There are now 121,000 women and girls registered to play hockey in Hockey Canada governed programs in Canada. It's a new all-time high, and the number is likely even higher with non Hockey Canada players.
Women’s and girls’ hockey has hit another record mark in Canada with 121,000 women and girls registered in Hockey Canada sanctioned programs. It's a 5% increase year-over-year, and marks a new all-time high.
Overall, there were 615,000 Hockey Canada registered players in Canada. The number is a conservative mark for the actual number of women and girls playing in Canada as thousands more participate each year in non-Hockey Canada programming.
The 2025-26 mark is likely to grow again in 2026-27 with the Olympics and PWHL driving interest in the sport.
Hockey Canada also reported 4,002 girls who participated in the NHL/NHLPA First Shift program this year, a low-cost entrance point to the sport.
“The growth that hockey in Canada has experienced in the last five years is significant and meaningful, and we are grateful to all of the players, coaches, officials, administrators, volunteers and fans who have helped our sport continue to grow,” said Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada.
“Together with our Members and partners, we are optimistic about the future of hockey in all corners of our country, and we are committed to providing all Canadians with environments that are safe, welcoming, inclusive and inspiring on and off the ice.”
From the 2026 PWHL Draft, 42% of those drafted were Canadian. League-wide, 47% of players who appeared on a PWHL roster in 2025-26 were from Canada. The Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge played off in an all-Canadian championship series, the first time in the PWHL's three-seasons that both finalists were Canadian. Montreal won the Walter Cup with Team Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin being named playoff MVP.
Internationally, Canada won silver at both the 2025 World Championships and 2026 Olympics. They'll compete again in November in Denmark at the 2026 World Championships.
Nationally, Quebec won their first ever U-18 National Championship beating Team Atlantic. It marked the first time in tournament history that an Ontario team did not win gold.
