On March 8 — International Women’s Day — the Greater Toronto Hockey League, in collaboration with the We Are Coaches program, hosted its fifth consecutive free women and girls coaching clinics, setting a record high 40 participants. New this year, the GTHL offered Skating 1 and Skills 1 Instructional Stream clinics.

“The growth of our women and girls coaching clinics over the past five years is a testament to the increasing interest and commitment to coaching in our game. What started with just five or six participants has now grown to a record-high 40, demonstrating the importance of sustainable growth and providing opportunities for those willing to get involved,” said Brian Kyla-Lassila, the GTHL’s Senior Manager of Membership Services. “This year, with the introduction of Skating 1 and Skills 1 Instructional Stream clinics, the GTHL Development team was able to provide another level of development for women in hockey. It’s encouraging to see the passion and dedication of those stepping behind the bench to lead the next generation.”

The We Are Coaches program is of no cost, open to women and girls for coach training designed to increase the number of women trained as coaches in Canada. The goal is to develop and further provide mentors and role models for young participants.

“Being able to host these women’s only clinics is so important because it creates a space for women to feel welcome and included in hockey and you can see it here on the ice,” Mercedes Watson, GTHL Instructor, shared during the on-ice portion of the clinic. “We’ve got women who dedicated half their Saturday off to being here to become better hockey coaches. Here we are, all together, and it creates that community and now we have resources within each other.”

We Are Coaches strives to: