'Empowering girls to be leaders:' Hockey builds on and off-ice skills

GUELPH - Far beyond athletics, there are many benefits to keeping girls in sports longer.

It's something Michelle Watterson, president of Guelph Girls Hockey Association (GGHA), is pleased to see happening and she hopes the trend continues.

"I really want to empower girls to be leaders," Watterson said. "I think today, women see the benefits more and more. They see that there is something beyond varsity, and you can really go far in women's sport."

The GGHA is dedicated to providing a fun environment for women and girls to develop self-esteem and confidence by promoting team work, a strong work ethic and athletic commitment.

The goal is to develop skills as players, teammates, future community volunteers and leaders.

"I saw Billy Jean King talk about women and sports. She said that 94 per cent of women in c suite positions played sports," Watterson said.

"C suite positions" refers to people in senior corporate leadership roles such as chief executive officer, chief operating officer or chief financial officer.

Established in 1996, GGHA offers recreational and competitive hockey programs to girls in Guelph and surrounding communities.

Once a hockey mom herself, having watched both of her daughters play the sport for many years, Watterson said the leadership skills they developed are priceless.

"My youngest daughter went off to university, and will play somewhere else. My oldest daughter played U22 house league and was an assistant coach for the U9 team for the last two years," she said. "She wants to be a firefighter just like her dad. That's not typically a female-led profession, but that's what she wants to do."

With each practice and every game, Watterson said hockey can bring players a new sense of purpose.

"Confidence and self-esteem are huge. And also being able to work in a team. All of that you can get through hockey while also developing athletically. And you become committed to your fellow players and coaches," Watterson said.

"My goal is to see girls stay active later in life. Exercise isn't a punishment, it's fun and it's good for your mental health. Playing hockey creates strong and self-confident young women."

GGHA offers girls and women the opportunity to play hockey on a number of league and rep teams in a variety of age divisions.

House league programs are intended to provide a safe and positive environment where girls can enjoy playing recreational hockey and develop friendships along the way.

The representative program provides the opportunity for girls with demonstrated hockey skill and desire to enjoy the game at a higher level of competition.

In 2013 the GGHA entered into a partnership with the University of Guelph, and since then, rep teams are known as the Guelph Jr. Gryphons.

"Last year we just started our U7 program. We have a women's leadership series on our website. We are also working hard to get female coaches," Watterson said.

"We start at U7 and we also have senior teams as well. We have a senior A team and a senior B tournament team. These are for women over 22."

Growing up as a competitive swimmer, Watterson is in her second year as GGHA president.

"I started out, as many parents do, volunteering in the organization. I went from treasurer, manager, house league director, and now, here I am," she said.

"I own my own business. I am lucky in that I have a supportive husband and family. For me, it's all about women and girls feeling confident. And I feel hockey does that.'

Watterson believes, first and foremost, hockey is fun.

"And what I love about Guelph is that we are part of the Kitchener Girls Local League (KGL)," she said. "Even our house league players get to travel to other places, including Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Fergus. We stay there, so you can really get the full flavour. It's such a great experience. It's fun to compete. It's fun to win, and it's also fun to lose," Watterson said.

"I remember my youngest daughter played on a team that lost every game at a tournament. But they didn't care.They were just so happy to be there. They joked around. It was just a bunch girls having fun together."

As a team, players collectively work towards one goal.

"You build strong, lasting relationships with your teammates. My kids loved it. My youngest daughter played with a lot of the same girls. Even my oldest, from beginning to end, she met her best friend playing hockey," she said.

Watterson hopes to see more women and girls hit the ice.

"These are great girls who really support each other. I would love everyone to just come out and try it," she said.

"We want more women in those c suite roles. It's our Canadian game. Why wouldn't girls play?"