Wickfest aims to raise profile of women around the world through sport

The most competitive part of the Canadian Tire Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festivalis landing a spot in the tournament.

More than 200teams from around the world applied, but the annual event, helmed by hockey legend and former Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser, took only 108.

Wickfest, as the tournament is known, drew 2,300 girls from ageseight to 18 to Calgary over the course of two weekends. Beyond the game, there are seminars and workshopsas well as presentations from Olympians, such as Erica Wiebe and Chandra Crawford.

Focus on professional development

With the tournament into its second weekend,Wickenheisersaid Saturday she's less concerned about the hockey aspect of the eventand more interested in fostering professional development

"I want these kids to leave better prepared as athletes, and parents understanding what kids go through in sport," Wickenheiser said.

"The competition will take care of itself and the elite players will always rise to the top no matter what."

It's been Wickenheiser's lifemission to raise the profile of women's hockey around the world. This year's Wickfestfeatured teams from acrossCanada, the Czech Republic, Finland, the United States and its first ever peewee team from Harbin, China where the sport is on the rise.

"With the next three OlympicGames being in Asia, China wants to do really well in the next Olympics and they've been really pushing in the sport of hockey so it's just exploding over there," Wickenheisersaid.

Some of the girls on the Harbin team havebeen playing for only a year, but they defeated B.C.'s Tri-Cities Predators 6-3.

Predators coach Dave Whitworth said his team didn't know what to expect before they hit the ice.

"They were a mystery until the puck dropped, then they become just like anyone else, it's just a hockey game," Whitworth said.

Respect through hockey

Wickenheiser said they are working to bring a team from northern India to the Wickfestnext year. She said she believes raising the profile of women's hockey in other countries can better the lives of the women around the world.

"I believe that how women in hockey are treated in several countries is also how they are treated in society so if we can elevate the respect level through the game of hockey then their lives are better for it," she said.

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