Traditionally, the success of Female hockey at local MHAs is linked to a group of girls or parents who pass through the Association, but there is no infrastructure to sustain it long term.
Of the 15 largest metropolitan areas in Canada, Victoria is the only one with no Female MHA.
Additionally, nearly 20 municipalities in Canada smaller than Victoria have Female MHAs.

Challenges with the current infrastructure for Female hockey in Victoria include:
- Lack of girls-only Initiation/ Novice, which turns many girls away at an early age.
- Lack of girls-only Juvenile Division.
- Restrictive boundaries between MHAs have resulted in established Female players leaving hockey at Bantam/ Midget, only because there was no team for them to play on.
- Female House teams must travel excessive distances for games, but boys’ teams don’t. This has many girls trying to switch into Integrated hockey instead of a Female program.
- Regional ‘A’ program requires excessive travel for practices. Team composition with players from a wide region limits opportunities for dryland and team building.
- 80% of players on Regional ‘A’ teams are from Greater Victoria.
- Development of Affiliate Players (APs) and others is restricted in the current model.
- Regional ‘A’ teams are not financially autonomous, limiting development opportunities.

Eight separate Female MHAs have been in existence in the Vancouver area for 20 – 45 years.
- Most support one Rep team and two House teams per Division with total registration of approximately 250 – 260 players per MHA, generally from populations smaller than Victoria.
- Female MHA model is successful. There is disproportionate representation of Female MHAs at BC Hockey Championships. Female MHAs have won 67% of Championships since 2007.
- Female MHAs thrive within boundaries shared with one or more Integrated MHAs, without undue restrictions in access to ice time and resources.
- Enrolment is growing over the last 3 – 5 years in many of the Female MHAs.
- Following establishment of Female MHA, very few girls continue to play “boys” hockey.

Victoria has a regional population of 357,967 (in 2016) and currently there are 330 girls playing hockey.
- 182 on Female teams: 133 on Female House; 39 on Female Regional A; 10 on FMAAA.
- 148 on Integrated teams: 135 on Integrated House; 13 on Integrated Rep.
- Greater Victoria is poised to host the largest Female MHA in British Columbia.

We have proposed a new all-Female MHA, with boundaries respecting the external perimeter of the 13 municipalities of Capital Regional District, including the JDF Electoral Areas of East Sooke and Willis Point and First Nation communities that fall within these geographic areas.
Ice time for the new Female MHA has been requested through re-allocation of ice already committed to Female teams from the local MHAs. This is a lesser amount of ice than the proportional representation of Female players in each MHA.
We have drafted Constitution and By-Laws that are compliant with the new Societies Act and consistent with the standards set by VIAHA and BC Hockey.
We have a tentative Board of Directors with 20 positions (5 Officers and 15 Directors).
- We strive for regional representation on the Board and created Liaison positions for each local MHA, as well as selected recreational, educational and/or community institutions.
- All positions are tentatively filled and nine of the individuals have prior experience on an MHA Board; many others have experience serving on other youth sports Boards.
We have proposed a more efficient model for scheduling practices that will maximize the development opportunities for House and Rep Female players.
Have more local House teams in all Divisions, which will reduce the overall amount of travel for all players.
Coordinated weekly dryland training sessions for Rep teams include fitness instruction and additional seminar style teaching opportunities (strategy sessions; video review; nutrition counselling; mental preparation etc).
Possibility for Rep game scheduling to include Exhibition or League games with PCAHA teams.
Opportunities to develop more Female officials (Referees and Linesman) with a goal of all Female crews for games.
Greater options for Female leadership and mentorship. Midget girls can help coach Initiation teams.
A successful Female MHA could open as many as 148 roster spots to accommodate boys from the waiting list at Integrated MHAs.

Future opportunities for further development of Female hockey within a Female MHA:
- Enhanced programs for IIHF World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend and Esso Fun Days.
- Collaboration to host BC Hockey Program of Excellence.
- Spring & Summer Development Sessions.
- Spring League hockey teams.
- Specialty hockey camps.
- Co-operative scholastic ventures.
- Social programming.
Current status of the new Female MHA:
- CRFMHA applied to VIAHA for Membership (April 2017).
- Proposal reviewed by VIAHA South Island Presidents (June 2017)
- Proposal reviewed by VIAHA South Island MHAs (Summer 2017)
- CRFMHA met with VIAHA Officers (October 2017)
- VIAHA plans to review the proposal at their Executive Committee (January 2018)
- CRFMHA Membership Drive (Pending VIAHA Approval)
- Plan for an on-line contest to name the team and pick jersey colours (Pending VIAHA Approval)

Questions:
- Updates via social media:
  - Twitter: @VicGirlsHockey
  - FB: Victoria Girls Hockey
  - Instagram: @VicGirlsHockey

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