PWHL Backs Free Camp for 200 Girls of Color in Toronto

More than 200 young hockey players gathered at the Ford Performance Centre in Toronto from July 10 to 12 for a free three-day camp run by the Women of Colour Hockey Collective. The event, presented by the PWHL and e.l.f. Beauty, brought participants from across Canada and the United States, including one goaltender who traveled from Pittsburgh.

The camp offered on-ice instruction, a professional photo shoot, and mentorship from PWHL players Sophie Jaques of the Vancouver Goldeneyes, Jade Iginla of the Hamilton franchise, and Mikyla Grant-Mentis of the Seattle team. Jaques and Grant-Mentis also serve as board members for the collective. Open to women and girls aged eight and older of all skill levels, the program is designed to make hockey more welcoming to players from underrepresented backgrounds.

"For a while we've known that hockey isn't necessarily the most welcoming sport, specifically to BIPOC women, so we aim to create a celebrating and welcoming space for BIPOC women in hockey," said Saroya Tinker, the collective's executive director, according to globalnews.ca.

The camp has grown from 65 participants in its first year to more than 200 this summer. The organization rebranded this year from Black Girl Hockey Club Canada to Women of Colour Hockey Collective to reflect the broader community it serves.

The PWHL and e.l.f. also launched a grant program that provides financial assistance to 50 girls of color each year to offset hockey expenses and includes opportunities to attend PWHL games. The league is preparing for its fourth season and will add teams in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose.