NewsFebruary 05, 2025
Hockey Alberta recently hosted its annual Female Hockey Day, celebrating the growth and development of female hockey across the province, with the host city being Medicine Hat. This year’s celebration was presented by ATB and brought together players, coaches, officials, family members, and volunteers to participate in events that highlighted the continued growth of female hockey in Alberta.
Female Hockey Day is an exciting occasion that celebrates the achievements of female athletes and provides an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow the sport.
One of the key takeaways from this year’s event in Medicine Hat was the strong community support from across the city. “There were a few things that stood out most about this event and about Medicine Hat, specifically, as a hockey community,” said Morgen Kidney, Hockey Alberta’s Minor Leagues Coordinator. “The first being the fact that every hockey-lover and supporter was super excited to take part in the day in some fashion. Even though our sessions were focused on girls’ hockey development, we saw brothers, dads, and other men supporting the event around the rink all day. This was most evident during the Showcase Game, in which there were a ton of young men in the crowd cheering for the top level of girls’ hockey in Alberta!”
Additionally, the energy in the arena was undeniable, with attendees showing a strong desire to stay and support the event from start to finish. “The other aspect that stood out about the event in Medicine Hat was that no one wanted to leave the arena. We see events where people come and go, but it was fantastic to see that the Medicine Hat girls in each of the sessions wanted to hang around, cheer for the other groups, and be involved in as much as possible.”
Kidney also reflected on the growth of the event over the past few years. “It’s really exciting to see how much Alberta Female Hockey Day has grown in the last few years. It was only 3 years ago that we were only seeing 2-3 associations apply to host satellite events in conjunction with our main one; the past two years, we’ve had 15+ apply.” Kidney continued, “I think this speaks to the incredible recent growth of girls’ hockey, and it’s only going to continue. Having events like this spread out across the entire province gives girls a chance to celebrate, enjoy the game, work on their skills, and spark conversation about their hockey goals and dreams.”
While Medicine Hat was the main host city for the 2025 event, celebrations took place in over 10 communities across Alberta, thanks to grant funding from the Hockey Alberta Foundation. These celebrations were held in Fort McMurray, High Prairie, Slave Lake, Bonnyville, Grovedale, Vermilion, Morinville, Edmonton, Lacombe, Red Deer, and Jasper, making Female Hockey Day a truly province-wide celebration.
The success of Female Hockey Day this year highlights the incredible growth and energy surrounding female hockey in Alberta, with communities coming together to support and inspire the next generation of athletes.