Two Women Who Give a Puck

What happens when women step up to coach in hockey? In this episode of Two Women Who Give a Puck, we follow two very different coaching journeys.   One said yes… and was welcomed in. The other said yes… and was told no.   Both stories reveal something bigger about hockey culture, belonging, and what it really takes to create space for women in the game.   We talk about: • What it feels like to put yourself out there • The impact of being accepted—or not • Why communication and culture matter in associations • How women continue to show up, even when it’s hard • What belonging in hockey actually looks like   This is a real, honest conversation about growth, resilience, and why more women are needed in hockey—not just as players, but as leaders.   💙 Because belonging in hockey should never be something you have to earn.   Ep 15 - Kimmi & Kelly - Pre-Coaching Interview

🎙️ Welcome to Two Women Who Give a Puck | If I Can Do It, You Can Do It In this episode of Two Women Who Give a Puck, Sarah and Tera are back after a busy hockey season to sit down with Julie Johnson — adult women’s hockey player, hockey mom, and living proof that it’s never too late to start.   Julie shares her honest and hilarious journey into hockey, including: - Starting hockey at age 40 - Being terrified of the ice (and the goalie mask 😳) - Wanting to return her gear… and deciding to try one more time - Falling in love with the game anyway - Playing today in women’s leagues, including over-50 hockey - Bringing hockey into her family and community   This conversation dives into: - Why hockey can feel intimidating from the outside - Why adult women hesitate to try new sports - The power of being asked (more than once) - How women’s hockey builds real community, on and off the ice - Why hockey is more than a game — it’s belonging, confidence, and connection   Julie’s message is simple and powerful: If I can do it, you can do it.   If you’re a hockey mom, a former athlete, or someone who’s ever thought, “Hockey isn’t for me,” this episode is for you.   💬 Key Takeaway You don’t need to have grown up playing hockey. You don’t need to be “sporty.” You don’t need to be fearless. You just need someone to invite you in.   🎧 Listen, share, and don’t forget to invite someone else in.   Because women belong in hockey — at every age.   🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about women, hockey, and changing the culture of the game.   #TwoWomenWhoGiveAPuck #WomenInHockey #AdultWomenHockey #HockeyCommunity #HockeyMoms #GirlsInHockey #BelongInTheGame

A Minnesota female hockey coach was suddenly replaced by a less experienced male coach—right in front of her daughter. Sadly, this isn’t an isolated story. In this episode of Two Women Who Give a Puck, Sarah and Tera break down the key takeaways and actionable steps to fight gender bias and create a more positive hockey culture for girls and women.   🔥 What you’ll get: - Real talk on gender bias in youth hockey - How boards and associations can do better - Tangible tips for female coaches to advocate for themselves - Ways parents and allies can support change   These actionable insights aren’t just for coaches—they’re for anyone who wants to make hockey fairer, more supportive, and empowering.   💡 Listen, share, and help us build a hockey community where everyone belongs!   Listen to the original story here: EP 17 - Unbenched: The Untold Reality of Female Coaches in Minnesota Hockey   YouTube - https://youtu.be/re6BiOVC0as Podbean - https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-3zcuk-19dabd3

In today’s episode of Two Women Who Give a Puck, we share a powerful, true, anonymously submitted story from a Minnesota female hockey coach whose world was turned upside down overnight. After years of playing, coaching, developing players, and building a positive culture, she discovered—without warning—that she had been removed from her head coaching role and replaced by a man with no hockey playing experience. No explanation. No conversation. No accountability.   What happened next reveals a painful truth about female coaches in youth hockey: mistrust, dismissal, and unfair replacement are not rare—they are part of a wider pattern happening quietly across associations, even in the “State of Hockey.”   In this emotional episode, we explore: 🏒 The impact of losing a coaching role without reason 🏒 The message these decisions send to young female athletes 🏒 Why female coaches must constantly prove competence 🏒 How associations can make better, more equitable decisions 🏒 What support, advocacy, and community can look like 🏒 How YOU can help change the culture for girls and women in hockey   This story is raw, real, and deeply important. It’s a reminder that female coaches belong in hockey, their voices matter, and their presence changes the game for the better.   If you’re a coach, parent, board member, or anyone who cares about the future of girls’ hockey—this is a must-listen.   🔗 Share this episode with someone in your hockey community. 📩 Have a story? Want to stay anonymous? Email us at: [email protected]   🌐 Learn more: TwoWomenWhoGiveAPuck.com   #TwoWomenWhoGiveaPuck,#GenderBiasInSports,#WomenWhoCoach,#GirlsHockey,#SportsAdvocacy,#SilentStruggles,#WhatThePuck,#FemaleCoach,#WomenInSports,#StateOfHockey,#SupportFemaleCoaches

In today’s episode, Sarah and Tera sit down with Diane Smith, a former collegiate hockey referee, to explore an often overlooked but critical part of the sport: officiating. Diane shares her journey into hockey, the moment she fell in love with the game, and how seeing one female ref changed the entire trajectory of her future.   Together, we dive into: 🏒 What it’s really like to be a female official 🏒 Why new referees quit — and how we can help change that 🏒 How coaches, parents, and players contribute to a safe and positive environment 🏒 The emotional and physical challenges of the job 🏒 Why representation in officiating matters more than ever 🏒 What Diane hopes her legacy will be in the world of hockey   Whether you're a parent, coach, player, or someone who simply loves the game, this conversation will deepen your appreciation for the refs who keep hockey safe, fair, and fun — and inspire more girls and women to pick up a whistle.   💬 Key Takeaways - Seeing one female ref opened a door for Diane — and she hopes to do the same for others. - Officiating builds leadership, confidence, communication, and quick-decision skills. - Keeping refs in the game requires support from everyone — coaches, parents, and players. - Representation matters: young girls need to see women in roles they might never have imagined. - At its core, hockey should always be fun, safe, and inclusive.   🤝 Join the Movement If you loved this conversation, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. And remember:   We belong in hockey — and we deserve to be part of the greatest game in the world. Don’t forget to invite someone else in.

In this inspiring episode of Two Women Who Give a Puck, hosts Sarah and Tera sit down with Kimmi and Kelly — two women who began their hockey journeys as adult players and are now taking on coaching roles. They discuss what drew them to hockey, how they found confidence in a new sport, and what it means to step into leadership as women in a male-dominated arena. Together, they explore: The value of female coaches in youth hockey Overcoming impostor syndrome and self-doubt Creating safe, supportive, and empowering team environments Advocating for inclusion and balance in sports and family life Whether you’re a player, parent, or coach, this episode celebrates the strength of women who choose to lead, mentor, and uplift others in hockey — proving that representation truly changes the game. ✨ Follow and subscribe for more real stories of women shaping the future of hockey — on and off the ice.

On this episode Tera and Sarah interview another one of their Buzzer Beater players, Haley Mathison.    Haley grew up LOVING hockey, but it wasn’t in the cards for her to play organized hockey in her youth. Instead, she practiced solo on frozen lakes and city rinks, dreaming of one day playing organized hockey.   She achieved her dream after attending a WHAM 101 clinic solo. Even though she started on her own, she quickly and easily formed a team with fellow clinic participants.   With this team she found a deep sense of camaraderie and support among teammates, leading to lasting friendships and a strong sense of community.   Haley’s story shows how trying something new, even on your own, can lead to personal growth, leadership opportunities, and unexpected joy. Her and her teammates’ friends, kids, and families are inspired by seeing moms and women play hockey, breaking stereotypes and building legacy.   Haley hopes her legacy is one of being coachable, athletic, supportive, and a leader. Her hope is to be a role model for others entering the sport.   She has already inspired so many around her to try hockey and she believes that women belong in hockey. And that it is the greatest game in the world!   Whether you're seeking friendship, fitness, or fun— she believes there’s a place for you on the ice.

Tera and Sarah sit down with one of their Buzzer Beater players, Moriah Gilbertson.   In this episode, Moriah shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey into hockey. She initially said “No” when a friend asked her to try a women’s 101 hockey clinic with her. However, she was convinced to switch that “No” to “Yes” and that decision led to immense transformation.   She developed a fixed mindset from her dance background, which made her resistant to trying new things, especially sports. Hockey helped her develop a growth mindset, which she now models for her daughters.   After suffering severe health issues during pregnancy, including months of immobility, hockey became a symbol of physical recovery and empowerment. She now feels strong, capable, and proud to be active with her family.   Moriah wants her legacy to be one of strength, resilience, and openness to new experiences, both within her family and the broader hockey community.    Moriah’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to try something new.    Hockey has given her joy, strength, and a sense of belonging. AND she wants to make sure all women, of all ages and abilities, realize that hockey is TRULY for EVERYONE. Even someone like her who had no prior experience and physical health struggles to overcome.

Tera and Sarah sit down with Dan Miller, youth hockey coach, girls varsity hockey head coach, youth hockey coaching director, USHL scout, AAA coach, High Performance Hockey coach…… OMG, that’s A LOT!!   Dan shares with us his unique hockey experience. He started later in life (according to MN standards!) at the age of 10, played high school hockey, Junior B, Junior A and then ended his career after suffering a broken leg while playing D1 hockey in Madison.   This injury didn’t keep him from hockey long, shortly after leaving the Madison program, he started his coaching journey.    His main mission as a coach is to make it about the kids by building relationships with each player and helping them to transform into better athletes AND (maybe more importantly) better people.   He sees the girl hockey players he is currently coaching as athletes and treats them as such. Pushing them to do more off-ice than they have before and helping them understand what it takes to become strong.    He also encourages parents, players (male and female), and spectators to see all female athletes and coaches as capable. And has helped to create a supportive environment within Rogers youth hockey for attracting, supporting and retaining female coaches.  Rogers youth hockey is currently ABOVE the national (7%) and MN (8.6%) average for percentage of female coaches (9%)!!

Sarah and Tera and joined by Vanessa Fuchs and Lizzy Ristano from WeCOACH.   WeCOACH is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit membership organization dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels through year-round professional growth & leadership development programs.   In this episode we talk about all things female coaches, from identifying who you are as a coach, creating a supportive community around you, asking for help and the importance of having females in coaching.    For more on WeCOACH, check out all of the great programs they have created at WeCOACH Especially check out the Youth and High School Women Coaches Academy happening August 15th - https://wecoachsports.org/programs-events/hs-academy/

Tera and Sarah sit down with Jenna Thompson, the brains behind the Puck Yea! Hockey Collective.   Puck Yea! Hockey Collective is all about bringing individuals together through the love of hockey where fun, empowerment, and inclusivity are at the heart of everything.    This Hockey Collective has a place for all females of all skill levels.    Through Puck Yea! Hockey Collective Jenna has found a place for many individuals, who may have fallen a little bit out of love of the game after playing in high school and/or college (i.e. Tera!). They have jumped back into loving the game through this fun and supportive environment. Even Tera!!! She is planning on playing with Sarah’s Puck Yea! Team in a few weeks!!!   Jenna has also created a Try Hockey for Free day for females and Spanish speaking females where she has free equipment to use. She saw that paying for hockey equipment before you know if you’re going to love the sport is a barrier that not everyone can overcome, so she removed that barrier!  AWESOME!!    If you are curious about whether or not there is a place for you in the Puck Yea! Hockey Collective, reach out to Jenna at [email protected], she would love to help you out!!    Check out all the action around the Puck Yea! League on their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/puck.yea.hockey   Sign up or learn more about the league here - https://www.puckyeahockey.com/

Tera and I are joined by Ashley Holmes, the Assistant Coach in Chief for Female Coach Development in the Minnesota District (that’s a mouth full!!).  Ashley shares her story of growing up playing hockey in the Alexandria area, how that led to playing at the University of North Dakota and then on to coaching.  An important part of her coaching journey is that she was ASKED to coach a 12U hockey team. Without that invitation, she is unsure if she ever would have found her path in coaching.  So, hockey associations, and mainly MALE ALLIES (because you are currently the majority in hockey), remember to ASK females to coach. Many of them will not step up without an invitation. Within her role at USA Hockey, she is working to attract more female coaches to get involved in the coach developer role and NORMALIZING seeing women in leadership roles within USA hockey, MN hockey and within the youth levels.  She also hears from many female coaches throughout the state of MN who are facing similar challenges.  She regularly hears females express encountering the challenges below: Feeling like you aren’t welcome Having people second guess your abilities Males with less experience getting a coaching position rather than you because it’s a higher level and females aren’t seen as capable at that higher level Not having their voices heard Having to prove their competency when their male counterparts are automatically granted competency It’s a challenge for those female coaches to want to continue coaching within the game when they are volunteering their time AND having to overcome all of the situations at the same time. They start to question, “Why am I doing this? Is it even worth it?” This leads to a challenge in retaining the female coaches who are willing to step up.  Lastly, we talk about how the move away from USA hockey’s ADM model and community-based hockey is producing fewer top level female talent within the State of Hockey. Parents having an understanding of the ADM model and its value is vital to continuing to be the State of Hockey on the female side.  She is also focusing on bringing MN female coaches together to help support each other and be resources for each other. If you are a MN female hockey coach, look for an invitation to a MN female coaches GroupMe and reach out to Ashley at any time with questions. She is here to support you!   Contact info: Ashley Holmes - [email protected]   USA Hockey Female Coaches GroupMe - GroupMe - Join the group for USAH Female Coaches   Reach out to Tera and Sarah if you have any questions or if you have a story to share. [email protected]

Tera and Sarah sit down with Alicia Pelton, the Program Director for Coaching HER from the Tucker Center, a research center at the University of Minnesota that researches girls and women in sport.  Coaching HER is a coaching resource that helps sport coaches of girls challenge the status quo and the taken-for-granted assumptions of what it means to coach girls. We are helping coaches minimize gender inequalities and to coach differently. Coaching HER tackles central and unaddressed issues which negatively impact girls’ and women’s performance, self-perceptions, sport choices, and experiences: coaches’ unconscious gender biases and stereotypes. During this episode, Alicia shares with us the inequity she saw between her son’s hockey experience compared to her daughter’s and what she did about it.   We also discuss the fact that sports were created for men by men and continue to be coached by men and designed around men, i.e. sport equipment.  However, women are different. Our hormones are different, we injure differently, we hit puberty at different times, AND we are treated differently in society.  So instead of looking at the sport of hockey as a boys sport and the girls simply exist in it, we may need to rethink the design of the sport so we can meet the girls where they are at and appreciate what they bring to the game, rather than trying to fit them into the existing model.   The game of women’s hockey may look different than men’s hockey; however, it is a BEAUTIFUL game and embracing the differences can help to expand the sport for females. This is important because when girls play, they are more successful in life.  They are healthier, they have healthier families, they have less depression and anxiety, they’re healthier in every way and succeed occupationally.

AUDIO WARNING - some of the audio is a little rocky!!  Good ol' technology... It doesn't always cooperate.......! On this episode Tera and Sarah chat with Topher Scott from The Hockey Think Tank about the value of community based hockey, for everyone, and especially for female hockey players. The less accessible hockey becomes, the fewer females there will be in the sport.  Topher’s mission is to get people to recognize the importance and the power of the front of the jersey again.  Meaning, no one has made it to higher levels alone and creating a supportive community around your daughter during her playing career, better enables her to develop all of the important life skills that lead to success on the ice. We touch on the mental and physical health challenges within the youth hockey and youth sports experiences and Topher shares his advice with parents on how to manage this, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!  Topher also highlights that a well balanced approach MAY include saying “No” to your daughter even if she LOVES the game and wants to play in ALL the hockey programs coming your way.   Saying “No” to something DOES NOT mean your daughter’s hockey career is over!  It may actually enhance it! We end the conversation talking about the benefits of the unique community model that Minnesota Youth Hockey has and why it has enabled us to become THE STATE HOCKEY.  Here are some of the top reasons that the community model is AMAZING: It attracts the best coaches It gives the kids something bigger to play for, which accelerates their hockey development and improves their mental health   It is a MUST listen for anyone immersed in the youth hockey world!!  Topher references his podcast with Kendall Coyne-Schofield. It’s a great listen to hear about the challenges the top USA female hockey players faced with USA hockey.  https://thehockeythinktank.podbean.com/e/episode-5-kendall-coyne/ Topher is a wonderful hockey resource. Check him out at www.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and subscribe to The Hockey Think Tank Podcast on your favorite podcasting app!

In this episode Tera and Sarah discuss all the ways female coaches can provide value even if they never played hockey.    They discuss the many aspects of coaching that have NOTHING to do with the Xs and Os of the game.    From helping players overcome adversity, to teaching them how to be good teammates, to holding them accountable, ALL of these are INCREDIBLY valuable. AND none of them require hockey knowledge to teach.    They remind female coaches that if they are starting with the younger ages, they can learn the game alongside the players and that is wonderful!   Also, the most important aspect of hockey is: if the kids are having fun, they’re going to want to come back. If you can help them have fun, you can be out there!!! If you have any questions or are interested in playing or coaching and you need a little extra support and encouragement, reach out to Tera and/or Sarah at [email protected]. They're always here for you :)

In this episode, Tera and Sarah discuss the common response they receive when sharing their experiences with males in the hockey world, which is “It happens to guys too”.    Although this statement is true, Tera and Sarah discuss how it feels very dismissive and it glosses over the reality of females having different experiences in hockey than males do.    Even if similar things happen to men, the way women experience certain issues, like harassment, violence, body image pressure, is often shaped by systemic and cultural factors that affect them differently. Saying “it happens to guys too” glosses over those differences.   Also, even if it’s meant to be comforting or to show empathy, it can come off like you're saying it's not unique, not that big of a deal, she shouldn't be upset and she should just get over it.    It leaves women feeling as if women are given the choices of: 1) get over it and don’t validate their own feelings, 2) live with it and suck it up, 3) walk away from it, or 4) shove those feelings deep down inside and wait for them to explode!   Saying “It happens to guys too” also shifts the focus away from the female’s experience. She might be sharing something that’s difficult or vulnerable. Responding with “it happens to guys too” redirects the conversation to men’s experiences instead of staying present with her and listening to what she’s going through.   If you are a male and your thought is, “it happens to guys too”, please stop, rethink and listen.    If you have any questions or are interested in playing or coaching and you need a little extra support and encouragement, reach out to Tera and/or Sarah at [email protected]. They're always here for you :)   Here is the article Sarah references: Athletes step up to support Minnesota kid who was told girls can’t play football Elena Easley goes viral in TikTok video about playing football | MPR News

Kris Wing is building a legacy, a beautiful and bright spiderweb, of positive energy, inclusiveness and an integrated approach to supporting ALL coaches within the world of USA hockey that she hopes will live on indefinitely.   She is the USA Hockey Coach in Chief for Female Development, which means she is a part of USA hockey's coach education program. She is the first female to have a Coach in Chief role within USA Hockey. Her role specifically focuses on encouraging and supporting women to become involved in hockey as coaches, players, and board members, with the goal of increasing the numbers everywhere. During this episode Kris shares her experiences growing up during Title XI, playing field hockey, basketball, softball and pond hockey, pretty much any sport she could get her hands on. She loves sports!!   She calls out how the landscape of coaching was drastically different when she started coaching. She only saw female coaches, which lead to her never question a female's place in sports. A very different atmosphere than the one Tera and Sarah find themselves in now.   Upon starting her Coach in Chief for Female Development role, Kris embarked on a learning journey to better understand the landscape of females within hockey. Leading her to realize that in hockey, and many sports worldwide, females don't feel comfortable or invited.   For this reason, Kris has created a number of programs within USA hockey to pull women in and help them feel comfortable, accepted and valued, including female only coaching education clinics, a GroupMe chat group for female coaches throughout the nation, as well as virtual continuing education sessions specifically geared towards the female coach and/or athlete and educational presentations for local associations to highlight gender biases within the sport.   Below are resources that can be utilized for tangible action items.   Sarah encourages female coaches to establish their own female coaching support group within their local association to bounce ideas off of and be that first line of support within USA hockey.   And she challenges associations to have 1 female coach on each girls team, especially during puberty (U12-U15).   Resources: What Is Unconscious Bias  Do You Know the Factors Influencing Girls’ Participation in Sports? https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/do-you-know-the-factors-influencing-girls-participation-in-sports/ Game On - Women Can Coach Toolkit https://tuckercenter.umn.edu/tuckercenter/projects/gameon-toolkit.html We Coach https://wecoachsports.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/wecoachsports/login.jsp?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwecoachsports.app.neoncrm.com%2Fnp%2Fconstituent%2Fresponsive%2Fcommon%2FacknowledgeCustomizePage.jsp USA Hockey’s Girl’s and Women https://www.usahockey.com/girlshockey Tucker Center - https://tuckercenter.umn.edu Coaching Her - https://www.coachingher.com As part of USAH’s Continuing Education the CoachingHer modules are available for CE hours   https://www.usahockey.com/coaching-continuingeducation   USAH Female Coaches GroupMe forum for sharing, developing and supporting our community. You can join using the link below - You will be asked “What Is Bring It In” Answer the question with - a monthly Zoom session to support female coaches. Also please acknowledge that you are 18+ years old. https://groupme.com/join_group/90808759/juPQiD5E   If you are interested in having or being a mentor coach please use this link to fill out a Google Form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdo0xZAf70NiizTt4_NvXMencgseWqVj57BJxmT_bFmdby57Q/viewform   Reach out to Kris: [email protected]

Sarah shares her hockey experience. From growing up in Minnesota skating on the ponds, to youth hockey, high school hockey, college hockey and WHAM hockey (women's recreational hockey). She shares her love for the game as well as the challenges she faced when she started coaching her daughter.

Tera shares her hockey story from playing hockey with the neighborhood kids on the outdoor rink, to being the only girl on a boys team, to joining the girls and playing with them in youth, high school and college. She also shares what her experiences in hockey taught her about life and feeling confident in situations where she is different. Highlighting the importance of the non-sport aspects we players learn while participating.

Sarah and Tera are doing a thing, they're starting a podcast because they are Two Women Who Give a Puck! Through this podcast experience they will highlight the experiences of female coaches and players in hockey, as well as provide tangible ways to create positive changes. They are here to reminder women that they belong in hockey and deserve to be a part of the greatest game in the world. As well as encourage all of us to invite someone into the game to coach and/or play.