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Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
IIHF including women in tournament bonus money ‘significant'
The International Ice Hockey Federation's decision to share tournament bonus money with women after years of men in the driver's seat is both symbolic and practical, says the general manager of Canada's women's team. 'It's very significant,' said Hockey Canada women's general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'For years, these types of topics have been brought up to the IIHF and they've always been shut down. 'More money invested in the women's game is really important.' The IIHF stated in a website report during its annual congress that 'development support,' worth nearly $9 million Swiss francs (C$15 million) in 2025, will be distributed to member federations based on their countries' performances across the men's and women's world championships, the men's under-20 championship and the men's and women's under-18 championships. 'Furthermore, the support will be weighted according to IIHF World Ranking,' the IIHF stated. The IIHF's development money was previously given to federations based only on men's world championship results. 'This has been a talking point on the women's side of the game for a long time,' said Canadian defender Renata Fast. The IIHF says the money will be split with 40 per cent going to the men's championship, 40 per cent to the women's championship, 10 per cent to the world junior men's tournament, and five per cent each to the men's and women's under-18 championships. That equates to roughly four million Swiss francs (C$6.7 million) going to federations based on the international results of their women's teams. 'It just signals that the IIHF is realizing that they need to modernize some of the things that have just been in place for years and years and years, and recognizing the growth of the women's game and the importance of acknowledging that and valuing it,' Fast said. 'The prize money to me symbolizes that.' The IIHF had previously argued that development money wasn't shared with women because the men's world championship turns a significant profit, while the women's tournament does not. 'Our organization wants to encourage its members to develop women's hockey and junior programs,' the IIHF said in an emailed statement. Even though Kingsbury sits on the IIHF's women's committee and Fast on the IIHF athletes' council, the report of bonus-money redistribution was buried in a congress report and came as a surprise to them. 'It just shows that there's a shift in thinking, maybe,' said Kingsbury. 'If we grow the women's game and if we kind of entice countries that may not have as strong of numbers on the women's side, or as strong a team … they'll be more motivated to invest in the women's side.' The IIHF may want to motivate countries to devote equal resources to men's and women's hockey, but it's ultimately each federation's decision how to use its developmental money. 'What also would be interesting is maybe if there's a federation where the women's program is stronger than the men's program in terms of a ranking standpoint, and how now their women's team can actually bring them in some prize money in an instance where their men's programs never did, that would be huge,' Fast said. Canadian women have never finished outside the medals at either the world championship or under-18 championship. Canada took silver and the under-18 team gold in 2025. Canada's men claimed under-18 gold, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals in both the men's and under-20 championship. 'If the women's program is stronger than the men's, there will be an increase in the support,' IIHF Director General Matti Nurminen said during the congress. 'If the men's and women's programs are as strong, there will be no real impact.' Hockey Canada and USA Hockey — perennial 1-2 finishers — already have the largest women's hockey budgets in part because their female registration far outstrips other countries at a combined 200,000 players. Nevertheless, Kingsbury says she would welcome any funding the women's teams are able to generate through international success. 'Any increase in funds, trust me, we've got lots of projects and ideas that could grow our game and could help the women's program,' she stated. 'There's always more we can do.' After lopsided women's hockey scores at the 2010 Olympic Games — and then-IOC president Jacques Rogge warning 'we cannot continue without improvement' — the IIHF committed 2 million Swiss francs to international women's hockey development. More equitable shares in the IIHF's bonus structure 15 years later is seismic, said Kingsbury. 'Our women's committee, for many years, I remember even before I was on it, the big topic was always the trophy for the women's worlds is smaller than men's and we don't get prize money,' Kingsbury said. 'Both those things have changed.'
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
IIHF including women in tournament bonus money ‘significant', says Canada's Kingsbury
CALGARY – The International Ice Hockey Federation's decision to share tournament bonus money with women after years of men in the driver's seat is both symbolic and practical, says the general manager of Canada's women's team. 'It's very significant,' said Hockey Canada women's general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'For years, these types of topics have been brought up to the IIHF and they've always been shut down. 'More money invested in the women's game is really important.' The IIHF stated in a website report during its annual congress that 'development support,' worth nearly $9 million Swiss francs (C$15 million) in 2025, will be distributed to member federations based on their countries' performances across the men's and women's world championships, the men's under-20 championship and the men's and women's under-18 championships. 'Furthermore, the support will be weighted according to IIHF World Ranking,' the IIHF stated. The IIHF's development money was previously given to federations based only on men's world championship results. 'This has been a talking point on the women's side of the game for a long time,' said Canadian defender Renata Fast. The IIHF says the money will be split with 40 per cent going to the men's championship, 40 per cent to the women's championship, 10 per cent to the world junior men's tournament, and five per cent each to the men's and women's under-18 championships. That equates to roughly four million Swiss francs (C$6.7 million) going to federations based on the international results of their women's teams. 'It just signals that the IIHF is realizing that they need to modernize some of the things that have just been in place for years and years and years, and recognizing the growth of the women's game and the importance of acknowledging that and valuing it,' Fast said. 'The prize money to me symbolizes that.' The IIHF had previously argued that development money wasn't shared with women because the men's world championship turns a significant profit, while the women's tournament does not. 'Our organization wants to encourage its members to develop women's hockey and junior programs,' the IIHF said in an emailed statement. Even though Kingsbury sits on the IIHF's women's committee and Fast on the IIHF athletes' council, the report of bonus-money redistribution was buried in a congress report and came as a surprise to them. 'It just shows that there's a shift in thinking, maybe,' said Kingsbury. 'If we grow the women's game and if we kind of entice countries that may not have as strong of numbers on the women's side, or as strong a team … they'll be more motivated to invest in the women's side.' The IIHF may want to motivate countries to devote equal resources to men's and women's hockey, but it's ultimately each federation's decision how to use its developmental money. 'What also would be interesting is maybe if there's a federation where the women's program is stronger than the men's program in terms of a ranking standpoint, and how now their women's team can actually bring them in some prize money in an instance where their men's programs never did, that would be huge,' Fast said. Canadian women have never finished outside the medals at either the world championship or under-18 championship. Canada took silver and the under-18 team gold in 2025. Canada's men claimed under-18 gold, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals in both the men's and under-20 championship. 'If the women's program is stronger than the men's, there will be an increase in the support,' IIHF Director General Matti Nurminen said during the congress. 'If the men's and women's programs are as strong, there will be no real impact.' Hockey Canada and USA Hockey — perennial 1-2 finishers — already have the largest women's hockey budgets in part because their female registration far outstrips other countries at a combined 200,000 players. Nevertheless, Kingsbury says she would welcome any funding the women's teams are able to generate through international success. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Any increase in funds, trust me, we've got lots of projects and ideas that could grow our game and could help the women's program,' she stated. 'There's always more we can do.' After lopsided women's hockey scores at the 2010 Olympic Games — and then-IOC president Jacques Rogge warning 'we cannot continue without improvement' — the IIHF committed 2 million Swiss francs to international women's hockey development. More equitable shares in the IIHF's bonus structure 15 years later is seismic, said Kingsbury. 'Our women's committee, for many years, I remember even before I was on it, the big topic was always the trophy for the women's worlds is smaller than men's and we don't get prize money,' Kingsbury said. 'Both those things have changed.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Alderson puts pen to paper for Flyers
London-born Mason Alderson has become Fife Flyers second signing under the new regime at The Fife Ice Arena. The British forward comes to the Kingdom following a two year, two-way stint between National Ice Hockey League side Solway Sharks and Elite League Champions, Belfast Giants. He has logged three appearances for Giants. The 23-year-old registered more than a point a game icing for Sharks last term, registering 21 goals and 28 assists in 43 appearances for the Dumfries side. And 6ft 3in Alderson said he is excited to be joining the Flyers. The player added: 'From what I've heard, it's a great organisation with a passionate fan base and a rich hockey history. I just can't wait to get started and play in front of the Flyers faithful.' He joins highly-rated netminder, Shane Owen, in the line-up and he started his career playing junior hockey between Romford, Guildford and Chelmsford. He then moved to North America, joining the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) side Islanders Hockey Club ahead of the 2018/19 season. Alderson went on to represent Berwick Academy, Hoosac School, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights and Castleton University before making the switch back to Britain. The Great Britain under-18 and under-20 player has accumulated 28 points in 20 appearances for his country. Included in those statistics are impressive numbers in 2018 when he was part of the under-18 Championship, Division II, Group A, winning side during the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World tournament in Estonia. He led the team in scoring with nine points (six goals and three assists) in five games and he was voted the tournament's best forward. Alderson was then named Great Britain's captain at the 2019 IIHF World under-18 Championship, Division I, Group B, tournament in Hungary. Max Birbraer, Flyers' president and general manager, said: 'When we heard Mason was still available we made an immediate move as it's absolutely vital for us to start building a core of British players and re-establishing ourselves as a balanced group. 'Mason is a young, talented, hard-nosed player who is an absolute pain in the opposition's back side. He fits our team template perfectly.' PICTURE: Alderson (right) in action for Belfast v Fife. Credit Wiliam Cherry/Press Eye and Elite League Like this: Like Related
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin named IIHF's female player of the year; US goalie Gwyn Philips 2nd
Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin falls over United States' Kendall Coyne during the gold medal match between Canada and United States at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Petr David Josek/The Associated Press) Canada's 'Captain Clutch' Marie-Philip Poulin has another honour to add to her already celebrated hockey career in being voted the IIHF's Female Player of the Year. Poulin earned 33.1% of the votes in finishing ahead of five Americans, with Ottawa Charge rookie goalie Gwyneth Philips second with 22.3% of the votes, the IIHF announced Wednesday. U.S. national team captain and the inaugural winner of award three years ago, Hilary Knight, finished third at 20.2%. The IIHF did not reveal the specific totals submitted by more than 100 voters made up of media and federation officials. The 34-year-old Poulin is coming off a year in which she earned MVP honours at the world championships in April with a tournament-leading 12 points (four goals, eight assists) for Canada's silver medal-winning team. The Montreal Victoire captain is also a PWHL MVP finalist after leading the league with 19 goals and finishing fourth with 26 points in 30 games. Poulin is a four-time Olympian and earned her 'Clutch' nickname for scoring key goals, including the game-winners in Canada's past three gold-medal championship wins at the Winter Games. She's the second Canadian to earn the honour, following Natalie Spooner's win last year. Philips, meantime, made a splash both professionally and internationally this season by capably stepping in as a backup. From Athens, Ohio, she went 3-0 at the world championships, including a 17-save performance over the final 32 minutes of the Americans' 4-3 overtime win over Canada in the title game. Philips entered the game after starter Aerin Frankel was hurt in the third period. In the PWHL, Philips won the Ilana Kloss Trophy as playoff MVP despite Ottawa losing the Walter Cup finals to defending champion Minnesota. Philips went 4-4 in the postseason in allowing just 13 goals on 270 shots for a .952 save percentage and 1.23 goals-against average. Drafted by the Charge out of Northeastern, Philips took over the starting duties and helped the Charge clinch their first playoff berth after Emerance Maschmeyer was sidelined by a lower body injury in mid-March. U.S. national team and Wisconsin defenseman Caroline Harvey (12.9%) finished fourth in the voting, followed by Frankel (7.3%). Also receiving votes were Wisconsin's Laila Edwards and Finland national team and Charge defenseman Ronja Savolainen. This report by The Associated Press was first published on June 18, 2025. John Wawrow, The Associated Press
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Marie-Philip Poulin Named 2025 IIHF Female Player of the Year
Canadian and Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin has been voted as the 2025 IIHF Female Player of the Year. Poulin, 34, received 33.1% of the vote. She's been a finalist in each of the three years of the award. Advertisement She was followed in voting by Gwyneth Philips (22.3%), Hilary Knight (20.2%), and Caroline Harvey (12.9%). Knight was the 2024 winner of the award, while Natalie Spooner won the inaugural honour. Poulin, who the IIHF called "a perennial star with Canada" led the 2025 World Championships in scoring with 12 points in seven games this year. Her performance earned Poulin tournament MVP and Best Forward honours. She was also the leading goal scorer in the PWHL this season recording 19 goals. The future Hockey Hall of Famer is widely considered the best women's hockey player on the planet, which with this year's IIHF award rings true.
