National women's hockey championship coming to N.L. for first time

At a press conference dominated largely by men, the town of Conception Bay South and the city of Mount Pearl announced that professional women's hockey is coming to town.

The Hockey Canada tournament adds to an already packed 2025, which the Newfoundland and Labrador government has declared the province's Year of the Sport.

The growth of women's hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador has spiked so much in the past few years that "we can hardly keep up with the demand," said Christa Skinner, co-chair of the organizing committee. 

"The girls want to be a part of what's predominantly been a boy, male-dominated sport," she said.

This will be the first time the U18 National Women's Hockey Championship will be held in N.L., and Skinner said hosting elite athletes in eastern Newfoundland will give young women something to aspire to.

Arts and tourism minister Steve Crocker hopes the tournament — running from Nov. 3-8 — will attract visitors from across the country during a slow season for hotels and restaurants.

The province committed $30,000 to the event through Celebrate N.L., according to Crocker, who said it's an opportunity for people to bring economic growth to towns outside of St. John's.

Mount Pearl mayor David Aker echoes the excitement of bringing top athletes from "Canada's game" to his city. He said Mount Pearl has a good track record of hosting soccer tournaments and other events.

Aker is confident the women's hockey championship will draw volunteers even after the Canada Games — which needs about  5,000 volunteers in more than 150 different roles over 30,000 shifts to cover all the events.

"I look forward to the day where the under 18 teams — many of those people that are coming here — become part of Team Canada," said Aker. "You're going to see the best players in this country come to CBS and come to Mount Pearl."

Darrin Bent, mayor of Conception Bay South, is thrilled to co-host some elite-level hockey.

"I believe that it will help inspire a generation of female hockey players here at home to reach the next level, to deepen their love of the game," he said.

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