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MEMORIES GALORE Photos of the many of places Castro has visited via hockey hang on her wall in her home in City.

turn to WickFest almost an- nually and plans to attend the festival again later this year for

Over the years, they have sent asits many10th anniversary as three teams, in Calgary. some as young as peewee, which shows the growth of Mexico’s women’s game. To help the country’s na- scent program, WickFest has arranged meetings with the IIHF and Hockey , along with world-renowned coaches see Frida play abroad one day,” was fed up with the rampant a four-team women’s league and players, to help the MIHF said Castro’s father, Ivan Carde- sexism in the Mexican sport- was formed: the Pink Panthers, grow its own hockey network. nas Martinez. “We just don’t ing world and decided to set White Pearls, Blue Icebreakers Two of the festival’s sponsors, really have the resources to go up a non-governmental orga- and Black Widows. “Thirty girls Canadian Tire and SportChek, right now.” nization, Versus, to combat the said they wanted to come and sent the women on a shopping hockey world when they won On top of the infrastructural idea that sports in the country - WOMEN’S HOCKEY gold in Div. II Group B to earn eight of which are spread out are only for men. “In Mexico, “There were so many girls that ery time the women return to promotion to Group A. That acrosscountry sprawling does have Mexico 18 rinks,City, face the added pressure of cul- the problem of machismo and wanted60 turned to play.” up,” Ceballos said. Canadaspree in they their make first sureyear, toand stock ev victory brought tears of joy but only four of those meet turaland financialresistance hurdles, in their women own discrimination against women up on equipment that they can’t to the eyes of the head of the IIHF requirements and ice is very accentuated,” Reimers registered, the program is still get at home. Mexico Federation. time is at premium for the na- said. “Obviously, sport is a mi- With 192 female players now “People asked me, ‘But why are tional teams. “Other countries, crocosm of this.” DREAMING BIG you crying, Juaco?’ ” said MIHF they have rinks, loads of rinks,” THEY’RE Mexican society is generally Despite numerous obstacles, Mexico’s women’s team is climbing president Joaquin de la Garma. quite conservative, she added, “ ‘You can’t understand. You Cardenas Castro. “And for us, and in some circles, people still the IIHF ranks. And with the greatest female player of all-time know how much I have fought we’resaid 21-year-old asking ourselves, forward ‘Where Frida LEADERS NOW think sports falls within the in their corner, the Olympics are in sight BY BERENGERE SIM are we going to train?’ ” purview of men only. “Ideas succeeding.’ ” Money is another obstacle. FOR THE NEXT still exist within very conserva- N 2011, A RAGTAG group just eight years later, the Mexi- for this? And finally we are With no government support, tive sectors of Mexican society, of players arrived at Hay- can women’s national team is GENERATION OF which is mostly the major- ley Wickenheiser’s World defying all expectations, both In its first year in Group A, the players struggle to sup- ity, such as it is not feminine to Female Hockey Festival in at home and abroad, securing theythe womencame within finished an overtime last in portthe teamthemselves. is self-financed, Their parents and practise a sport, it is not femi- IBurnaby, B.C. The future Hall goal2018. of Butcapturing just one bronze. year Their later, - YOUNG GIRLS nine to sweat, women shouldn’t of Famer was at the height of and now setting its sights on - nancial burden. To send their get dirty,” Reimers said. “Wom- her powers then, blazing a trail thea series Winter of firsts Olympics. for the country est for any Mexican hockey daughtersshoulder a tolarge this part year’s of Worldthe fi THAT WANT TO en don’t belong to the public for women’s hockey in Canada, fourth overall finish is the high space because sport is a funda- while these wom- PLAY HOCKEY mental part of public life.” en were just try- Mexico became a member ing to establish a OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY HAVE RINKS, LOADS IN MEXICO trailhead in their about a quarter-century for the DO-IT-YOURSELF ATTITUDE The group of women who home country. – Hayley Wickenheiser women’sof the IIHF game in 1985, to take but itshape, took Ceballos was told she could no longer OF RINKS, AND FOR US, WE’RE ASKING OURSELVES, play hockey with boys, so she fought those years ago is now ranked do something where it’s not old Macarena Cruz Ceballos. At for the creation of a women’s league. first showed up in Calgary all very“I findpopular them and very people brave criti to- ‘WHERE ARE WE GOING TO TRAIN?’ – Frida Cardenas Castro thanks in large part to 23-year- higher than the men, and they cize you for it,” Wickenheiser country to them playing the boys’ teams growing up, she have26th their in the sights world, set on 10 qualify spots- said. “It’s the same way I grew game. “Sometimes people say, was14 years told old,she could after playingno longer on ing for the Winter Olympics one up in Canada. Even though it’s ‘Oh, but hockey isn’t for girls. compete with her male coun- in its infancy, and support at a hockey country, it was hard Championship in April, parents It’s too rough for a girl,’ ” said terparts. With no place to play, home is largely limited to fam- year they came to where they for me to play hockey as a girl the team advanced to the sec- for a country where ice hockey - Ceballos tried other sports for ily, friends and the MIHF. But areday. now, “When people I think can’t of theimagine first in the small town that I came ondOfficially round formingof the inOlympic 2012, isteam. not “Itan wasimportant definitely sport,” historic said ma Escobedo Tapia. a couple years, but she missed the women have at least one the progress they have made,” from. So, for them to do it in 37-year-old coach Diego de la amounthad to fork in aout nation roughly where 20,000 the 25-year-oldThis doesn’t defenseman surprise Marion Thel hockey so much that she de- fan and supporter in Canada, Wickenheiser said. “They’re Mexico…” of the country’s men’s teams Garma, Joaquin’s son. averagepesos (about annual $1,000), income ahovers hefty Reimers, a Mexican sports jour- cided to lobby the MIHF to where Wickenheiser has kept leaders now for the next gen- Technically, the players hasqualifiers managed. in 2016, The a featfollowing none Indeed, hockey remains a nalist and commentator for Fox create a league for women and eration of young girls that want

weren’t even a team yet. But year, the women surprised the fringe sport in Mexico. The BÉNÉDICTE DESRUS BÉNÉDICTE DESRUS Sports . Reimers girls. A draft was organized and The team has continued to re- to play hockey in Mexico.” around 130,000 pesos (about tabs on their ascent since 2011. $7,000). “We dream of going to | 82 | THE HOCKEY NEWS 2019-20 NEED-TO-KNOW 2019-20 NEED-TO-KNOW THE HOCKEY NEWS | 83 |