When Astrid Göth relocated from Sweden to Montreal three years back, hockey became her gateway to embracing a new country and language. However, the transition was not without challenges. In a rink filled with reverberations and ambient noise, the young girl grappled with deciphering her coaches’ instructions for drills. With English being a relatively new language for her and her hearing impairment adding to the difficulty, effective communication became paramount.
Research indicates that women and girls are more prone to discontinue organized sports participation, particularly as they enter adolescence. As per recent findings from Canadian Women & Sport, approximately half of Canadian girls may cease playing sports by the age of 17. The reasons behind this trend vary, from a sense of alienation in sports to the considerable time commitment required.
To address this issue, a new mentorship initiative launched by the PWHL aims to counteract these statistics, with Göth being among the initial beneficiaries. Alongside 119 other girls in Grades 8 and 9 from all eight PWHL cities, she will receive mentorship from PWHL players throughout the season. Additionally, they will partake in virtual workshops focused on enhancing mental well-being, self-confidence, and teamwork.
This program is a collaboration with Strong Girls United, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls, and Kyndryl Canada, an IT company serving as the program’s primary sponsor. Given that research highlights the age of 14 as a critical juncture when girls tend to drop out of sports, the mentorship program specifically targets this age group to provide guidance.
For young girls, having direct access to professional players who have walked in their shoes is a rare opportunity. The hope is that this mentorship will foster a sense of belonging for girls who may be uncertain about pursuing hockey.
Astrid’s mother, Fia Göth, seized the chance to enroll her daughter in the program after spotting an advertisement on Instagram. She views this as an invaluable opportunity for Astrid to seek advice from a professional on navigating challenges like coping with defeat. How does one conduct themselves in the locker room after a loss, and how does one move past it?
The mentorship sessions will see Astrid interacting with three different players from the Victoire, her preferred PWHL team, over the course of the season. In one of her initial sessions, she had the privilege of working one-on-one with Victoire forward Jade Downie-Landry.
Downie-Landry opted to become a mentor in the hopes of expanding the reach of the sport. She expressed that it is unfortunate that many girls drop out of sports at this age and believes that engaging in conversations and having role models to look up to can significantly boost their confidence.
During their first meeting, Downie-Landry shared her experience of overcoming an injury, despite being on long-term injured reserve since the season’s commencement. While Astrid’s challenges may differ on the ice, Downie-Landry felt it was crucial for the girls to understand that struggles are not exclusive to any level of play.
The impact of Downie-Landry’s words resonated with Astrid, who noted the forward’s resilience despite her injury. Astrid herself has persevered through difficulties over the past three years, balancing her passion for hockey with other endeavors like refereeing and coaching younger girls to provide them with a female role model in the sport.
The dialogue with Astrid left a lasting impression on Downie-Landry as well, who was struck by Astrid’s infectious energy and genuine love for the game. It was a truly special exchange that highlighted the power of mentorship in nurturing young athletes.
This mentorship program represents a significant step towards retaining girls in sports and empowering them to overcome obstacles, ultimately fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within the hockey community.
