Women’s Ice Hockey Growth Continues in New Zealand

Women’s Ice Hockey Growth Continues in New Zealand

Ice hockey has traditionally been a male dominated sport, but in recent years, the women’s game has seen significant growth worldwide and in New Zealand.

With the launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in North America evidence of this growth, and a rising demand for women’s sports in general, the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation (NZIHF) has made supporting the women’s game a priority.

Over the past five years, women’s ice hockey in New Zealand has grown at an average rate of 15% per year, outpacing the growth of the men’s game, and has seen increased levels of support and fan attendance at women’s national league games.

The NZIHF is committed to continuing this momentum, with investments into the women’s game, such as the re-establishment of the Women’s Trans-Tasman Challenge between New Zealand and Australia, and work on expanding the New Zealand Women’s Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL).

A packed out Paradice Avondale enjoying the NZWIHL matchup between the Auckland Steel and Wakatipu Wild

This impressive growth wouldn’t be possible without the tireless efforts of hundreds of volunteers across the country, and we spoke with two women who have dedicated many years to the sport to find out more about their contributions: Sally Tappin from Christchurch and Jackie Christos from Dunedin.

Sally, like many volunteers, got involved when her kids started playing ice hockey nearly 20 years ago. From managing bantam and high school teams in Christchurch to coordinating leagues, Sally’s contributions have been instrumental in the sport’s growth.

Sally (middle), with son Luke (left) and fellow Christchurch based player Chris Eaden (right) at the 2024 Ice Blacks vs. Mighty Roos series in Melbourne, Australia

When she wasn’t managing a team, Sally volunteered on the score bench, helping officiate games, which led to her current role overseeing the NZIHF’s Hydra online statistics and scheduling platform. Provided by the IIHF, Hydra is used for all of the NZIHF’s national leagues, tracking team and player stats, and serving as the official record-keeping system – a crucial role in maintaining New Zealand’s player and team eligibility for annual world championship events.

With over 200 game schedules and player profiles to manage each season, Sally stays busy, but says she’s a “proud supporter” who loves giving back to the sport that has given so much to her family.

All three of Sally’s children have played in New Zealand’s representative leagues and national teams, and she’s travelled internationally to support them. Most recently, she completed a successful tour as team manager for the Ice Fernz in 2023, in Cape Town, South Africa, something which she added was one of many highlights of her hockey career!

Jackie Christos from Dunedin is another long-time contributor to the sport, having held a variety of administrative roles over her more than 25 years of involvement.

Jackie first got involved behind the scenes when her son, Simon, wanted to play ice hockey in the mid-1990s, and like many back then, it was a surprise to Jackie that the sport existed in New Zealand. Ice hockey was originally played at Dunedin’s Big Chill rink, a small facility later replaced by the current Dunedin Ice Stadium, a project Jackie helped bring to life.

Jackie Christos

From 1997 to 2010, Jackie served as team manager for Dunedin’s representative teams and was the inaugural team manager for both the Southern Stampede and Dunedin Thunder teams. A life member of the Southern Ice Hockey League (SIHL) and the Dunedin Ice Hockey Association, Jackie has volunteered in the score box since 1999, supporting every level from beginners to high school, national leagues, and world championship events.

Jackie says the joy of meeting people – whether locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally – and the memories made along the way, keep her going. Watching the sport develop and seeing young players grow into senior athletes has been particularly rewarding, including her own son and now her grandchildren, who have all represented New Zealand in national teams.

Players in Dunedin enjoying the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend at Dunedin Ice Arena

New Zealand celebrated the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend in Dunedin, where Team White beat Team Black 5-4. Women ranging from seasoned Ice Fernz players, through to those trying hockey for the first time took to the ice and enjoyed an afternoon of fun!

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