Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day!

If there's one thing this blog does unapologetically, it covers women's hockey as often as possible. Granted, there are stories that I pick and choose when it comes to covering things, but I have always maintained that women's hockey will get equal footing at the very least when it comes to coverage of hockey both on this blog and on The Hockey Show. I'll admit that having a weekly column about Canada West women's hockey helps in that coverage, but I truly believe in the women's game and will go out of my way to support the women's game anytime I can because I'm a hockey fan. That means I like all forms of hockey no matter who is playing.

Not counting the previews for The Hockey Show, there were 27 articles written by me in January, and nine of them were specifically about women's hockey in some form. I'm sure there could have been more if I paid more attention to the PWHPA, the PHF, and the NCAA, but I want to support the Canadian women who play at U SPORTS institutions and at the grassroots level because these are the women who often play in front of friends and family only. To me, that's crazy.

We should talk about the efforts with the Maple Leafs that both Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette are giving in improving the Maple Leafs through player development. We can point to the efforts of New Jersey Devils assistant GM Kate Madigan, the USHL's Chicago Steel Associate GM Noelle Needham, and Chicago Blackhawks assistant GM Meghan Hunter as women who have proven that they know just as much about hockey as the men who once held those positions. We can't forget Marie-Philip Poulin working as a player development consultant with Montreal, Manon Rheaume as a hockey operations and prospects adviser with the Los Angeles Kings, and Jessica Campbell as an assistant coach with the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds. I should also mention both Jodi van Rees and Aisha Visram who worked as athletic trainers on NHL benches.

There have been many women who have moved from playing roles to coaching roles at other levels of hockey as well. Whether it's Kori Cheverie coaching the men's team at the Under-18 world championships, Christine Bumstead joining the Saskatchewan Huskies women's team in U SPORTS, or the foursome coaching unit that has Shanya Shwetz, Courtney Beierbach, Megan Goebel, and Jessie Olfert leading the Edmonton Junior Oilers U18 AAA women's team, more and more women are staying in sports in various capacities than ever before. That's very encouraging when it comes to the next generation of women who may look for other opportunities if they decide to hang up their skates.

This is why HBIC will always go out of its way for women's hockey - the people who make the game so good have such incredible stories about their careers, their decisions to stay in hockey, and some of the obstacles they overcame to get where they are. That's not to say that men don't face some of these same obstacles, but there was always that casual sexism that hung over the higher levels of professional men's hockey that never made sense, but I understood that women stop chasing the dream in past decades when it was evident that "the best candidate" meant "the best male candidate".

I am proud that Jenna Thompson joined The Hockey Show because she was an incredible addition to the show. I am proud that Kyleigh Palmer accepted the play-by-play position for hockey boradcasts because she became one of the best in the business at the U SPORTS level. I am proud that The Hockey Show will always be a place where women's achievements in hockey will not only be mentioned and discussed, but celebrated and welcomed whenever possible. And I'm proud that a number of people who read this blog and listen to the radio show appreciate our efforts to make women's hockey a normal part of any and all sports conversations.

For any and all women out there reading this, go after those dreams. Forget the naysayers. Kick down walls and barriers. Go get what you want most in this world. If it's on, in, or around a hockey rink, we'll talk about it on The Hockey Show and I'll probably mention it on HBIC. Manage a pro team. Coach a college program. Win a national championship. Whatever it is you want, nothing should stop you from reaching that goal.

Make no mistake about this fact: I'll always be a fan of women smashing through glass ceilings in all situations and sports. As you check off the achievements, ladies, I'll keep talking about your achievements. You certainly earned that celebration of your efforts in whatever you do!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!