The Secret® All-Star Team will compete against national teams in pre-Olympic exhibition play 

TORONTO, ON – October 22, 2021 – The Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) announced today details on the upcoming series against Hockey Canada, as well as a series against the Japan Ice Hockey Association. The Secret® All-Star Team will compete against the centralized roster of Hockey Canada in Calgary on December 9 and 11 and will then travel to Japan in January for a series of games. 

The Secret® All-Star Team recently competed against the centralized roster of USA Hockey in Blaine, Minnesota and the series against Hockey Canada will give PWHPA players another opportunity to showcase their talent against the world’s best players. These games will also provide Hockey Canada and the Japan Ice Hockey Association with added competition and game-action as they prepare for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

“We are incredibly fortunate to join with the PWHPA and the United States in our preparations for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games,” said Gina Kingsbury, director of women’s hockey operations with Hockey Canada.  “We share similar values as the PWHPA in growing the women’s game and helping build a sustainable league for the best players in the world. To showcase our national team athletes, who are also members of the PWHPA, and exposing them to the next generation of young girls who will see their idols play is vital in growing the game we all love. This best-on-best all-star format provides our national teams with an opportunity to play high-level, competitive games while providing a platform for young girls to fuel their dreams of one day becoming a professional hockey player or future Olympian.”’

The sponsorship from Secret Deodorant comes as a continuation of the brand’s commitment to ensuring the best women’s hockey players are given an opportunity to compete as they advocate for a new and equitable professional women’s hockey league. 

“Secret believes that equal sweat deserves equal opportunity which is why we are so excited to be evolving our partnership with the PWHPA,” says Secret® Executive Director Lisa Reid. “The development of this All-Star team will allow us to further support the incredible talent in this group by providing them with even more opportunities to play and help their peers prepare for the Olympic stage.”

Additional game information about the series against Hockey Canada— including streaming and ticket details— will be announced next month. The roster for this series will differ from the games against USA Hockey and will once again be selected by coaches and GMs.

“We are thrilled to continue to provide opportunities for our players to compete this season,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHPA Operations Consultant. “It’s really a win-win for us and these national teams because it provides the players on all sides with a competitive atmosphere, as well as a wonderful platform for our game. We’re excited for the next iteration of our All-star Team, and I know the competition for those spots will be tight.” 

In January, the Secret® All-Star Team will head to Japan for one week—from January 9 to 16— to play Team Japan. The PWHPA previously had plans to send a team to compete against Team Japan in early 2020 but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details for the event will be announced in December. 

For more information, visit pwhpa.com

About the PWHPA

Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association’s (PWHPA) mission is to promote, advance and support a single, viable professional women’s ice hockey league in North America that showcases the greatest product of women’s professional ice hockey in the world. The organization aims to provide a united voice to players advocating for the creation of a sustainable professional league. PWHPA is working to accomplish its mission by coordinating training needs and programming opportunities and collaborating with like-minded organizations to make hockey more inclusive for women and future generations. To learn more about PWHPA and the Secret Dream Gap Tour, visit pwhpa.com.

Media Inquiries:

PWHPA
Ashley McLellan
PWHPA Media Consultant
media@pwhpa.com