By Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
The Canadian Women's Hockey League is expanding to Calgary and the Western Women's Hockey League has decided to disband.
The CWHL, made up of teams in Toronto, Brampton, Burlington, Montreal and Boston, announced Tuesday it plans to have a team in Calgary operating for the 2011-12 season.
The Calgary team will be made up of players from former WWHL clubs in Edmonton, Strathmore, Alta., Winnipeg and Minnesota.
Those players who aren't on the Calgary will have to find another place to play. The CWHL's business plan is to add more western teams when it can afford to do so.
"There will only be one league now across North America and that will be our leagues together," CWHL executive director Brenda Andress said.
"In the past year and half, we've looked around and said, how can we make ourselves stronger? One of the ways we've done that is to combine us into one league."
Former Strathmore Rockies player and governor Samantha Holmes says there will be short-term pain in the creation of one league.
"With the dissolving of the WWHL, we have a lot of players to take care of. We'll be working with the CWHL to try to figure out the best route to take on that," Holmes said. "The reality of it is, women's hockey is at a spot where we're either going to move ahead or stay where we are. This is our opportunity."
There was a single women's league in Canada earlier this decade called the National Women's Hockey League. Western teams broke away because of high travel costs. The NWHL suspended operations in 2007 and the current CWHL rose from the ashes, driven by the players themselves.
The CWHL owns its teams in a model similar to Major League Soccer. The league is in the process of raising money via sponsorships and fundraising to pay for the new team, which will have higher travel costs than its eastern counterparts.
Andress says operating Calgary as a pilot project next season on an abbreviated schedule will cost at least $200,000.
"Really what we're looking for is a lot more than that," she said. "To do it the way we want to do it requires close to half a million dollars."
The team has a manager, but not a coach or a home arena yet. The CWHL is looking at the new WinSport ice complex at Calgary's Canada Olympic Park as a possibility.
"I think it's a good move, but you have to do it the right way and we need really good corporate support and interest in Calgary," said Canadian national team captain Hayley Wickenheiser. "It would be nice to have a team that's housed and plays out of WinSport in the facility where Hockey Canada will be and maybe play some satellite games outside the city.
"I think we can draw some of the best players in the world to Calgary."
Wickenheiser still intends to play hockey a second year for the University of Calgary next season, but says she could play for the CWHL team in the future.
"I'm helping them as much as I can when they've asked me," she said.
One league might be more attractive to the NHL, as there have been rumblings the league is considering getting involved in women's hockey. Andress says she has been receiving advice from the NHL.
"The NHL has made statements over and over again that they believe in the women's game, support the women's hockey game," she said. "
"They're still working with us and I truly believe they will do what's right. They'll support the women's game in a way that allows us to move forward with providing a professional league. What way they're going to that, I don't know."
Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label CWHL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CWHL. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
CWHL stars juggle work and play
‘We usually have to pay our own way ... it takes a big commitment’
By STEPHEN SWEET – Special to the Examiner
It's the dream of many kids to one day play hockey for a living.
For most of the women at the Clarkson Cup, that's still something that they hope to aspire to one day.
Unlike most professional sports, where the athletes will earn a living wage, players in the Canadian Women's Hockey League — or its western counterpart — often end up with a net loss by the end of the season.
"We usually have to pay our own way," said Minnesota Whitecaps defenceman Chelsey Brodt-Rosenthal. "Our vacation days from work end up going to hockey, and it takes a big commitment."
With all of the teams staying at Horseshoe Valley Resort for the length of Clarkson Cup, presented by Scotiabank, it's meant taking at least a few days off of work.
"I took an unpaid day to come here, and I was still checking my e-mails on the way here on Wednesday," said Montreal defenceman Nathalie Dery, a vice-principal at a high school in Lachine, Quebec.
Dery was named the game's second star Friday night as the Montreal Hockey Club defeated the Brampton Hockey Club 7-4 to earn a spot in Sunday's final.
"We had a really good game," Dery said. "Even when we ran into penalty trouble, we stuck to our game."
Dery keeps herself busy, thanks to work in the school, as well as being an assistant coach for Concordia University's women's hockey team. She's doing all of this while taking her Master's degree.
"On a typical day, I wake up at 5 a.m. and work at the school from 7 a.m. to (at least) 4 or 5 p.m.," Dery said.
"From there, I go and coach the Concordia practice, come home to grab supper, and then go out and practice with my team."
Some of the players, like Brampton forward and former National Team member Lori Dupuis, try to find jobs that allow them to create their own schedules.
"I think you see a lot of females in this game getting into jobs that have shift work," said Dupuis, a mortgage broker.
"It can create the ability to get times off."
Given that almost everybody who plays in the women's game has come through university, they're given the tools to succeed.
"That's one of the good things about women's hockey," Dupuis said. "We're all educated, and we can go wherever we want with our jobs."
Many of them, like Minnesota captain Winny Brodt-Brown, choose to work somewhere within the game, because of the understanding there.
"The good thing is, my boss is a hockey guy," said Brodt-Brown, who works for a hockey accessory company alongside teammate and defence partner Allie Sanchez.
"We're able to get off for tournaments and such, because they're cool with it."
For some of the more local players, like Toronto forward Frances McPhail, she wasn't able to get time off of work.
"I work at Twist Sport Conditioning in Burlington, in what's typically a 9-5 job," said McPhail, an Oakville native.
But when you have to work on days where you play a 12 p.m. game, you have to get creative.
"The past two days, I got to work at eight and worked until 10 a.m.," McPhail said. "Then, I jump in the car and drive up to Barrie to play."
It meant she missed the pre-game warmup on Thursday, though she did make it up here in time for it on Friday.
"Then, I jump back in my car, drive an hour and a half to Burlington, and work until 8:30 p.m.," McPhail said.
The players put themselves through this difficult juggling act because of both necessity to work and love for the game.
"I just enjoy the game so much," said Dery, who is considering retirement after the tournament ends. "I like it a lot, so I just live in the moment."
There's also the thought that if they don't make it through these times, the next generation won't even get that shot.
"We want to see it continue to grow, so that my nieces, 15 years from now, will have a spot to play," Brodt-Brown said. "That's why we're playing, for an opportunity."
By STEPHEN SWEET – Special to the Examiner
It's the dream of many kids to one day play hockey for a living.
For most of the women at the Clarkson Cup, that's still something that they hope to aspire to one day.
Unlike most professional sports, where the athletes will earn a living wage, players in the Canadian Women's Hockey League — or its western counterpart — often end up with a net loss by the end of the season.
"We usually have to pay our own way," said Minnesota Whitecaps defenceman Chelsey Brodt-Rosenthal. "Our vacation days from work end up going to hockey, and it takes a big commitment."
With all of the teams staying at Horseshoe Valley Resort for the length of Clarkson Cup, presented by Scotiabank, it's meant taking at least a few days off of work.
"I took an unpaid day to come here, and I was still checking my e-mails on the way here on Wednesday," said Montreal defenceman Nathalie Dery, a vice-principal at a high school in Lachine, Quebec.
Dery was named the game's second star Friday night as the Montreal Hockey Club defeated the Brampton Hockey Club 7-4 to earn a spot in Sunday's final.
"We had a really good game," Dery said. "Even when we ran into penalty trouble, we stuck to our game."
Dery keeps herself busy, thanks to work in the school, as well as being an assistant coach for Concordia University's women's hockey team. She's doing all of this while taking her Master's degree.
"On a typical day, I wake up at 5 a.m. and work at the school from 7 a.m. to (at least) 4 or 5 p.m.," Dery said.
"From there, I go and coach the Concordia practice, come home to grab supper, and then go out and practice with my team."
Some of the players, like Brampton forward and former National Team member Lori Dupuis, try to find jobs that allow them to create their own schedules.
"I think you see a lot of females in this game getting into jobs that have shift work," said Dupuis, a mortgage broker.
"It can create the ability to get times off."
Given that almost everybody who plays in the women's game has come through university, they're given the tools to succeed.
"That's one of the good things about women's hockey," Dupuis said. "We're all educated, and we can go wherever we want with our jobs."
Many of them, like Minnesota captain Winny Brodt-Brown, choose to work somewhere within the game, because of the understanding there.
"The good thing is, my boss is a hockey guy," said Brodt-Brown, who works for a hockey accessory company alongside teammate and defence partner Allie Sanchez.
"We're able to get off for tournaments and such, because they're cool with it."
For some of the more local players, like Toronto forward Frances McPhail, she wasn't able to get time off of work.
"I work at Twist Sport Conditioning in Burlington, in what's typically a 9-5 job," said McPhail, an Oakville native.
But when you have to work on days where you play a 12 p.m. game, you have to get creative.
"The past two days, I got to work at eight and worked until 10 a.m.," McPhail said. "Then, I jump in the car and drive up to Barrie to play."
It meant she missed the pre-game warmup on Thursday, though she did make it up here in time for it on Friday.
"Then, I jump back in my car, drive an hour and a half to Burlington, and work until 8:30 p.m.," McPhail said.
The players put themselves through this difficult juggling act because of both necessity to work and love for the game.
"I just enjoy the game so much," said Dery, who is considering retirement after the tournament ends. "I like it a lot, so I just live in the moment."
There's also the thought that if they don't make it through these times, the next generation won't even get that shot.
"We want to see it continue to grow, so that my nieces, 15 years from now, will have a spot to play," Brodt-Brown said. "That's why we're playing, for an opportunity."
Source: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3045358
Monday, March 14, 2011
Montréal reigns supreme in women’s hockey
by Hélène Lapointe
photo by Pasquale Stalteri
The Montreal club has come out on top as the CWHL’s regular season Champion. They beat the number 2 seed Brampton in two straight games this weekend in Montreal. The playoff victory confirms Montréal’s considerable talents, having maintained the top spot in the league since the first puck dropped at the beginning of the season. This gives them home-ice advantage at the Clarkson Cup Championship on March 24-27 in Barrie Ontario, where North America’s best clubs will compete for the ultimate prize in elite women’s club hockey.
On Friday evening, an imposing Gillian Apps opened the scoring for Brampton, minutes into the first period. Caroline Ouellette replied for Montréal, to tie the game at 1-1, a score that stuck until the end of the game. Although Montréal dominated play with 44 shots on goal against Brampton’s 25, Brampton’s stellar goaltending, first by Laura Hosier, who was later taken off injured, and later by Kira Hurley, also stalwart in Saturday’s game. Things still winless after the 5-minute overtime, teams picked their top shooters. Finally, after 9 shots were equalized, Team captain Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux sealed the deal in front of the jubilant crowd at Concordia’s University Ed Meagher arena.
Brampton (who went to the box 9 times Friday) maintained their physical play Saturday, in front of an excitable crowd at the McGill University arena on “Fan Appreciation Night”. Brampton captain Jayna Hefford scored early, but 10 minutes later, Sabrina Harbec replied. Montreal added three goals in the third period, Brampton only 2, sealing a 4-3 victory.
A dynamic duo during their time at Harvard, Olympians Sarah Vaillancourt (Team Canada) and Julie Chu (Team USA), stood out this weekend. Vaillancourt scored one goal and two assists, including one of the most spectacular goals of the playoff, a wicked one-timer from the face-off circle that beat Hurley over her shoulder top shoulder. Chu, for her part, got three assists and mastered the blue line. “We were ready to play them,” said captain Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux. “We knew there would play a very physical game and prepared ourselves accordingly. We plan on re-living this experience at the Clarkson Cup,” she added.
THREE-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST AND FIVE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION JENNIFER BOTTERILL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
WINNIPEG, Man. – Hockey Canada announced Monday that Jennifer Botterill, one of only four Canadians to take part in all four Olympic women’s hockey tournaments and a three-time Olympic gold medallist, is retiring from Canada’s National Women’s Team.
Botterill played 184 games in a Team Canada jersey – third all-time behind Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford – recording 65 goals and 109 assists for 174 points, good for fifth all-time. She also played nine games for Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team, winning a gold medal at the 1998 Christmas Cup in Germany before captaining the team in a three-game series against the United States in August 1999.
The Winnipeg, Man., native won 16 gold medals during her 14-year career (1997-2010) with Canada’s National Women’s Team, including three at the Olympic Winter Games (2002, 2006, 2010), five at the IIHF World Women’s Championship (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007) seven at the 3 Nations/4 Nations Cup (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) and at the 2005 Torino Ice Tournament.
Botterill was named Most Valuable Player at the 2001 and 2004 IIHF World Women’s Championships, took home Top Forward honours as well in 2001 and earned a spot on the Media All-Star Team at the 2004 IIHF World Women’s Championship and 2006 Olympic Winter Games. And on February 25, 2010, Botterill set up the gold medal winning goal by Marie-Philip Poulin.
“I will always be grateful for all that hockey has given me in my playing career,” said Botterill. “I will forever treasure the experiences and opportunities that have come my way through this game. Thanks to all my teammates, coaches and trainers that have supported me over the years. I am very excited to start another chapter in my life and look forward to the possibilities that are ahead of me.”
“Throughout her career with Canada’s National Women’s Team, Jennifer Botterill has been a role model for young girls playing hockey across the country, and I am sure she will continue to do so even in retirement,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “We wish her the best in her future projects, and look forward to working with her to help continue to grow the women’s game. Her infectious smile and cheerful personality will be missed in the dressing room and on the ice.”
At the club team level, Botterill twice won gold at the Esso Women’s Nationals, in 2005 with the Toronto Aeros and 2008 with the Mississauga Chiefs, and was the first recipient of the Angela James Bowl as leading scorer of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League in its inaugural 2007-08 season, when she also picked up the league’s Top Forward award.
She spent four seasons at Harvard University (1998-2001, 2002-03), recording 319 points in 107 games and winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in U.S. women’s college hockey in 2000-01 and 2002-03, making her the only player to win the award twice. Botterill, who scored the overtime winner for Harvard to give it the American Women’s College Hockey Alliance national championship in 1999, finished her college career with at least one point in 106 of her 107 career games, including a record 80 games in a row.
For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
André Brin Francis Dupont
Director, Communications Manager, Media Relations
Hockey Canada Hockey Canada
(403) 540-8444 (403) 777-4564
abrin@hockeycanada.ca fdupont@hockeycanada.ca
Jason La Rose Kristen Lipscombe
Coordinator, Content Services Coordinator, Communications
Hockey Canada Hockey Canada
(403) 777-4553 (403) 284-6427
jlarose@hockeycanada.ca klipscombe@hockeycanada.ca
Keegan Goodrich
Coordinator, Media Relations
Hockey Canada
(403) 284-6484
Francis Dupont
Manager, Media Relations/Communications
Responsable, relations avec les médias et communications
Hockey Canada
phone/téléphone: (403) 777-4564
cell/cel: 587-999-5681
fax/télécopieur: (403) 777-3635
e-mail/courriel: fdupont@hockeycanada.ca
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Playoff Time - 2010/2011 CWHL Season
It's already that time of year... Playoffs. Feels like just last week we were hosting the first ever Women's Hockey draft and here we are, already coming to the conclusion of the 2010/2011 season.
The final standings for the regular season:
Montreal - 46 Points
Brampton - 39 Points
Boston - 21 Points
Toronto - 21 Points
Burlington - 14 Points
Montreal HC - Caroline Ouellette
Brampton HC - Gillian Apps
Brampton HC traveling to play Montreal HC this weekend for bragging rights of the first round of the playoffs. The first and second place teams will be playing Friday March 11th at 4:30pm at Concordia University (Ed Meagher Arena), Saturday March 12th at McGill University (McConnell Arena McGill) at 6:30pm and Sunday facing off at 1:30pm at Leo Crepin Arena.
March 11th, 12th, and 13th also will determine whether or not Boston HC will be making one last trip out to Ontario for the Clarkson Cup or if Toronto HC will be heading down the road to take the third and final spot from the CWHL.
Toronto is heading out on the bus at 6am tomorrow morning to play a best of 3 series against Boston. Fridays game will be played at Burbank Ice Arena at 7pm, Saturday the puck will drop at 4pm at Harvard University (Bright Hockey Center) and Sunday if needed they will play again at Harvard University at 12:00pm.
All year these two teams have battled hard on the ice and have created quite the rivalry, which will no doubt continue into this weekend. Boston have taken 5 out of the 6 games this season, 2 of which were won in Over Time.
For up to the minute scores, updates and to find out who will be qualifying for the Clarkson Cup check out www.cwhl.ca or follow us on Twitter @cwhl_insider.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Swede impresses in CWHL
Rundqvist joins new Canadian women's hockey league 07-03-11  |  | |
 Danijela Rundqvist returned to Canada after the Olympics to play in the fledgling Canadian Women's Hockey League Photo: Courtesy Danijela Rundqvist | | |
BURLINGTON, Canada – Danijela Rundqvist wants to make one thing perfectly clear. She is NOT the daughter of former Swedish national team captain Thomas Rundqvist. “I came to Canada because I wanted to play against the best players in the world,” she said.
DENIS GIBBONS | | |
| | |
Monday, February 21, 2011
Aloha Canada!!!
Ariez, a small paper version of a student from Aikahi Elementary School in Hawaii recently made a visit to Brampton. A class from the school is participating in The Flat Stanley Project. The Flat Stanley Project grew out of a classic children's book by the same name, written by Jeff Brown. In the story, Stanley, a regular boy, is squashed flat by a falling bulletin board. On the bright side, he discovers that his parents can slip him into an envelope and mail him to visit friends in faraway places. In real life, students in thousands of classrooms around the world participate in the Flat Stanley Project. There are many versions of the project, however the main theme is that students create a ‘flat Stanley’, either a copy of the boy from the book or make paper versions of themselves, and are sent all over the world where their adventures are recorded and sent back to the student to learn about different cultures. During Ariez’s stop in Brampton, she was able to watch a Canadian Women’s Hockey League game when the Brampton HC hosted the Montreal HC on February 20th. Ariez was not only able to experience elite women’s hockey, but was greeted by Brampton HC’s Jayna Hefford and Gillian Apps who were happy to show her their Olympic Gold Medals.
Provided by Shelby Baker
Friday, February 18, 2011
FANS INVITED TO MEET OLYMPIC STARS IN CHARITY HOCKEY EVENT
For Immediate Release
FANS INVITED TO MEET OLYMPIC STARS IN CHARITY HOCKEY EVENT
Canadian Women’s Hockey League plans fundraiser for CNIB
TORONTO – On Saturday evening, February 19, come out and see the best in women’s hockey. Then stay – and skate – as the fun continues.
The Toronto Hockey Club of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) is scheduled to play Montreal at 6:15 p.m. at Master Card Centre arena. This game between two highly skilled teams will feature seven gold-medal Olympians: Kim St-Pierre, Caroline Ouellette, Sarah Vaillantcourt, Julie Chu, Tessa Bonhomme and Jennifer Botterill, and Sami Jo Small.
Sami Jo Small has close connections with the CNIB, noting “I come from a long line of optometrists and my family would always volunteer at the CNIB in Winnipeg. I’d go in to read books to the blind. I know how important vision health is and I have a very close family connection to the CNIB and so I brought it to the team.”
“When the idea came up, the whole team came together to tackle the various tasks to make the event happen. I feel really positive about how hard we’ve worked to help out a great cause,” added Haleigh Callison.
The game will feature door prizes, a Silent Auction, a section for visually impaired fans with LIVE play-by-play, an autograph session, and for a $5 donation you can take to the ice and skate with the players after the game. Other surprises will also occur on Saturday making this game extra special!
All of the extras for Saturday’s game were organized by an already busy team that must balance, work, hockey, school, and other commitments, but Alexandra Hoffmeyer understands that “any time you are in the position where you can help out a greater cause, I think it's really important to do so. I've spent many years playing hockey and being taught the importance of giving back to a community that supports you.” She continued, saying “because we have this platform and many players on our team are in the spotlight even more given their status as Olympians, I think it is a great chance to help organizations such as CNIB in generating more awareness and funds using this reach.”
The CNIB provides valuable support and resources to those affected by vision loss in Canada. As of 2007 there were over 108,000 legally blind Canadians and many more that experience partial vision loss.
No tickets required. Entrance to the game and festivities is free when accompanied with a donation to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. For game spectators with a visual impairment, a special seating section has been set up to provide live play-by-play. The Master Card Centre is located at 400 Kipling Avenue in Toronto.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Event Media
Angela Di Stasi
416-599-9900 ext.229
adistasi@newscanada.com
Chief Organizer CWHL
Sami Jo Small
416-524-7625
samismall@hotmail.com
Toronto Media Relations
Meg Black
416-436-9575
Ms.megblack@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Fans Invited to Meet Olympic Stars at Women's Hockey Game
Fans Invited to Meet Olympic Stars at Women's Hockey Game
Canadian Women's Hockey League Plans Fundraiser for CNIB
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 11, 2011) - On Saturday evening, February 19, come out and see the best in women's hockey. Then stay – and skate – as the fun continues.
The Toronto Hockey Club of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) is scheduled to play the Montreal team at 6:15 p.m. in the arena of the Master Card Centre. You are invited to this highly skilled sports event – and so are seven gold-medal Olympians: Kim St-Pierre, Caroline Ouellette, Sarah Vaillantcourt, Julie Chu, Sami Jo Small, Tessa Bonhomme and Jennifer Botterill.
At a designated time during the evening, game spectators will be invited onto the ice for another highlight: Skate With The Champions. For a $5 donation per person, this will be your chance to mix and mingle, say hello to players, get your autographs, and encourage your kids to feel like little Olympians too. Door prizes and other surprises are in store including a Silent Auction fundraiser with several must-have items.
No tickets required. Entrance to the game and festivities is free when accompanied with a donation to the Canadian National Institute For The Blind. For game spectators with a visual impairment, a special seating section has been set up to provide live and up-close, play-by-play. The Master Card Centre is located at 400 Kipling Avenue in Toronto.
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