Women’s hockey is taking on more and more importance in the country. Athletes south of the border want to follow in the footsteps of Canadian players, even if it means collaborating with their rivals.
Posted at 5:43 p.m.
Hilary Knight, Abby Roque and Megan Keller all lost gold to Canada in the last Olympic final. They have, however, set aside the natural animosity that defines the rivalry between the two nations to promote women’s hockey.
It was in Verdun, at the Center 21.02, that the first meeting of the Women’s Hockey Showcase of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) took place on Saturday. Four teams compete over the weekend and the winning formation will be crowned this Sunday evening.
The best players in the world had therefore made an appointment, in front of hundreds of spectators, to show what is best in women’s hockey.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Marie-Philip Poulin
While Canadian players like Marie-Philip Poulin, Ann-Renée Desbiens and Mélodie Daoust were present, several members of the American national team also put on their skates to get involved.
Do better and do more
The American players have the same ambition as the Canadians. They too want women’s hockey to be recognized for its true worth, and although a considerable part of the work is done in Canada, the United States is not left out.
We have a goal, but above all a responsibility. We must already think of the little girls watching us.
Megan Keller
For his part, Knight explained that the PWHPA is also doing a great job in the United States to reach as many young players as possible. The association is “essential” in the land of Uncle Sam.
Castling is also happy that the American Hockey Federation is following suit and that this desire to do better is spreading throughout North America: “Most of the players are also involved in the community. We want to create platforms, programs. We also want to reach as many people as possible. »
A lack of visibility
The number of registrations is increasing, groups are coming together to create leagues, amateurs are present at the various meetings and the caliber is impressive. Almost everything is in place for women’s hockey to finally be recognized for its true value. Americans believe only one piece is missing to complete the puzzle: visibility.
Keller, one of the best defensive players in the world, finds it unfortunate that the exposure of women’s hockey is lacking, given the fact that there is an audience for this discipline: “We have to be seen more and more . This is the only way to popularize our sport. »
Her compatriot Abby Roque, however, believes that having a stricter structure could promote the growth of the sport and the development of young players. In an ideal world, in a viable league, the players could train together on a daily basis, whereas currently it is more disparate.
Americans and Canadians hand in hand
It’s rare to see such cohesion between players who have so often hated each other at international meetings, but “we do it for hockey,” Knight said.
The American hockey star knows the Canadian and Quebec market well, having played for the Montreal Canadiens from 2017 to 2019. Having been on both sides of the border, she is able to see that despite their rivalry, the two nations can coexist to advance their sport. This is what the players seek to prove during this tour.
“In this context, we have to be together, not against each other. You see it less on the men’s side and yet we have a very big rivalry,” added Knight.
“That says a lot about the cause we are defending,” boasted Roque. She thinks players from all countries deserve a better fate.
Ditto for Keller, who suggests that in this kind of context, the only team that matters is the one that wants to help promote women’s hockey and on Saturday, all the players were playing on the same team.
“It doesn’t matter where we come from, if we bring together the best players in the world, the caliber will be higher and that’s what matters,” added the 26-year-old athlete.