OWHA ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 WORLD FEMALE HOCKEY LEADERS www.owha.on.ca CONGRATULATIONS HAYLEY WICKENHEISER on your induction into The Hockey Hall of Fame (2019) Hayley Wickenheiser is one of Canada’s most extraordinary hockey players. As a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team, she was the most dominant skater over the course of her 23-year career. Hayley was born on August 12, 1978. She started playing hockey in her hometown of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan when she was five years old. When she was 15 years old, she was selected for Canada’s National Women’s Team, and played in the 1994 World Championship where she joined her teammates in celebrating a gold medal win. Hayley played in 13 world championships and won seven gold medals, and three silver medals. In 1998 Women’s Hockey was introduced to the Winter Olympic Games, here Hayley was named to the inaugural team and took the silver medal. At the time of her retirement in 2017, Hayley was the all-time leading women’s scorer at the Olympics, with 18 goals, 33 assists and 51 points in 26 games. In 2011 The Hockey News named Hayley as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Hockey”. She continues to be a strong role model for females and young women in hockey. Congratulations Hayley on a well-deserved induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. TABLE OF CONTENTS OWHA Year End Summary 1 OWHA Provincial Championship Stats & New Membership 3 OWHA Provincial Championship Qualifying Teams 4 OWHA Registration Statistics 7 OWHA Sanction Tournaments 8 OWHA Certification Clinics 9 OWHA Development Programs & Officiating Assignment 10 OWHA U18 National Championships Team OWHA Blue 11 OWHA U18 National Championships Team OWHA Red 12 2020 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship 13 2020 IIHF Global Girls’ Game 14 OUA / Usports Championships and OWHA Friends 15 2019-2020 Injury Report 16 Quest for Gold & Do it For Daron 17 2020 World Girls Hockey Weekend 18 2019 -2020 OWHA Discipline Report 20 In Loving Memory of our Special Teammates 22 Dodge Caravan Kids Sponsorship 24 OWHA China Partnership 25 Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association 26 ONTARIO WOMEN’S HOCKEY ASSOCIATION 225 Watline Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario, L4Z 1P3 Tel: 905-282-9980 www.owha.on.ca [email protected] @OWHAhockey ONTARIO WOMEN’S HOCKEY ASSOCIATION WORLD FEMALE HOCKEY LEADERS The 2019/2020 season was an historic occasion as, effective on Friday, March 13, 2020, all sanctioned hockey in Canada was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The cancellation was immediate with events such as the USports Women’s Hockey Championship already underway in PEI. On-ice participation was immediately stopped, and plans put in place to get people home. The logistical and financial challenges for everyone in hockey began as plans were changed, refunds were sought, and losses were managed. OWHA games, playoffs, tournaments and provincial championships were put on hold and eventually cancelled. As with every aspect of business and society, OWHA and its Members worked diligently to plan through the unexpected closures with vast operational and financial implications. Throughout it all, people came together with the same values and teamwork that exemplifies women’s hockey and sport. The number 1 priority was, and remains, the health and safety of every individual. We truly recognize the hurt the cancellation created as participants had no opportunity to come together to wrap up a season with their teammates who had become close friends. Teams were no longer able to move forward to compete in playoffs and provincials in the spots they had worked hard to earn. Associations had to cancel tournaments that are so important for both the opportunities for participants and for the financial stability they bring to the organizations. We had now joined forces with people throughout the world as we were truly in this together. Although we could not change where we were, we could choose our attitude and our actions in this new reality. The OWHA, its members and its players came together with a positive determination for health and safety at the forefront. We cared about our families and about each other and everyone worked together to close down the hockey season while looking forward to some safe return to hockey. Fortunately, there were some wonderful success stories throughout the shortened 2019/20 hockey season. OWHA was well represented at the 2019 U18 National Championship in Manitoba. Team OWHA Red went through the event undefeated, capturing the gold medals. This was the 13th straight gold medal victory for the OWHA at the National Championship that has featured outstanding talent from across the country. Sincere congratulations to all participants on Team OWHA Red and also to the players and staff on Team OWHA Blue as they advanced to the medal round undefeated in their pool and finishing 4th losing a very close bronze medal game to Quebec. Congratulations to Team Canada on capturing the silver medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Bratislava. We also congratulate the players and staff who were selected for Team Canada for the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Halifax and Truro March 31st to April 6th, 2020. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the 2020 event was cancelled with the 2021 World Championship being awarded to Halifax and Truro. The Global Game was, once again, an overwhelming success and is another example of Female Hockey uniting the world in teamwork, building on positive values and cooperation. We thank Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador for hosting the Canada segment and welcoming our OWHA players. Unfortunately, only 5 of the 6 players made it to St. John’s due to a major snow storm. 1 We congratulate all teams on qualifying for the provincial championships. Although the event did not take place, participant hats were sent to those who had qualified. In addition, in the true spirit of sport, one championship hat was sent to every team that had qualified as a gesture that each team was a champion. The winner of the Midget AA OWHA Provincial Championship was to attend the Esso Cup, National Female Midget Championship scheduled for April in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan but it was also cancelled due to the pandemic. There was a lot of disappointment with the loss of the CWHL but with the strength of the leadership of the incredible elite players from Canada, the United States and other countries, the PWHPA (Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association) formed with the support of Billy Jean King as well as individual and corporate supporters. There is a strong Board of Directors and Jayna Hefford is the Operations Consultant. The players are committed to maximizing opportunities available today and making Female Hockey more respected and stronger for future generations. We sincerely thank the incredible medical workers and other front-line workers in our membership for the commitment to the health and safety of people as they face personal risks through their incredible efforts. No words are strong enough to express our gratitude. Special thanks to Minister Lisa MacLeod and the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries for the leadership and commitment to sport and for the valuable support of the OWHA. Thanks to Steve Harlow, Patricia Vena and Scott Cooper for their guidance. Our thoughts and support are with those who have lost loved ones and to those who are struggling with physical and mental challenges due to Covid-19 and other circumstances. We sincerely thank the volunteers, administrators, sponsors and supporters of each player, team and association. Congratulations and thank you to players of all ages in all parts of Ontario who have faced, with both disappointment and courage, the unexpected change to hockey and to life that we have had to face with the Covid-19 pandemic. We will get through this together with strength and teamwork. 2 2019-2020 OWHA PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS STATS Number of Participating Teams by Division/Category Due to COVD-19 the 2020 Provincial Championships have been Cancelled. Below is an account of the projected numbers for this event. ATOM PEEWEE BANTAM MIDGET INTERMEDIATE SENIOR 11 & under 13 & under 15 & under 18 & under 21 & Under Open age AA 18 AA 24 AA 24 AA 24 AA 23 AA 7 A 24 A 24 A 24 A 24 A 16 A 23 BB 16 BB 24 BB 24 BB 24 BB 12 B 24 B 24 B 24 B 24 B 16 C 16 C 16 C 16 C 16 C 16 98 112 112 112 39 74 2020 OWHA PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS (PROJECTED NUMBERS IF THE EVENT HAD HAPPENED) Participants (Players & Team Staff) 12,955 Teams Attended 547 Divisions 6 Categories 27 Arenas Used 16 Ice Surfaces Used 56 Games Played 1094 On-Ice Officials (approximate #) 230 Officiating Slots (approximate #) 2980 NEW OWHA MEMBERS The OWHA proudly welcomed the following new Independent Teams and Associations this past season: APPROVED NEW TEAMS, ASSOCIATIONS and LEAGUES SINCE 2019 AMM Team/ Association New Female Hockey Program Team/ Association New Female Hockey Program Rockland Lady Nationals ➢ Senior B North Simcoe Capitals ➢ Full Association Status Chatham Kent GHA ➢ Merger of Chatham & Kent Windsor Sharp Shooters ➢ Senior C Georgina Golden Hawks ➢ Senior B Windsor Essex Gold Diggers ➢ Senior B GTA United ➢ Senior A North Bay DGHA ➢ Full Association Status 3 2019-2020 OWHA PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Due to COVD-19 the 2020 Provincial Championships have been cancelled. Five hundred and forty-seven teams qualified to participated in the 2019-20 Provincial Championships. All games were to be held in the GTA surrounding area on April 3-5, 2020 THE TEAMS BELOW QUALIFIED FOR THE 2020 PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ATOM A ATOM AA ANCASTER AVALANCHE #5056 ATOM BB BARRIE SHARKS #118 BURLINGTON BARRACUDAS #1612 BARRIE SHARKS #111 BRAMPTON CANADETTES #206 CAMBRIDGE ROADRUNNERS #2222 BRAMPTON CANADETTES #219 BURLINGTON BARRACUDAS #1609 CALEDON COYOTES #4662 BURLINGTON BARRACUDAS #1601 CENTRAL YORK PANTHERS #42 CLARINGTON FLAMES #3912 CENTRAL YORK PANTHERS #58 DURHAM WEST LIGHTNING #364 CORNWALL TYPHOONS #2324 CLARINGTON FLAMES #3934 KANATA RANGERS #1710 GLOUCESTER CUMBERLAND STARS #2417 COLD CREEK COMETS #7062 KINGSTON ICE WOLVES #2608 GOULBOURN ROCKETS #4942 GRAND RIVER MUSTANGS #8405 LONDON DEVILETTES #629 GUELPH JR.