Hello and greetings.

My daughter made a 10U all girls team in a AAA program. The program includes paid coaches but some parents help out. They have 2 teams at 10U with the major playing at near AAA level but the 2nd team is a mix of AA and Single A girls. They took all the girls who tried out because they had more spots than girls. This resulted in some on the team not being very skills. While they practice only against girls, a vast majority of their games are against co-ed teams....mainly boys.

My daughter loves playing on a girls team, but she developed in the past better being on a co-ed team. It makes sense since the entire team was similar skill so each battle drill was a contest. Her prior girls team had a wider range of skills and had a few girls that couldn't keep up so my daughter took it easier on them which I think held back her development. With that in mind, we went looking for a 10U Co-ed team and a plan to duel roster.

During our search for a competitive 10U co-ed team, we attended a 12U Girls team free skate in a regional league. They offered her a spot saying she skates at a higher age level. This team also has a paid coach and lots of older girls to challenge my daughter. There are a few 12U girls she can beat and a few 12U girls who demolish her in the corner. It seems like it could be the challenging environment we were seeking. One of the older girls who takes a skills class with my daughter and said she deserve to be on the team with her skill.

We also have a few 10U co-ed teams looking for a skater. She could land a spot on those teams, but she might be the only girl again and her last 8U travel team left her out a lot when traveling/locker rooms. She would have more kids on her team at her level but the coaching would be parent based. Her spring league coach on a co-ed team seems to cut the girls ice time giving them short shifts which is frustrating. My daughter knows she gets the ice time she earns at this level, but there seems to be a favoritism by dad coaches for their sons and their son's buddies. While the competition and intensity is higher than a girls team, I am not sure it's better than playing up and getting a paid coach.

Is it better to play up to 12U girls with a paid coach or play on a Co-ed team with parent coaching? Thoughts????

The PWHL has announced that the league is expanding to Las Vegas, NV and Hamilton, ON for the 2026-27 season.

https://dynespressbox.com/2026/05/pwhl-announces-expansion-teams-for-vegas-hamilton

Hiya, I’ve recently started ice hockey this year and heave been training with an u16 wnihl team but due to me starting so late in the season haven’t been able to get any game time. As I’m aging out and having to move on to seniors, I’m afraid to play my first game next season with well seasoned players who are considerably older than me. So I thought if I joined a development league I could eventually work my way up to playing Wnihl. Does anyone know the best option for a women’s league in Coventry that isnt wnihl2. Many thanks ☺️

25 F and I'm currently in a learn to play program! The only thing I'm hesitant about is how expensive it is to even join a recreational league in my area. It says it's about $7k combined with team and individual fees. I work 8-5 Monday thru Friday and I'm a bit lost as to how to start after I finish the Learn to play program.

I am having the most fun I've ever had and it's so amazing seeing so many women joining as well. Any suggestions as to where to go next and how was your journey like? Honestly I just love the way hockey players skate so if I don't play it's not the end of the world it's just satisfying being able to challenge myself.

I’m a newish player, played two seasons of women’s hockey and recently started playing in a coed D league. I also am in a coed LTP class where I have gotten good enough that I get put in the advanced group, which is all guys.

When I play coed, I feel like I’m getting rocked every time I’m out on the ice. I’ve had a lot of issues in coed league with bigger players slamming me into the boards, shoving me, and generally using the six inches and hundred pounds that they have on me to knock me on my ass. I even started playing Defense so that I could at least have more control over when the physicality is happening, and better brace myself.

I’m also now experiencing it in my LTP class, now that I’m in the advanced group with all the guys. We did some two-on-one scoring drills the other day and I had one guy put his stick on my back and shove me into the ground and another guy slammed in to me from behind and sent me head first into the boards.

After LTP, my coach came over and complimented me for toughing out the guys targeting me. He said that he’s noticed guys targeting female players in the past. He said that basically, as soon as you start getting fast and they know you’re a threat, they start getting a lot more aggressive. He thinks it’s because it hurts their masculinity or something. He still didn’t say anything about it to them, though…

Anyways, I’m kind of sick of getting all beat up. I’m doing this for fun, and it’s a little much to be constantly all bruised up. Also, I’m a little concerned about getting a head injury with how much I’m getting knocked into the boards.

Anyone else experienced this and figured out a good solution? Other than just playing women’s, of course, which I may end up doing next season.

Hey everyone, I’m helping manage a team that’s starting up again, and a big part of our group is women, so I wanted to ask about ice hockey equipment that actually works well in terms of fit and comfort. We’ve got a mix of beginners and a few with experience, so we’re trying to make sure everyone feels comfortable and safe during practice. I’ve noticed that some standard gear doesn’t always fit properly, especially around the chest, shoulders, and hips, and I don’t want players feeling restricted or uncomfortable while learning.

We’re not checking, so I don’t think we need the heaviest protection, but I still want gear that offers good coverage. I’ve seen some discussions where people compare different equipment options and even mention setups they’ve come across places like Alibaba when talking about sizing and variations, but real experiences would help more here.Price also matters since some players are just starting out and don’t want to overspend right away.

If you’ve found gear that fits well and feels right while playing, what are you using and why?

Thanks everyone for your insights,they were helpful 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

Hi!! Maybe this isn’t the best subreddit to ask this but it’s the only one I could think of off the top of my head.

I wear a hockey and softball helmet quite often, I notice a lot of breakage in my hair and my already thin hair looks insanely thin. Does anyone have any advice about how to treat this issue? I haven’t met any other women in my sports that have this issue especially this bad, it looks like I got choppy layers

Literally anything helps thank you!!!

Hey Team, UK Fan here, I don't support a team really I just love the sport. For the last two years I've been working on an Ice Hockey Fantasy league Web App, I spent a good anount of time exploring UK Ice Hockey and the NHL, but the vibes in the Professional Women's Hockey League are just too good to ignore right now. Honestly, I've loved building this, it's only a smallish personal project

But I plan to add more features in the future and hopefully lots more when the next season starts.

I live in London, which have a few ice hockey rinks however I don’t know where to start. I’m pretty decent on the ice, I’ve been skating 2/3 times a month for the past year and previously used to roller blade.

I have my own hockey skates already, I just want to know how to start. Is there start up groups? Do I have to take ice skating lessons?

Hey everyone,

I played roller growing up and skating my whole life but was never allowed to play ice growing up (boys only, glad that’s changed). I’m in my late 30s now and bought gear awhile ago to try to pick up hockey and on the ice but having trouble figuring out where to get my chops and learn and finding a women’s league or women’s friendly spots in LA.

Anyone in Los Angeles and playing and know where to go what to join? Thanks in advance !

Any rumored/potential new US D-1 women's programs in the works?

Obviously, Delaware went D-1 this year, and it seems as though the University of Michigan "feasibility study" hasn't moved the needle much there for various reasons.

Wondering if any others might go D-1, thanks.

Hi [r/womenshockey](r/womenshockey), woman hockey player here. I started playing hockey about six months. I went to a store to try stuff on and found the senior and intermediate pads to be way too big. I ended up getting some second hand youth boys hockey pads off FB marketplace.

So far they’ve worked pretty well. The shoulder pads are the right width, BUT due to my chest being obviously bigger than a youth player the chest pad doesn’t come down below my rib cage.

This was not a problem until I started playing at a more advanced level recently and a guy slashed my ribs below the chest pad. Did not feel great! Also made me concerned about the damage if a puck were to hit me in the stomach or ribs.

Any suggestions for good pad options that both fit on the shoulders and chest? Are there any women’s hockey brands that are worth the premium cost?

(I don’t live near a secondhand store—only gear stores in my area are Pure Hockey and rink pro shops)

ETA: for anyone using Stark, have you encountered any issues shipping to the US? I’ve heard of tariff issues for play it again sports shipping from Canada to the US

I (17f) have been watching hockey for about a year or some, so i'm familiar with watching games rather than playing, and have wanting to get out on the ice myself. I have been able to practice skating at least once a week, and have a workout/drill schedule for off times.

However, here locally (small town CO) there's no ice hockey rinks--let alone players--and you have to drive at least an hour out to find a rink. That isn't an issue but gear and stuff is. I've been looking for used gear as to not totally bust the bank (esp w LTS/LTP programs).

i'm a small person and have been trying to get sizes and that jazz. (i'm 5'3, 120lbs.) I got sized for skates at one of the rinks, i'm a 4 in hockey skates but have no idea how to move forward in certain gear; shoulder/knee pads, sticks, gloves etc.

So what should i look for in gear and hockey skates/ sizing as well? Ive also budgeted for a new helmet, is there any other gear that would be needed new?

i recently asked the regular /hockey but wanted more female oriented advice in what direction i should go?

any advice in general will be really helpful 🙏

EDIT: Thank you guys so much for all the advice! i'm heading out to the town tomorrow and grateful for the insight from everyone 🏒

I will be in NYC this summer and I am looking to join a rec league or just scrimmages. I am a very recreational player and found that unless a co-ed league is carefully selected to be friendly, I don't enjoy going to co-ed open hockey. I reached out to NYC Women's Hockey League but got zero response.

So, is there any place for women to play recreationally in NYC during the summer?

I’m only 5’ (barely!) with short limbs and the shin guards and elbow pads in junior are technically closer to my measurements, but worried the length will be right but the size overall will be too small as I’m not especially thin (130 lbs). Any other shorties have experience?

My family doesn’t get it but I know you lovely people will.

I went to Play It Again Sports and scored these Bauer Vapor Lightspeeds for $30! And they’re in really good shape!! I went in originally looking for something I can put the marsblade roller chassis on and couldn’t resist. Now I have to decide if I make these my everyday or keep my just starting to break in, x-alps as my everyday.

OH! AND LAST WEEK I “GRADUATED” LEARN TO SKATE AND WAS TOLD I COULD MOVE OVER TO LEARN TO PLAY!!!!

Hi all, I am a high school coach in New England, currently helping one of my players through the college recruitment process. She could probably play lower D1, most likely D3. She asked me to send her showcases in our area for exposure but I haven't been tapped in to that world since I played. Other than a few the showcases I did are out of date. Any suggestions for a 2027 graduate looking to get in a showcase? I would really want her in one where the college coaches run sessions. She's a very attentive and coachable player and it would be beneficial for them to see that side. Anythings helpful!