made by PWHL since everyone accepted naturally participating ‘Versnel remarks’.

Losier believes THE VALUE derived from participation extends BEYOND simply sport itself! She claims IT BUILT HER LEADERSHIP ABILITIES LIKE NEVER BEFORE -being part OFF CLASS DEVELOPED CONFIDENCE LEVELS EXPONENTIALLY !

‘Hockey molded MY IDENTITY!’ adds teammate ABBY MACLELLAN,’Resilience proved CRUCIAL aspect; Tough games HELP shape US stronger!’

Girls under seven taking development PROGRAM AT ARENA HARROW ONTARIO-JANUARY seventh TWENTY twenty-six(07/01/26)(EMMA LOOP/CBC)

You know what? For SOULLIERE who’s always played mostly AGAINST boys throughout teenage-years growth WOMEN’S GAME implies opportunities exist enabling daughters start right OFF WITH teams exclusively DESIGNED JUST FOR THEM —>JOINING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM offered BY BILL’S ASSOCIATION aimed TARGETTING KIDS UNDER SEVEN ADDED LAST FEW YEARS.

“Proud moment seeing our kids grow accustomed norms being Inclusive,”Souilliere comments humbly”Joining girl-specific TEAMS FROM DAY ONE lets them embrace wonderful experiences while enjoying GAME developing SKILLS LOVELY atmosphere created around.”

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