SeeWhatSheCanDo
October 04, 2018
The atmosphere was electric with Panther spirit from the parking lot where teams played ball hockey and experienced players shared slapshot tips to the ice where multi-aged teams played our great game of hockey.
Over twenty-five years ago, there was very little girls or women's hockey in York Region. So a few friends pulled together to start their own league now known as the Central York Girls Hockey Association (CYGHA). With only 114 players when it started, teams were made up of many different ages. Each age group formed an individual line and faced the same aged players. It was from these humble beginnings that this current league of over 800 players was born.
Today the CYGHA is a flourishing organization with many house league and competitive (rep) teams for many age ranges and divisions. For current and alumni CYGHA players, the chance to build lifelong memories and friendships across York Region is what makes this league so special. For the CYGHA's exceptionally talented players, the chance to play at the Canadian university, college or American college level is now a very real and exciting opportunity. But, it doesn't stop there. These exceptionally talented players can now aspire to play at a professional level in North America either through the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) or the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) or the numerous professional women's hockey leagues throughout Europe and Sweden.
For the CYGHA, the start of their 25th season marked a great moment to celebrate with so many who have helped make the Association what it is today. It meant bringing together league builders, alumni, and current players, their families and community dignitaries to share in the celebrations. It gave everyone a chance to paint their face red, blue and yellow, sport 25th-anniversary tattoos on their arms and enjoy a community barbeque and some anniversary cake. It also meant holding hockey games throughout the day with the teams made up of multiple ages to harken back to the league's early beginnings. Finally, it meant hosting a CWHL exhibition game between the Markham Thunder and the Toronto Furies that showcased women's professional hockey and gave local hockey players and fans of all ages a chance to enjoy watching the pros in their own backyard.
Congratulations to the CYGHA for thier quarter-century success in serving and building female hockey throughout York Region. Your success in building a passion for hockey in the hearts and minds of females of all ages living in York Region is best reflected in the words of three young players who shared with SeeWhatSheCanDo what they thought about the game of hockey.
Brooke: "It's the best sport ever."
Caroline: "I love coming to the rink every day."
Kate: "It's so much fun playing with my friends."
The sense of community, passion and fun expressed in the words of these three players demonstrates why the CYGHA continues to attract girls and women from all across York Region and why the future of the CYGHA looks very bright.
Find the CYGHA, the CWHL, the Markham Thunder and the Toronto Furies in our Athlete Advisor, your online athletic business directory. Find, rate and review hockey programs, local offerings, and businesses that will help you do your thing.
Post your ice hockey event on our SWSCD Hub. Start an ice hockey group on our SWSCD Hub.
Look for advice, stories, news and more on our Ice Hockey activity pages.
Have your own great ice hockey moment you'd like to celebrate? Share your highlights directly on our Discover blog or by using #seewhatshecando on social media and inspire others to get active.
Written by Caroline Wiley and Tina Finelli.
Caroline bridged her 20+ years of professional experience in the sport and recreation industry together with her passions for photography and supporting women in sport to create SeeWhatSheCanDo. Her vision is to create a welcoming space where active women find a sense of belonging within a local community, see themselves in authentic and awe-inspiring ways and find resources to help them be their best active selves.
Tina is a Canadian-bred storyteller and Co-Founder of SeeWhatSheCanDo. Lover of all things outdoors, Tina's happy place is surrounded by forest, water, and mountains. In moments when she isn't moving outdoors, Crossfitting or playing hockey, you'll find her watching her daughters on the dance floor or playing hockey, reading a book, or cooking up a storm.
Photos by Caroline Wiley, Tina Finelli and Kate Latimer.
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