New PWHL mentorship program aims to keep girls playing the sport

When Astrid Göth moved from Sweden to Montreal three years ago, hockey became a way to learn a new country and language.

But it wasn’t an easy transition.

Inside a rink full of echoes and background noise, the young girl struggled to hear her coaches’ instructions for drills. English was still new to her, and hearing loss added to the challenge.

“I had to learn how to communicate clearly, ask if I did not understand or I didn’t hear,” said Göth, who’s now 13 and a forward for the Westmount Wings program.

Studies show women and girls are significantly more likely to quit playing organized sports, especially as they reach adolescence. Recent research from the non-profit organization Canadian Women & Sport found as many as half of Canadian girls are likely to stop playing by age 17.

There are all kinds of reasons why that happens, ranging from feeling like they don’t belong in sports, to the time commitment involved.

A new mentorship program from the PWHL is trying to change that, and Göth will be one of the first girls to benefit from it.

Göth, along with 119 other girls in Grades 8 and 9 across all eight PWHL cities, will be mentored by PWHL players throughout the season. They’ll also attend virtual workshops aimed at improving “mental wellness, self-belief and teamwork.”

The program is a partnership with Strong Girls United, a non-profit aimed at empowering girls, and Kyndryl Canada, an IT company that serves as the program’s founding sponsor.

With research showing 14 is a key age when girls drop out of sports, the PWHL targeted that age group for mentorship.

It’s a rare chance for young girls to have a direct line to a pro player who’s been in their shoes, with the hope that it will help foster belonging for girls who