Female Hockey

Statistics & History

Since the first-ever IIHF World Women’s Championship in 1990, female hockey has grown exponentially. The following statistics chart the growth of registered female hockey players in Canada.

Hockey has a rich and profound history in Canada, so much so that it has helped grow the game in other countries. Some of these historical moments include the first documented female hockey game in 1892, the first-ever IIHF World Women’s Championship in 1990, female hockey’s inclusion in the 1998 Olympic Winter Games and, most recently, the inaugural IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship in 2008.

CLICK HERE for a detailed timeline of female hockey history.


Click here to download Male to Female Registration Comparison (pdf 252 KB)

Year # of Participants % Increase
2010-11 Expect significant increase
2009-10 85 624 Less than 1%
2008-09 85 309 10%
2007-08 77 461 5%
2006-07 73 791 6%
2005-06 69 557 5%
2004-05 65 951 5%
2003-04 62 640 2%
2002-03 61 177 12%
2001-02 54 563 6%
2000-01 51 105 18%
1999-00 43 421 15%
1998-99 37 748 30%
1997-98 29 031 6%
1996-97 27 305 14%
1995-96 23 922 26%
1994-95 19 050 23%
1993-94 15 467 25%
1992-93 12 418 9%
1991-92 11 341 39%
1990-91 8146 ----
Videos
Photos
2023 WGIHW: Coming together to celebrate girls hockey
See how Canadians celebrated World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend in 2023.
2022 WGIHW: Canadians celebrate women’s hockey
See how Canadians celebrated World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend in 2022.
Pond to Podium: Grassroots to gold medal
The gold medallists met minor hockey players across the country.
2021 WGIHW: Canadians celebrate women’s hockey
See how Canadians celebrated World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend in 2021.