Future of Hockey Lab

Holiday Hockey, anyone? 🎄✨ The holiday break is here, and it's a great opportunity to lace up your skates and hit the ice—whether it’s at your local rink, on a frozen pond, or even in the driveway for a classic game with friends and family! And how about we switch it up? Instead of focusing on goals and wins, let’s create a space where everyone can join in the fun—especially first-timers. Break out your new PWHL jersey, make up some wild rules, invent a celebratory dance for every goal, and cheer on the new players to help them shine. ✨

'Twas the Night Before Hockeymas (Finale). --- And then, in a flash, the arenas were packed, With families and fans who’d never look back. For the game on the ice was fast, fierce, and true, Women’s hockey had taken its rightful view. The pay gap was closing, the voices were heard, For equality now was no longer deferred. Girls looked up to pros, saw their path clear, To lace up their skates without worry or fear. So, on this bright Hockeymas, let’s cheer loud and proud, For the women of hockey have drawn quite a crowd. The future is shining, with strength and with might, Happy hockey to all, and to all a good night! --- And that’s a wrap on our Hockeymas tale! The future of women’s hockey is bright, and it’s powered by the passion and support of communities like ours. What part of this vision inspired you most? We acknowledge the limitations of and concerns about generative AI. At the same time, we know that seeing is believing, and hope that these imperfect images inspire the world to see and bring to life a better future for women’s and girls’ hockey. #womenshockey #genderequity #sportsequity

'Twas the Night Before Hockeymas (Part Three). --- "And what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a league for all women, gaining strength year to year. With contracts, arenas, and big sponsorships, Women’s pro hockey was making big trips. More rapid than ever, the growth did arrive, With teams from all nations, the sport was alive! “Now slappers! Now dekes! Now shots from the slot! Go for the hat trick! Show all that you’ve got! To the top of the standings, these women they flew, With skill sets so sharp and records so new, From defenders to goalies, they dazzled the game, And ice hockey’s future would never be the same." ---- Tomorrow is the finale—Part 4. Join us to celebrate this tale of joy and hope! We acknowledge the limitations of and concerns about generative AI. At the same time, we know that seeing is believing, and hope that these imperfect images inspire the world to see and bring to life a better future for women’s and girls’ hockey. #womenshockey #genderequity #sportsequity

'Twas the Night Before Hockeymas (Part Two). --- "The barriers of old were starting to fall, As fans cheered and rallied at the packed-out rink’s call. From small towns to cities, the numbers increased, The coverage was growing, respect never ceased. When out on the ice, there arose such a clatter, The world turned to see just what was the matter. A speedster broke through with a dazzling play, Her future was bright; her skills on display. The lights from the rafters shone down on the scene, As girls on the ice chased their championship dream. Their faces were focused, their will strong and bold, For the future of hockey was theirs to unfold." --- Part 3 drops tomorrow. Don’t miss the next chapter of our Hockeymas story! We acknowledge the limitations of and concerns about generative AI. At the same time, we know that seeing is believing, and hope that these imperfect images inspire the world to see and bring to life a better future for women’s and girls’ hockey. #womenshockey #genderequity #sportsequity

It's here! 'Twas the Night Before Hockeymas (Part One). --- "’Twas the night before Hockeymas, and on the ice clear, Women’s hockey was thriving, full of hope and good cheer. The skates were all laced with the utmost of care, In hopes that new champions soon would be there. The girls were all dreaming of slapshots and goals, Of fast, skillful plays, and deflecting the trolls. For hockey was changing, its growth wide and grand, As girls took their place, with sticks in their hands. With visions of gold, from rinks near and far, And future Olympians who’ll soon be a star. The sport was advancing, more balanced each day, Where women in hockey were leading the way." --- Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow—it’s going to be magical! We acknowledge the limitations of and concerns about generative AI. At the same time, we know that seeing is believing, and hope that these imperfect images inspire the world to see and bring to life a better future for women’s and girls’ hockey. #womenshockey #genderequity #sportsequity

Give it up for Cape Breton University, the newest rink to join the Open Ice Project! Together, we’re working to understand the big picture behind the ice access problem: how many rinks do we really have in Canada? How is ice time allocated and used? Is there ice time that is under-utilized? Every partner that joins the Open Ice Project helps us collect critical data to better understand ice access and usage patterns. With the rink at CBU on board, we’re one step closer to finding innovative ways to make hockey accessible for all. Want to learn more or join the Open Ice Project? Visit: https://vist.ly/3mpsc7y

This week, our CEO Amy Walsh spent 90 minutes with the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, sharing stories of our work, along with the challenges and successes of the hundreds of people we've engaged with across the hockey community, who are trying to make hockey more inclusive and accessible 🌍🏒 They were keen to hear what we've learned and done, and where we think we need more action and investment. Three key themes emerged from the discussions: 1️⃣ Investing in Long-Term Systemic Change: The sport system has been evolving for over 150 years. Transforming it to be more inclusive and equitable won’t happen overnight, but every step counts. 2️⃣ Innovation is Essential: Tackling complex problems requires fresh approaches, like our Open Ice project. 3️⃣ The Value of a Social Innovation Lab: Sometimes, you need to work outside the system to see its blind spots. As the saying goes, "You can’t see the label when you’re inside the bottle." We’re inspired by the Commission's commitment to creating space for these conversations and seeking community-centered solutions to keep innovation going. 💡🏒

A holiday tale like no other—dreams, slapshots, and a new future for women and girls in hockey. Coming 12.16.2024.

Our CEO, Amy Walsh spent last Saturday with the Board of Hockey Nova Scotia, one of the founding partners of the Future of Hockey Lab and the Open Ice Project. Since day one of our work, Hockey Nova Scotia has shared our vision to make hockey more inclusive and equitable, and their support has been instrumental in helping us tackle challenges like ice access. Thank you Hockey Nova Scotia for your continued dedication and commitment to innovation as we reimagine hockey in Canada!

Hot off the Press: The Breakout- November Edition! This month: 🏒 Amy Walsh shares how women are breaking barriers across the hockey ecosystem, from trainers and analysts to brand builders and business leaders. 🏒 An exclusive interview from Meghan Chayka, a data scientist revolutionizing the game with data and insights that can grow women’s hockey. 🏒 Discover how we are overcoming barriers in rink booking systems and enabling equitable ice access with innovative tools and partnerships. A new partner rink even shows how Google Calendar can simplify the process! Whether you’re a subscriber or just learning about us, The Breakout is packed with stories and insights you won’t want to miss. 👀 Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/g6By5Kqp 📩 Haven’t subscribed yet? Stay in the loop and join our growing community: https://vist.ly/3mpgnfs What’s been your favourite update from FHL this fall? Let us know! 👇