Women’s hockey in 2022 has been a firehose filled with change and advancement after the virtual desert of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From a women’s league closer to paying its players a living wage, to two major international tournaments in a year, to NHL teams hiring and promoting current and former players at an unprecedented rate, this was a turnaround. compared to the dark days of 2020 and early 2021.
Despite the pandemic hampering its preparation, Canada regained the upper hand in its legendary women’s hockey rivalry with the United States by winning an Olympic gold medal in Beijing in February with a 3-2 victory over the Americans. It would be Canada’s first of two wins over the United States in a major tournament final in 2022.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has introduced a women’s world championship for the first time in an Olympic year. Canada beat the United States 2-1 in the September final in Herning, Denmark to defend their world title.
As these two countries continue to lead on the international stage, the Czech Republic’s bronze medal at the world championships for its first medal was a breakthrough for this country.
Brampton, Ont., will host the 2023 world championship in April when Canada attempts a treble.
Without the corporate and commercial mechanisms that allowed male pros to play hockey during the COVID-19 pandemic, North America’s top female hockey players played in only a handful of games during the 2020-21 season. .
WATCH | Brianne Jenner leads Canada past the United States for the world title:
Brianne Jenner of Oakville, Ont., scored both of Canada’s goals en route to a 2-1 victory over their international rivals in the tournament final.
With international matches and domestic leagues severely curtailed due to restrictions and outbreaks, women often trained alone or in small groups waiting for normalcy and a chance to develop their game again.
“2020 and 2021 have been very difficult years,” said Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin.
“2022 has been a big year for women’s hockey. We continued. We have the momentum and I think it’s huge.
PHF ups the ante on recruitment
“There’s some great news evolving about women’s hockey. It’s something we’re very proud of, and we need to continue.”
Although Poulin and other female hockey stars such as Sarah Nurse, Hilary Knight and Kendall Coyne Schofield did not join the Premier Hockey Federation, this league continues to raise the bar for recruiting and has attracted Canadian and Americans with national team experience.
The seven-team circuit, with clubs in Toronto and Montreal, doubled its salary cap this season to US$750,000 per team.
WATCH | Poulin named Canada’s Top Athlete for 2022:
Canadian hockey great Marie-Philip Poulin speaks to CBC Sports’ Scott Russell after winning the Northern Star Award for 2022.
The PHF intends to double that again in 2024-24 to $1.5 million per team, which, on a maximum roster of 25 players, averages $60,000 in salaries.
“They’re not comparable to the NHL, but they’re comparable to other sports franchises,” Toronto Six president Sami Jo Small said.
I think there’s no better time to be a women’s hockey player because the choices you have…are just endless.— Sami Jo Small, President of the Toronto Six
Home to the aforementioned star players, the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) continues to go its own way in the pursuit of the league by playing exhibition games and tournaments.
A league is reportedly in the works, with Billie Jean King Enterprises and Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter as potential backers.
While women’s leagues have historically come and gone – the 2019 fold of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League gave birth to the PWHPA – 2022 was a year in which players’ dreams of a sustainable and sustainable offering a competitive environment similar to that of men were closer to reality.
“I think there’s no better time to be a women’s hockey player because the choices you have, the opportunities you have, are just endless,” Small said.
“We all together collectively have this incredible power in the game. It’s so visible when we start working in the same direction.”
Sarah Nurse is the first woman to appear on an EA NHL cover 🤩
She will appear on NHL 23 alongside Ducks star Trevor Zegras. #ThatsaW
The NHL has 6 female assistant GMs
Job opportunities in hockey increased for women in 2022.
NHL teams slumped announcing promotions and additions of women to hockey operations. Several former and current players have been hired.
At the end of the year, six women were assistant general managers: Hayley Wickenheiser (Toronto Maple Leafs), Cammi Granato and Emilie Castonguay (Vancouver Canucks), Meghan Hunter (Chicago Blackhawks), Kate Madigan (New Jersey Devils) and Alexandra Mandrycky (Seattle Kraken) .
Poulin and Team Canada forward Rebecca Johnston were hired by the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames respectively in player development roles.
The Los Angeles Kings have brought in former Canadian goaltender Manon Rheaume for player development.
Four women became professional scouts in 2022 to join others hired by NHL clubs the previous year.
Additionally, Jessica Campbell of Rocanville, Sask., became the first woman to stand behind the bench for a full-time American Hockey League team when the Coachella Valley Firebirds named her an assistant coach.
Former Team Canada defenseman Laura Fortino has become the Ontario Hockey League’s first assistant coach with the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Nurse, who set the record for most points in a single women’s Olympic hockey tournament with five goals and 13 assists, became the first woman to grace the cover of EA Sports’ NHL video game.
The Hamilton forward shared NHL 23 coverage with Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras.
“Gamer. Introvert. Problem solver. Creator. Thinker. Lifelong food evangelist. Alcohol advocate.”