Record attendance at Toronto PWHL game shows interest, support in women's hockey is growing, advocates say | CBC News LoadedThe record crowd at Friday's Toronto-Montreal Professional Women's Hockey League game at Scotiabank Arena shows that women are "finally" getting the support they deserve, with more young girls showing interest in joining the sport, the director of girl's hockey at the Ontario Hockey Academy says.
"They're coming to us to get more of a well-rounded foundation of hockey, where in some countries they don't have access to a rink or to personal training, physical training, stuff like that, and they're looking to play in Canada and in Ontario specifically."Toronto defeats Montreal 3-0 for their fourth straight victory. The sold-out crowd of 19,285 at Scotiabank Arena set a new attendance record for women's hockey.
Lascelle said girls looking to move forward in the game usually get into "playing university hockey." She said now, they also have "the PWHL option." Lascelle said the PWHL is also "another tool" that's available to those coaching young girls in the game. While women are playing hockey, they "play a different game," Lascelle said. As the PWHL develops, Lascelle said "girls are a little bit more invested into watching certain hockey players," adding this will help to "drive their own talent way of playing."Will Short, president of the Burlington Girls Hockey Club , has seen increased interest and growth in girl's hockey, too.