Women hockey players put heat on Kenora, Ont., for earlier ice times, fearing leagues may fold

Female hockey players are demanding the City of Kenora change its ice allocation policy to make the sport more accessible to them.

The northwestern Ontario city has recreational and competitive women's leagues. Players say they've been fighting for years for ice times that meet their busy schedules.

The city's updated ice allocation policy, approved by council in December, has pushed the women's ice times back to 10 p.m. The leagues say that may force them to fold.

"We're looking to access ice time that's accessible for working moms," hockey player Jill Hager told CBC News.

"We all know how challenging it can be, that work-life balance. There's tons of research about women in sports and the barriers that women face when they're trying to access recreation."

A national study on sport participation among Canadian girls shows one in three girls quit sports by their late teens. Kenora's women's hockey leagues are trying to create spaces for women to stay active throughout adulthood, Hager said.

"We are busy women. We are exhausted at the end of the day. The evidence supports that women still do more household chores, child rearing, volunteer work in our communities and coaching our children," Hager said during a deputation to city council earlier this month.

"We are tired of advocating year over year for fair and equitable ice time. We are done," she continued. "Once our leagues are gone, there will be no place for our daughters or sisters to play."

The City of Kenora has two indoor rinks.

Heather Pihulak, the city's director of corporate services and clerk, told CBC News in an email that changes to the ice allocation policy affected all adult groups, not just the women's leagues.

"As approved by council, the policy