Yellowknife hockey players say changes to team structure for girls are offside

Changes ar coming to the water ice in Yellowknife this overwinter, and non everyone is shouting about it. 

The Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association plans an overhaul to its structure, getting rid of female-only development teams, a girls-only option for more elite players, in favour of what it's calling a travel team model.

High-level girls will now have to play on co-ed teams, with girls who are selected for a new travel team getting ice time for 2 additional female-only practices each week, and opportunities to travel together to play in female-only tournaments.

Some players say the change has them reconsidering whether they'll stick with the sport.

Alyssa Maurice, who played on the female U15 Spitfires squad last year, has already played co-ed hockey. She said the players would routinely insult her, while the coaches treated her with kid gloves.

"It was my first year of hockey, so I needed some criticism," she said. "And the coaches just wouldn't say anything to me because they were scared of hurting my feelings. But then with the female team, they gave me constructive criticism and they want us to grow as players."

Teammate Naya Nichols said she also heard insults playing co-ed and some players refused to pass to her.

"I was getting treated like a girl and not a hockey player," she said. "And then ... On the female team, our coaches treat us all like hockey players, not like female hockey players. Our coaches were not scared to give us feedback or criticism to make us better."

The Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association is defending the changes. In an email, president Mike Lalonde said they were broadly supported in a survey of parents and players.

"The objective was to create a sustainable female hockey pathway that balances strong female team identity with access to broader competition and development opportunities," he said.

"The decision also builds on successful pilot experiences at the U13 and U18 levels during the past season, where female players participated under a similar model and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive."

Lalonde also said the model is similar to one used in Whitehorse and other Northern communities where the number of female players often fluctuates dramatically.

Naya Nichols's father Ryan Nichols coached the Spitfires last season. He said having a girls-only development team was crucial, because girls' hockey is booming in the city, but also because girls tend to leave the sport at a higher rate than boys, especially as they grow older.

"Female specific programs are one of the most effective ways to improve participation, retention, confidence, and just have a lifelong love of the game," he said. "So having to play or being forced to play co-ed after they've been [in] a successful development team pathway, I feel is just a step back."

Ryan Nichols said he's concerned girls will quit the sport if they are required to play co-ed this season.

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