Demand fuels women’s high school hockey showcase

Increasing the number of females playing hockey and raising the skill level of those players is a task Brad Nechwediuk takes seriously.

The Glenlawn Collegiate teacher, who helped coach his school’s team to an appearance in the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League final earlier this month, has founded the inaugural MWHSHL Rookie Showcase currently underway at Southdale Arena.

The event, which has drawn 134 registered players and is similar to a boys rookie showcase event that has operated in the province for more than two decades, is designed for prospective Grade 9 and 10 players planning to play at the varsity level next fall.

The round-robin tournament, which began Thursday and runs through Saturday, involves eight teams assembled from various league schools.

Judging by the early indicators, it’s been a hit from the opening faceoff.

“It’s been an amazing response,” said Nechwediuk. “I’ve had out-of-town schools contact me. I’ve had parents contact me saying, ‘My daughter’s in Grade 8, can she play? She’s going to be at this school next year.’ I had to tell them, ‘No, it’s just for Grade 9s and 10s.’ But the word has spread.”

The rookie showcase was an opportunity Collège Jeanne-Sauvé forward Addi Nohlgren couldn’t pass up.

“I was really excited to hear about this because the guys have always had theirs and the guys love it and when I heard about the girls one, I’m pretty sure me and lots of others were really excited for the news,” said Nohlgren. “It’s like we finally get an opportunity to do something we haven’t been able to do in the past.”

Grade 11 Glenlawn forward Chloe Minkus is too old to participate in the showcase but, along with teammate Sam Breier, recognized the importance of the event and volunteered to work at the tournament registration table.

Glenlawn, which has 10 players participating in the rookie showcase, would not grant permission to ice a mixed team at previous boys rookie events.

“We wanted to join the guys but they told us we couldn’t so then we really wanted a female tournament,” said Minkus, 16. “And we thought it’d be really great for the high school program and so we were bugging (Nechwediuk) for two years straight to make a girls one and then he finally made it happen. Unfortunately, we’re too old for it now but it’s good that the future generations will have this.”

Since girls in the province can play for their high school and AAA or AA teams in the same season, the rookie showcase could be important for players who double roster.

“It’s also some exposure to other teams, like AAA teams,” said Breier, who will return to Glenlawn for Grade 12. “I know a few coaches are coming to watch and it’s just a lot more exposure for the younger girls.”

Nohlgren, who also played for the Eastman U18 AAA Selects, relished the extra ice time with the winter season complete.

“I have been playing spring hockey for the past couple of years but usually it’s not that competitive — it’s only a few tournaments,” said Nohlgren. “But this gives a chance for us to continue the season and we get to compete at a good level.”

The newness of the experience was a thrill for Glenlawn’s Kaitlynn Gluck, a Grade 10 forward, and Jessie DeCraene, a Grade 9 forward,

“I really liked it,” said 15-year-old Gluck, after her team’s opening game Thursday afternoon. “I had to play with a new partner that I’ve never played with before. You get to learn their style and they get used to you, too.”

Organizers limited the event to MWHSHL players for the inaugural event but Nechwediuk heard from four non-league schools hoping to participate. He kept the numbers manageable for 2024 but expects to expand to meet higher demand in 2025.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca