The Fearless, Frozen Females of Hockey

A remarkable example of team spirit and community outreach came when players from the Clarkson Cup champion Toronto Furies participated in Toronto ’s Annual Pride Parade. Taking into account that the event brings over 1 million spectators to the parade route, it has become one of the largest of its kind, becoming a signature event for Canada ’s largest city. Considering that the CWHL is a proud partner with the You Can Play Project , founded by Patrick Burke, the son of CWHL Board Member Brian Burke, it is a group that looks to eliminate homophobia from the locker room. Patrick’s brother Brendan had come out in November 2009 and sadly lost his life in an auto accident a few months later. You Can Play! is a unique way to also honor his life. In the last few months, the CWHL has seen several of its players show remarkable courage with their own public admissions. Living legends such as Caitlin Cahow, Jayna Hefford and Charline Labonte (who have 11 combined Winter Games appeara...

After helping Canada to a gold medal effort at the 2013 Four Nations Cup, Jenelle Kohanchuk was one of the first wave of players that were released from Canada ’s Centralization Camp. Despite the heartbreak, Kohanchuk has bounced back with the Toronto Furies. On a squad that must still cope with the loss of Rebecca Johnston, Natalie Spooner and Jennifer Wakefield, Kohanchuk has provided an injection of leadership for the blue and white. In addition to her experience with the Canadian National Team (which has also included a gold medal at the Meco Cup), she has accumulated 138 career points with the Boston University Terriers in the NCAA. During her tenure with the Terriers, some of her teammates included Wakefield and other Canadian national players such as Marie-Philip Poulin and Catherine White. In her final season with the Terriers, she not only helped the club to a Hockey East title, but she scored a goal in the NCAA Frozen Four title game against Minnesota . Makin...