Humber Polytechnic’s outdoor hockey game is more than just a competition—it’s a statement. As the event grows into an annual tradition, it highlights the increasing recognition of extramural sports alongside the impact women athletes are making. Humber women’s team played a prominent role in the event representing progress, visibility, and the push for greater equality in sports. 

Humber hosted their second annual outdoor classic in mid-February featuring two games consisting of Humber men’s and women’s teams taking on Georgian at Sunnydale Acres Outdoor rink in Etobicoke, ON.  

The women’s game was played first featuring a 4-2 loss to Georgian followed up by the men’s game with an 8-3 victory for Humber. While the scoreboard told one story, the event’s true takeaway represents the growing prominence of women’s hockey. Playing in a primetime slot, the Humber women’s team showcased the increasing visibility and recognition of female athletes.  

“For many players, the outdoor game was more than just another matchup—it was a chance to showcase their talent on a bigger stage,” says Humber forward, Kylie Ogilvie, who grew up playing on outdoor rinks. He described the experience as surreal.  

“This year has had the greatest number of girls sign up to try out for the team. We are doing something to be recognized, and all these women signing up and wanting to play for us proves that”, she said. The Humber women’s team was formed in the early 1980s whereas other schools like George Brown’s team was formed just recently in 2007. 

But women’s hockey has been on the rise in recent years. With the success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League so far, it’s more telling than ever that trackwork is laid for an emerging market for the sport.  

The PWHL was founded in 2023 followed by their inaugural season in 2024. The league consists of six teams from Toronto, Boston, Minnesota, New York, Ottawa and Montreal.  

The league is showing its promise as they’ve sold out Scotiabank Arena, the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the largest hockey arena in North America with over 21,000 tickets sold.  

a Humber student and employee of the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres spoke on the rise of women’s hockey at the pro level. “Working for the Sceptres has been an incredible experience so far. The building is constantly selling out, the building is loud and it’s all because everyone cares and believes in women’s hockey”, he said. 

The league’s growth and popularity have extended into women’s sports beyond the professional level as well. We are seeing an all-time high in women’s hockey sign-ups in Canada. In fact, a Hockey Canada report says 108,313 women and girls were registered as players in Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs last season. This accounted for 19.9 per cent of all participants, making up the highest percentage in Canadian hockey history. In 2010, the number was reported at 85 624. It is even projected the number will increase to 170,000 by 2030. Hockey Canada has formed a committee to develop its next strategic plan for girls and women. 

All this forward momentum doesn’t mean struggles in women’s sports have vanished. From pay gaps to development pathways and stereotypes, there is still a long road ahead to equality.  

These issues extend beyond the ice, where girls and women coaches experienced a retention rate 12.8% lower compared to boys and men. This may be a result of volunteers being the ones often primarily responsible for advocating for increased resources such as coaching and management (The Hockey News).  

The prominent issue within women’s hockey is celebration and support. While there are rises in attendance, women’s pro sports in the U.S. only account for 15% of sports coverage. Removing collegiate competition from the mix, professional women’s sports make up 8% of available competition inventory (Wasserman).  

“The challenge we face is support. I think if more people were to see what we can do, they can see we can compete with the men on and off the ice. The best feeling is seeing a packed rink to watch your team play no matter what,” says Ogilvie. 

With all the ups and downs women’s hockey continues to face, Humber is making sure they can do what they can to grow the game and celebrate women in sports. This includes getting time in the spotlight alongside men and introducing prolific female figures to keep the women athletes motivated and feel like they’re making a difference.  

“We’ve had two PWHL players (Zoe Boyd & Kristen Della Rovere) come out to a practice to skate and share their experiences, which was a really cool opportunity for the girls. Just to see how they carry themselves and what it means to play at a high level was really inspiring for our athletes”, says Caleb Eggert, Assistant Coach of Humber women’s hockey team.  

Humber remains motivated and confident in their ability to show off their female talent within the world of sports. The girls head to Brantford, ON starting February 28th to compete in the RECCUP, a year-end tournament event for extramural sports at Ontario Colleges. 

“The outdoor game was a great opportunity to have support from friends, family, fans, and even the men’s team to showcase our team and program. To walk out there and see all the people that came to watch gives you an extra adrenaline boost and makes you play your best,” says Eggert.