‘Great players all over the world’: Kim St-Pierre on future of women’s hockey
Posted Jul 10, 2020 5:45 am.
Last Updated Jul 10, 2020 8:39 am.
TORONTO (660 NEWS) — Over her lengthy career, Kim St-Pierre broke many barriers.
She won three Olympic gold medals, is a five-time world champion and is part of the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class as the first female goalie.
But she says a lot of work still needs to be done in the game, namely a professional league that features the world’s best players.
“It’s something that we’re all dreaming of,” she recently told Sportsnet. “We know we have great players all over the world that would make this league so special. But, we need the support. We need people to believe. We need people to invest.”
Plenty of work is being done behind the scenes.
The Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association was formed in 2019 after the Canadian Women’s Hockey League folded.
Pre-pandemic, the PWHPA hit the road, playing games as part of the Dream Gap Tour.
As the association continues to grow, it recently announced it would work out of five hub cities, including Calgary, for 2020-21.
READ MORE: ‘Great location’: Rebecca Johnston readies for PWHPA hub in Calgary
At the helm of the PWHPA is Jayna Hefford, a former teammate of St-Pierre and a Hall of Famer.
“With Jayna Hefford leading, Cassie [Campbell-Pascal], Marie-Philip Poulin and many American hockey players as well, I really hope it’s going to work out,” St-Pierre offered. “Growing up, I was hoping to play in the NHL, but now there are so many young girl hockey players, and hopefully they can wish one day to play in this professional league.
“We have opportunities at college and university, but the professional league, I would be so impressed, so happy to see it happen.”
WATCH: Free skate in Calgary draws support for professional women’s hockey
