Bridgewater hosts IIHF Global Girls Game
The Western Riptide U9 girls hockey team played host to the major IIHF Global Girls Game on Feb. 17 against Halifax’s Metro West Force Northern Lights.
Teams have been playing the game since 2015 across the globe, and Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre took park in the action. Girls from New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the Americas have previously participated, and now the Riptide and Northern Lights count themselves among them.
“The team were named representatives by Hockey Nova Scotia, and it’s just a really big honour. It’s a celebration of girls hockey across the world, and it’s growing. Each province chooses a host team, and we got to be it,” said Riptide head coach Grant Johnston.
“The Riptide began nine years ago, and just got fully accredited by the Female Council for Hockey Nova Scotia last year. Now we can fully offer U9 hockey, and have U9 to U18.”
Johnston is happy to see the sport growing in the area and nationwide for girls.
“Girls hockey is on the way up, and you just have to look at the product in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. City organizations and organizations like ours are growing, and we needed to be able to offer hockey during the fundamental years,” he said.
“My daughter turned nine recently and was playing co-ed, but often girls would need to be U11 age to play girls hockey. Some got special permission, but we previously had struggles with not getting girls playing younger. Now that we can sustain a U9 team and grow interest with events like this, things can grow.”
Johnston said when he was asked about doing this event with the Riptide, he knew it was a no-brainer.
“I’ve been involved with hockey as a player, referee and coach for 30 years, and I know opportunities like this don’t come around often. To get that sort of fan support and be in that arena is a big thing,” he said.
“It’s just a memorable event and to bring a small town together like that is phenomenal. It helps girls hockey grow and generates more interest here in the game.”
Tyler Scott, head coach of the Northern Lights, said the game was an amazing opportunity for his team.
“The fact we got picked is unreal. It’s a once in a lifetime thing. We’ve played the Riptide before, and they’re a great team and the coaches are great this year,” he said.
“The energy in the arena was really cool. So many people showed up to cheer the girls on. The amount of community support was incredible.”
He said with the PWHL this year, the growth of the game for females has been a pleasure to watch.
“The girls on my team are avid followers of the PWHL. Some of them are traveling to see a game over March break. To see events like the one in Bridgewater that promote the game is really something,” he said.
“The event itself was fantastic, and the managers of both teams just did a tremendous amount of work behindthe-scenes to make this a success. I’m so appreciative. I’m happy so many people showed up, and Hockey Canada supported this. It couldn’t have gone better.”