Kori Cheverie reflects fondly on the conversations she had with her grandfather growing up in Nova Scotia, where he encouraged her to believe anything was attainable in sports.
First woman to play for the Toronto Blue Jays? Sure. Hoist the Stanley Cup over her head while representing the Toronto Maple Leafs? Go for it.
Though doing so as a player is now out of the question, CheverieB次元官网网址檚 gender-breaking aspirations appear far more achievable today to the 34-year-old, who has spent the past five years chipping away at hockeyB次元官网网址檚 male-only coaching barrier.
In 2017, Cheverie became the first female assistant coach of a menB次元官网网址檚 hockey team at the Canadian university level (at Ryerson). This month, after serving as an assistant on the Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 Olympic championship team, she completed a stint as Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first woman behind the bench of a menB次元官网网址檚 team at the Under-18 world championships.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of funny, looking back and reflecting on those conversations as a kid, because I am the first to do quite a few things on the menB次元官网网址檚 side of hockey,B次元官网网址� said Cheverie, recalling the talks with her grandfather, Jack Rehill. B次元官网网址淭hey speak to the limitless childhood that I had growing up, and what I was told I could be capable of.B次元官网网址�
And sheB次元官网网址檚 not done dreaming.
CheverieB次元官网网址檚 ascension coupled with the growing number of women entering pro hockey management and developmental roles has rapidly sped the timetable on when B次元官网网址� not if B次元官网网址� there will be a woman working behind an NHL bench.
As much as Pittsburgh Penguins president Brian Burke believes the glass ceiling should have been shattered yesterday, he balances his impatience by noting the inroads the league is making to blow up its image as an old boys club.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 basically weB次元官网网址檝e been bound by our past, which is white people playing hockey and going into management,B次元官网网址� Burke told The Associated Press.
B次元官网网址淚t might be a slower build than people like,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 greatly encouraged by the change in the last two years of the role of women in hockey, which has gone from nonexistent to significant in a very short time.B次元官网网址�
In four years since Hayley Wickenheiser opened the door by becoming the Toronto Maple LeafsB次元官网网址� assistant director of player development, the leagueB次元官网网址檚 female hockey-related ranks have increased to nearly 30. And that doesnB次元官网网址檛 include five NHL teams featuring female presidents.
The Penguins are among the NHL teams leading the way. With two women already on their hockey staff, the Penguins expanded the list by naming U.S. Olympian Amanda Kessel as the first participant in the teamB次元官网网址檚 executive management program last month. Vancouver is the first NHL team to hire not one but two assistant general managers in Cammi Granato and Emilie Castonguay.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 pretty nearsighted if people didnB次元官网网址檛 think that ultimately thereB次元官网网址檇 be some sort of equalization between genders, not just in hockey but in every industry,B次元官网网址� NHL CoachesB次元官网网址� Association president Lindsay Artkin said. B次元官网网址淚t wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be unrealistic to see a female hired in the NHL after next season.B次元官网网址�
The NHLCA has played a role in fast-tracking the movement. With the backing of her male coaching membership, Artkin launched a female developmental program two years ago.
The program identified 50 women B次元官网网址�- including Cheverie B次元官网网址� at various levels to work directly with NHL coaches in advanced training sessions. Aside from exchanging ideas, the program also provided women networking opportunities they previously lacked in getting on the radar as potential coaching candidates.
While Artkin said NHL coaches are impressed by the wealth of knowledge the women bring, the female participants find the sessions reinforced the belief of being equals when working with men.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 absolutely validating,B次元官网网址� said University of St. Thomas assistant womenB次元官网网址檚 coach Bethany Brausen. B次元官网网址淭he terminology might be slightly different, but weB次元官网网址檙e all speaking the same language.B次元官网网址�
Whatever apprehensions Brausen had about overseeing men melted away when one male coach said most players donB次元官网网址檛 care about gender but just one thing: Does the coaching make them better?
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a very simple thing to say,B次元官网网址� Brausen said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think hearing a male, coaching at that level, explicitly say that, itB次元官网网址檚 `Of course.B次元官网网址� As soon as he said that, IB次元官网网址檓 like, `Why would it matter how you look or, frankly, what your background is?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
A conversation during a 25-minute drive with Christine Bumstead was all it took to convince former Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice how knowledgeable she was in recommending her to the program.
B次元官网网址淐hristine is going to be a great coach. She is one now,B次元官网网址� Maurice said of Bumstead, who just completed her first year as an assistant for the University of Saskatchewan womenB次元官网网址檚 team. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of really intelligent young coaches, some of them are male, some of them are female, and they now have an opportunity that just wasnB次元官网网址檛 there 20 years ago.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 confident the gender barrier will be broken, much like other walls have fallen in recalling how Canadian Junior Hockey Leagues once shunned American-born players.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e not willing to change and evolve as a coach, youB次元官网网址檙e done,B次元官网网址� Maurice said, before noting B次元官网网址渕en donB次元官网网址檛 have the market cornered on communication.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ou listen to Jennifer Botterill on TV. She talks about the game differently,B次元官网网址� he said of the Canadian Olympian-turned-broacaster. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a different perspective at times. It may or may not have anything to do with her being a women. But sheB次元官网网址檚 interesting.B次元官网网址�
The NHL has lagged behind North AmericaB次元官网网址檚 three other major pro sports in hiring women.
In 2019, and this year became the gameB次元官网网址檚 first female minor league manager. The NBA featured seven female assistants this year. And the NFLB次元官网网址檚 ranks of female coaches grew to 12 last season.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he expects the process of women being hired as coaches to evolve, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping we donB次元官网网址檛 need that,B次元官网网址� Bettman said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping that it evolves to the point where it just becomes a part of how you function where you donB次元官网网址檛 need arbitrary rules for people to be doing the right things.B次元官网网址�
The chances of that happening have vastly improved, NHL vice president Kim Davis said, in crediting the developmental program for providing women direct access to those who have hiring authority.
B次元官网网址淭he fact that they have access and you have women in these roles, itB次元官网网址檚 going to ultimately result in those women ascending to these top positions as GMs, as coaches,B次元官网网址� Davis said. B次元官网网址淪o IB次元官网网址檓 hugely encouraged by our progress. We have a lot more to do. By no means are we taking a victory lap.B次元官网网址�
As much as Cheverie would most certainly like to be the first woman hired to coach in the NHL, she stressed the opportunity would have to be the right fit in working on a staff and a team open to hearing her voice.
B次元官网网址淚 would love to be in the NHL. Of course, I think, many female coaches would. But itB次元官网网址檚 not the be-all, end-all for me. I want to do the best that I can do,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really looking forward to the day where this isnB次元官网网址檛 a conversation,B次元官网网址� Cheverie added. B次元官网网址淚 wish that day was today and itB次元官网网址檚 just us talking about a coach coaching a team and trying to help them win versus how does a female fit into a group of males in a sporting setting.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擩ohn Wawrow, The Associated Press
