Elizabeth Etue August 27, 2010.

The World Hockey Summit spent three hours on the women’s game during the last day of the summit.
Hayley Wickenheiser, Canada’s Captain came well prepared for her key note speech. Her opening remarks set the tone, “Thanks to everyone for attending this summit and those who are here today. It means alot to the women’s game. You have a lot to offer and we appreciate that." Those remarks were clearly a nod to the much needed cooperation, funding and energy from the men in the federations who run the game.

She made references to a think tank held in July 2010 in Vierumaki, Finland. The top 14 countries met to discuss and report on the women’s game hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Wickenheiser referred to some of the results of that meeting. (the full report was not available) There are huge differences in a variety of categories in both leagues and national teams. Here are some of the highlights from her talk:

Competition
• Finland played 39 games in the lead up to the 2010 Olympics. Russia played 5 games.
• Canada played 60 pre-Olympic games; 30 against midget boys and 30 against international teams.
• Finland has 52 club teams which competes on 24 rinks. Russia has six club teams who play on 6 rinks.
• China is “hot housing,” which means they have gathered their top 30 top players to live, train and play together. Unfortunately there is no elite competition for them in China.
• Competition in North America- Increase opportunities for Europeans and other country’s elite players to compete in North America. “We need best players in one league, just like the European players are playing in the NHL. This would mean that IIHF would cover or wave transfer fees for players coming to North America. Currently the club league with the best Canadian and American players is the Canadian Women’s Hockey League with 3 teams from Burlington, Brampton and Toronto, 1 from Montreal and 1 from Boston. In the short term “we should have the best women from Europe and other countries playing against the best women in the world. This would be huge going into lead up to the Olympics. “

Funding and Development
• Five of the top 14 countries have a development plan. Russia, the 2014 Olympic host has $0 funds allocated for women’s hockey development.
• A Canadian club team needs about $480, 000 to run a club in the Western Women’s Hockey League. That amount is the average amount of money spent on a year for national teams in the top countries.
• Canada spent $2 million dollars on its team for 2010. Russia spent $400,000.
• Finland has arranged for 6 of its top Under 18 players to train, practice and play together in a school team.
• Plans for Socchi: 7 countries have a plan. 5 are in basic stages. In Canada “We always have a long term plan in Canada. That is key.”

Leadership and Coaching
• Five countries have leadership plans. Finland and Canada are the only countries with an exchange program for coaches and players.
• Only 7 countries have a person dedicated solely to women’s hockey at the federation.

Hayley finished her speech with an invitation,
“Everyone in hockey and in this room has an opportunity to be a leader in the women's game. It just takes one person to care. You could be that person.”

More World Hockey Summit news.
Winih will be posting the comments from the women's hockey panel and the post summit interviews on Monday August 30, 2010 at 5:00pm.