Robert Fisher
Staff Reporter
RENFREW – Girls’ hockey, particularly girls’-only hockey, is growing in Renfrew County, just as it is elsewhere.
The popularity of the Professional Women’s Hockey League is a big factor in bringing girls into the sport.
Many local associations, including in Barry’s Bay, have mixed teams of boys and girls in house leagues. The Barry’s Bay and Area Minor Hockey Association has its first girls-only team this year. The Upper Ottawa Valley District Girls Hockey Association has the greatest number of teams in its history this year.
Girls’ hockey in Ontario is run separately from other hockey leagues and associations. Girls’ hockey is governed by the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA). Associations under the OWHA play in girls-only leagues and tournaments. The organization operates an elite U22 league across the province which includes two teams in the Ottawa area. The Barry’s Bay girls team does not play under the OWHA. They have an exemption to continue playing under the Hockey Eastern Ontario umbrella.
The UOV Thunder do play under the OWHA and have teams ranging from U9 up to U18, eight teams which play competitive and two house league teams. They play home games at arenas across Renfrew County. The association has two U15 competitive teams and three competitive teams at the U18 level.
“Our goal and our mandate,” said association president Colin Etmanski, is to have as many female players playing female hockey in the Ottawa Valley as possible.”
The organization is working to reinvigorate is Fundamentals program, which is a program geared to players at the younger ages to introduce them to the game.
“They don’t necessarily play games as much,” Etmanski explained. “They just, kind of, practice and learn to skate and learn the initial skills.”
This year is the first year for a U9 competitive team and the second year for the U11 competitive team. “So things are growing,” he enthused.
“I think, to be honest, the PWHL is helping with that. Getting more girls into hockey and getting them more interested in it a younger (age), playing female hockey at younger levels.”
The biggest jump in participation is this year, growing from six competitive teams to eight and 10 teams overall. “It’s really starting to take off.” The publicity of the PWHL helps and gives, “the young girls to have a goal to aspire towards.”
The UOV girls’ association is hosting a First Shift program beginning Feb. 28, as well. The Barry’s Bay association had the First Shift program in 2025 and 2024 as a mixed program. The Eganville minor association also held a mixed First Shift program this year. The program UOV will hold is girls-only clinic beginning Feb. 28. First Shift is a program sponsored by the NHL, NHL Players Association and Bauer to introduce youth to the game who have never played before. Fifteen girls are taking part.
Etmanski said his group have been speaking with other local associations about the possibility of girls-only clinics, too.
“I do think that we need to put together a little more solid plan to have some kind of structure for development,” he noted.
He recommended that any girl thinking about trying hockey should just do it. “Just come out and start. Attend a First Shift event. If you can find one that’s female-only, that’s great. If not, I would just encourage them just to get a start into hockey somehow.”
One thing that separates girls in the game from boys is the deeper friendships girls seem to develop both on and off the ice.
“I find the girls, that’s one of the most important things for them is the connections and friendships they make.”
Anyone with questions can contact any member of the association executive from the website, girlshockey.ca
robert@thevalleygazette.ca
About the Author
