Nov 19, 2012 | Jarid Peterson | 1668 views
Exposed: Where there is Screaming there is Hunger
Saturday November 17th, the Toronto Furies and Team Alberta of the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League) proved there is a thirst for Professional Women’s Hockey in Canada. With both teams recently signing partnership deals with NHL teams in their respective cities, the opportunity presented itself for a Free Admission game at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario.
With half a dozen Kitchener Lady Ranger Novice and Atom players, their parents and no expectations we made our way to Toronto to take in the game. The ground swell for the event had started barely a week early and was heavily promoted through Social Media, but nothing had prepared us for what we would see as we arrived at the main gate. With doors opening at 6:30pm the lineup had started forming at 5:30pm.
Quickly surveying the crowd it was abundantly apparent that we were not the only ones who had travelled into the city to catch the game. Warm up suits, and jerseys from various Girls Hockey Associations from throughout the GTA and Southern Ontario were proudly on display. Oakville Hornets, North York Storm, Etobicoke Dolphins, Stoney Creek Sabres, North Halton Twisters, Aurora Panthers, Scarborough Sharks, Toronto-Leaside Wildcats, Whitby Wolves, and our Kitchener Lady Rangers were just a few of the many Girls Teams represented at the game.
All rivalries aside, this crowd (of over 5000) was there to see a hockey game and moreover to support their Toronto Furies. It was almost instantly clear that Staff and Organizers of the event at the ACC had underestimated the interest of such a game. As the seats in the selected sections began to fill up the fans kept coming, forcing security to move back barriers opening up more seating around the lower bowl. Concession stands became inundated with excited (and hungry) fans, which became apparent as Staff Supervisors and Managers worked quickly in the small kitchens to help their overwhelmed staff.
Puck drop was still an hour away as fans lined up to catch a glimpse and an autograph from some of Toronto’s and Hockey’s elite. Two members of Hockey’s Hall of Fame were on hand, Johnny Bower (1976) and Angela James (2010), and other Hockey celebrities like Four Time Olympian Jennifer Botterill former Leafs Captain Wendel Clark and Teammate Gary Leeman.
Leading up to the opening faceoff the noise level began to grow, reaching almost unbearable and dizzying heights each and every time the big screen asked for it. But what was more remarkable was how attentive and knowledgeable even the youngest of the female hockey fans were. Every play was focused on, fans were very well versed in the names of the most popular players and the cheers for each of the three Furies goals was deafening.
As I tried to take in everything unfolding before me it became clear that the future players and fan base of the CWHL were sitting right here before me. With attendance climbing but still low for CWHL games there needs to be a clearer and more defined target market. That market was sitting right here in front of us all, it is the young women who have been picking up sticks for the first time or for several years. With such courageous and ambitious female athletes like Angela James, Jennifer Botterill, Tessa Bonhomme, Sami Jo Small, Natalie Spooner, Jennifer Wakefield, Christina Kessler, Meaghan Mikkelson, Bobbi Jo Slusar and so many more, there is no shortage of inspiration for Positive Female Role Models.
The opportunity exists for these role models to become more entrenched in the collective thoughts and daily activities of our female youth. Promoting the CWHL to this market not only promotes the dreams and aspirations of so many Hockey Playing Canadian and North American Girls, it also promotes a healthy lifestyle and shines the light on the importance of Education. In return for tireless promotion of themselves and their brand, the CWHL can expect a return at the box office through the ferocity of the Female Hockey Fan.
There is a great deal of competition for entertainment dollars, but when you combine that entertainment with so much positive influence and unending ambition it is hard to go wrong. That being said it is important for the Canadian Women’s Hockey League to hit the ground running and to continue to push its brand in small rinks around the country, putting their name and product into Minor Hockey Associations like all the ones mentioned in attendance above.
Now is the time for Women’s Hockey to come to the forefront, if there is anything we learned from a November night in Toronto is that our girls young and old are hungry for their own heroes, their own dreams, and their own skates to fill. I know in my house during random games of mini stick hockey that the names have changed to Wickenheiser, Campbell, Bonhomme and many more like them.
For More information on the CWHL it’s teams and game times, please visit www.cwhl.ca