Hayley Wickenheiser Teams Up with Esso to Launch Medals Forged from Her Skates
Hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser recently partnered with Esso Medals to promote their new design, which features medals forged using metal from Wickenheiser’s own skates. “Forged with greatness. For our new design, Esso Medals™ were forged using metal from hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser’s skates. They don’t just inspire greatness. They’re made from it.”
In her social media post, Wickenheiser shared the message, “The Esso Medals™ program helped inspire me early on in my hockey career. So, it was a huge honour (and happy surprise) when I was asked to donate a pair of my skate blades so they could be melted and used to create the latest Esso Medals. Fun fact: the blades I donated were from a gold medal game where we won! And a reminder to all the hockey coaches out there, registration for Esso Medals is now open at essomedals.com.”
Esso has been a proud supporter of minor hockey in Canada since 1981, and their Esso Medals™ kits are designed to provide coaches and volunteers with the tools to inspire and encourage players of all ages. To see how the medals are made, watch the ‘making of the medals’ video HERE.
Japan Claims Dominant Victory in Inaugural Women’s Asia Championship
Japan’s young roster dominated the inaugural IIHF Women’s Asia Championship in Beijing, winning all three of their games in impressive fashion, without allowing a single goal. The tournament, aimed at developing women’s hockey in Asia, featured teams from Japan, China, Korea, and Kazakhstan. Japan’s goaltending and defense were standout, allowing just 19 shots across three games. In the final against China, Japan triumphed 5-0 after a strong third period, with Rui Ukita leading the way with eight points. The host nation, China, showed promise with a solid 3-0 win over Kazakhstan and an improved roster drawn from their new pro league. Kazakhstan claimed bronze after a dramatic shootout victory over Korea.
The tournament marked a positive step for women’s hockey in Asia, with promising performances from all teams, particularly China, who are looking to build on their recent growth. With more regional competitions planned, the hope is that these events will foster more competitive hockey in the coming years. For full coverage and additional insights, visit IIHF.com
Rivalry Series Update: U.S. Women’s Team Dominates Canada 7-2 in Opener
The U.S. Women’s National Team is facing off against Canada in the 2024-25 Rivalry Series, a five-game competition between the two rivals. The series, which began in the 2018-19 season, is now in its fifth year, and the U.S. holds an all-time record of 9-3-3-7 (W-OTW-OTL-L). The latest series started with a dominant 7-2 victory for Team USA on November 6, 2024, marking their highest-scoring output against Canada since 2015. The U.S. looks to extend its lead with the second game of the series set for tonight (November 8) at the Maverik Center in Utah. Players like Abbey Murphy, Alex Carpenter, and Lacey Eden are leading the charge for team USA with two points each, while Murphy and Eden have two goals apiece. With three games set to be played within five days, this year’s Rivalry Series promises to be as intense as ever.
For more details, catch the action on NHL Network tonight at 7 p.m. MT.
2024 U18 Women’s National Championship: Teams Battle for Gold in Quispamsis
The 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship is underway in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, running from November 3-9. For the first time, the event is taking place in Atlantic Canada, showcasing the future stars of women’s hockey. Eight provincial and regional teams – Alberta, Atlantic, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario Blue, Ontario Red, Quebec, and Saskatchewan – are competing for the gold medal and national bragging rights. As the tournament enters Day 6, teams are gearing up for placement games and the semifinals. Stay up to date on the standings and championship results HERE.
PWHL Unveils New Uniforms and Announces Expansion Plans for 2025-2026 Season
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) recently unveiled its much-anticipated uniform designs for the six teams ahead of the start of season two, which kicks off on November 30, 2024. The new jerseys, provided exclusively by Bauer, reflect each team’s unique identity, giving players and fans a chance to proudly wear their team colors. The league is also making headlines off the ice, announcing plans to expand from six to eight teams starting as early as the 2025-2026 season. Proposals for new teams will be accepted, with decisions on the selected cities expected next year.
As part of the expansion process, the PWHL has outlined key criteria for potential markets, including size, infrastructure, economic opportunity, community support, and youth hockey development. With five of the existing teams located in the Northeast, geography and logistical considerations will also be factors. Over 20 cities, including Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Québec City, Halifax, and Vancouver, are currently under consideration, with the final two expansion spots to be decided in the near future. Keep up to date on all PWHL news HERE.
2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship Schedule Announced – Tickets Now Available
The schedule for the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship has been announced, with the tournament set to take place at Tikkurila Arena in Vantaa from January 4 to 12. The opening day, January 4, will feature four exciting matchups: Finland will face Sweden at 1:30 p.m., the USA will play Japan at 10:00 a.m., Czechia will meet Switzerland at 5:00 p.m., and Canada will take on Slovakia at 8:30 p.m. The preliminary round will continue on January 5 and 7, with four games each day. Quarterfinals will be held on January 9, followed by the semifinals on January 11, with Finland’s potential game at 3:00 p.m. The relegation game will take place on the same day at 11:30 a.m. The medal games are scheduled for Sunday, January 12, with the bronze medal game at 3:00 p.m. and the gold medal final at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the tournament are also now available HERE.
2027 U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship to be Held in Fredericton, 2028 in Halifax
The U Sports women’s hockey national championships will head east for the 2027 and 2028 tournaments, with Fredericton and Halifax selected as hosts. The University of New Brunswick (UNB) will host the 2027 championship in Fredericton, with the event taking place at the Aitken Centre. U Sports CEO Pierre Arsenault praised the city’s passion for university sports, noting the strong support from both the local community and corporate partners, ensuring an exceptional experience for teams and fans alike. UNB’s women’s hockey program has become a national contender, winning three consecutive AUS titles and consistently competing at the national level. UNB Athletic Director John Richard expressed pride in the program’s rapid rise and their excitement to host the tournament. In 2028, the national championship will return to the Maritimes, with Halifax selected to host. Currently, the Concordia Stingers are the reigning U Sports women’s hockey national champions. Complete detail’s HERE.
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