Volunteers with the Highland Storm are trying to tap into the team’s history by reviving a dedicated female-only hockey program in Haliburton County.
Coaches Sean Irvine, Noah Adlam, Charlyn Irvine, and Gavin Simms came together in the spring to discuss the idea, buoyed by an increase in local female registration for Storm local league and rep play, as well as the successful launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
It’s been at least a decade since the Storm ran a girls-only team, with all rep and local league teams being mixed gender. That will be the case again this season, though Adlam said there are efforts being made to change that.
An U13 team consisting of 13 girls between the ages of nine and 12 have been working together on the ice for several weeks – they debuted at the prestigious all-female ‘Queen of the Rings’ tournament in Toronto Aug. 9 to 11, thought the apperance has been dubbed a one-off… for now.
The event attracts some of the best up-andcoming hockey talent from across North America and included appearances from members of Toronto’s PWHL team, Adlam said. The Storm finished fourth in the U13 tournament.
“There are so many talented female hockey players in Haliburton and the surrounding areas. Bringing this team of girls together was meant to support, celebrate, and showcase female hockey,” Adlam said.
“The team we pulled together seems to have sparked some renewed interest in the potential to pull together an all-female team that could represent the Highland Storm year-round. It’s an idea we will continue to explore,” he added.
Adlam’s wife, Michelle, is also assisting with the project. She said other parents and hockey enthusiasts are coming forward and trying to find ways to re-establish girls’ hockey.
“We’d love for this to happen. We’re trying to figure out how to keep this going. Do we develop a hockey club, do we run practices with the kids even though they’re not playing games?” Michelle said. “There’s a real desire to keep this group together.”
Most of the girls will play the season on the Storm’s local league and rep teams, with a few playing for dedicated girls’ teams in Lindsay and Bancroft.
Charlyn Irvine said the girls battled hard in the city, even while playing against teams that had spent years developing together.
“The competition was fierce but the girls made Haliburton proud, showing grit, determination, and exceptional teamwork,” Irvine said.
Jenn Emmerson, whose daughter, Olivia, played in the tournament, said it was great to have a dedicated girls’ hockey team representing Haliburton County.
“This is amazing – hopefully it will build more awareness of girls’ hockey in the community in the hopes of building up a girls’ program again like there used to be years ago,” Emmerson said.
Sean Irvine said he, Adlam, and the other volunteers hope to keep building girls’ hockey in the County and want to establish teams across various age groups.
“We see this being a place for girls to play and build camaraderie in the dressing room. A place for them to play judgement-free and really be a team,” Irvine said.
Anyone interested in joining the effort, whether as a volunteer, coach or player, can contact Adlam at noah.adlam@outlook.com.
