 |
 |
  |
 |
Appendix D: The Ontario Women's Hockey AssociationOWHA VALUES: So, you've been asked to coach a female hockey team? The Ontario Women's Hockey Association welcomes you to its unique team of hockey enthusiasts. For the "old thymer," it would come as no surprise that women have laced up their skates for over 100 years - going back to Ottawa, Ontario, 1891. In fact, the infamous Mayor Hazel "Hurricane" McCallion was paid five dollars per game as a star centre with Gaspé in the 1940s! To the "rookies," opportunities are numerous. Coaching positions range from building the confidence of a five-year-old who is learning the feel of the skates - to focusing a team of talented athletes on a provincial, national or international championship - to sharing the joy of a grandmother who is finally realizing her lifelong dream of actually playing hockey on a team. Women are certainly not so new to the game of hockey - as Brian McFarlane's definitive book "Proud Past, Bright Future: One Hundred Years of Canadian Women's Hockey" documents women decked out in sweaters and long skirts playing shinny as far back as 1891. The Ottawa Citizen commented in 1896, "That the Alpha and Rideau Ladies Hockey teams can play the game. Both teams played grandly and surprised hundreds of the sterner sex who went to the match expecting to see many ludicrous scenes and have many good laughs. Indeed, before they were there very long, their sympathies and admiration had gone to the teams. The men became widely enthusiastic."* Women's hockey is now being played in at least 26 countries, including many European countries. Most recently, inroads have been made in Asia - in places like China, Japan and even Kazakhstan. In 1995-96, there were some 19,000 girls and women playing hockey in Canada, with more than 82 per cent of those playing in Ontario. There have been four IIHF World Championships for women's hockey (in 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1997) and women's hockey became an Olympic sport for the first time ever at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. *Rise of Women's Hockey. Joe Clark 1994-95 PROUD PAST OF THE OWHA 1891 First recorded game in Ottawa, Ontario 1900s - 1930s Universities played a large role in expansion. Women well established in the hockey world 1940s War years brought reduction in participation 1960s Resurgence of interest 1975 Formation of the Ontario Women's Hockey Association 1982 Formation of the CAHA "Female Council" OWHA & Brantford Women's Hockey Association host the 1st Women's National Championship won by Ontario 1983 OWHA given voting privileges on the Ontario Hockey Association Board of Directors 1984 Women's hockey is accepted into the Ontario Winter Games (OWHA Midget Provincial Championship) First International Division, Brampton Canadettes Tournament 1987 First Women's World Hockey Tournament, North York & Missisauga, Ontario 1990 First fully sanctioned IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship, Ottawa, Ontario Canada wins gold! 1991 Women's hockey makes its debut at the Canada Winter Games in Summerside, P.E.I. 1992 The dream becomes a reality as the International Olympic Committee votes to add women's hockey as an Olympic sport Women's hockey will make its debut in Nagano, Japan Canada repeats as world champions in Tampere, Finland 1993 Inaugural under 18 National Championship in Montreal, Quebec. Ontario wins gold 1994 Canada wins gold at the world championship in Lake Placid, New York, USA 1995 Team Ontario wins gold at the Canada Winter Games in Grand Prairie, Alberta The OWHA experiences a 2nd straight season of tremendous growth of 25% 1997 The OWHA, CHA & the City of Kitchener co-host the 4th World Championship. The event exceeded all expectations. Canada wins gold in overtime over team USA 1998 The world watches with excitement as women's hockey makes its Olympic debut in Nagano, Japan. Young girls and women in many countries sign up to play hockey The first CIAU national championship for women 1999 Ontario wins the Canada Winter Games in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland Canada wins their 5th consecutive world championship in Espoo, Finland 2000 The OWHA and CHA again team up to host the IIHF World Women's Championship at the Hershey Centre in the City of Mississauga 2002 The Canadian women's hockey team wins the Olympic gold medal in Salt Lake City, Utah OWHA MISSION STATEMENT Through a provincially unified, collective voice, the OWHA promotes, provides and develops opportunities for girls and women to play female hockey in Ontario. PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
|
 |
 |
 |