Winnipeg Jets And NHL Invest $150,000 In Girls-Only Learn To Play Program

Winnipeg Jets And NHL Invest In Girls-Only Learn To Play Program© Instagram

With the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic set for October 25 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, the Jets and the league used the occasion to announce something that will outlast the outdoor game. The NHL and the Jets committed $150,000 through the NHL Unites Legacy Project to create Jets Hockey Development Girls Learn to Play, described as the first program of its kind in Winnipeg. It targets girls between the ages of six and ten who have never played hockey before.

The program provides on-ice instruction led by an all-woman coaching staff, equipment support, and connections to local minor hockey associations and girls' hockey programs across Manitoba. The first session launched September 2 with a welcome event for 40 girls and their families, including equipment fittings from Bauer Canada. The session closed with a graduation ceremony where participants received certificates and Heritage Classic tickets. Registration for the spring session is now open.

What Else the Investment Covers

The $150,000 commitment runs alongside a separate $30,000 grant from the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, directed at women coaches, program resources, and player retention. The announcement also includes support for the second annual Women's Hockey Advancement Committee Fellowship Program, a partnership between the Jets and College Hockey Inc. that gives a graduating student-athlete a full-time, year-long placement with the organization. The inaugural fellowship recipient was Olivia LaRoche of the Seattle Kraken.

Annie Chipman Stockl, vice-president of marketing for True North Sports + Entertainment, said the project would create new entry points for first-time players in Manitoba. Kim Davis, the NHL's Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, said growing hockey for girls and women is essential to the sport's future. The league has invested more than $9.2 million in Legacy Projects since 2003 across its clubs and partners.

The Heritage Classic Context

The Jets are playing host to the Heritage Classic for the second time, having first done so in 2016 against Edmonton. Saturday's outdoor game against the Montreal Canadiens is the eighth Heritage Classic in league history. The alumni game takes place October 24, the day before.