AP

NHL closing in on seeing its first female coach

May 11, 2022, 11:51 AM | Updated: May 14, 2022, 2:34 pm

FILE - Cammi Granato speaks during the Seattle Kraken NHL Hockey team's expansion draft event on Ju...

FILE - Cammi Granato speaks during the Seattle Kraken NHL Hockey team's expansion draft event on July 21, 2021, in Seattle. Cammi Granato is now as assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)


              FILE - Cammi Granato speaks during the Seattle Kraken NHL Hockey team's expansion draft event on July 21, 2021, in Seattle. Cammi Granato is now as assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Kim Davis, Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs for the NHL, discusses the Learn, Play, Score initiative before an NHL hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Detroit. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. The chances of that happening have vastly improved, NHL vice president Kim Davis said, in crediting the developmental program for providing women direct access to those who have hiring authority. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
            
              FILE - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman takes part in an interview next to a Seattle Kraken NHL hockey goalie helmet, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Cammi Granato speaks during the Seattle Kraken NHL Hockey team's expansion draft event on July 21, 2021, in Seattle. Cammi Granato is now as assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Kim Davis, Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs for the NHL, discusses the Learn, Play, Score initiative before an NHL hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Detroit. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. The chances of that happening have vastly improved, NHL vice president Kim Davis said, in crediting the developmental program for providing women direct access to those who have hiring authority. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
            
              FILE - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman takes part in an interview next to a Seattle Kraken NHL hockey goalie helmet, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Cammi Granato speaks during the Seattle Kraken NHL Hockey team's expansion draft event on July 21, 2021, in Seattle. Cammi Granato is now as assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Kim Davis, Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs for the NHL, discusses the Learn, Play, Score initiative before an NHL hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Detroit. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. The chances of that happening have vastly improved, NHL vice president Kim Davis said, in crediting the developmental program for providing women direct access to those who have hiring authority. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
            
              FILE - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman takes part in an interview next to a Seattle Kraken NHL hockey goalie helmet, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Cammi Granato speaks during the Seattle Kraken NHL Hockey team's expansion draft event on July 21, 2021, in Seattle. Cammi Granato is now as assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Kim Davis, Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs for the NHL, discusses the Learn, Play, Score initiative before an NHL hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Detroit. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. The chances of that happening have vastly improved, NHL vice president Kim Davis said, in crediting the developmental program for providing women direct access to those who have hiring authority. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
            
              FILE - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman takes part in an interview next to a Seattle Kraken NHL hockey goalie helmet, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Cammi Granato speaks during the Seattle Kraken NHL Hockey team's expansion draft event on July 21, 2021, in Seattle. Cammi Granato is now as assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              FILE - Kim Davis, Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs for the NHL, discusses the Learn, Play, Score initiative before an NHL hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Detroit. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. The chances of that happening have vastly improved, NHL vice president Kim Davis said, in crediting the developmental program for providing women direct access to those who have hiring authority. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
            
              FILE - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman takes part in an interview next to a Seattle Kraken NHL hockey goalie helmet, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. Bettman foresees the process of women getting hired as coaches to evolve organically, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
            
              In this image provided by Hockey Canada Images, Canada's assistant coach Kori Cheverie watches during the the gold medal game against the United States at the women's ice hockey world championships on Aug 30 2021, in Calgary, Alberta. Cheverie’s ascension coupled with the growing number of women entering pro hockey management and developmental roles has rapidly sped the timetable on when — not if — there will be a woman working behind an NHL bench. (Matthew Murnaghan/Hockey Canada Images via AP)
            
              This image provided by Hockey Canada Images, Canada's assistant coach Kori Cheverie. Cheverie’s ascension coupled with the growing number of women entering pro hockey management and developmental roles has rapidly sped the timetable on when — not if — there will be a woman working behind an NHL bench. (Dave Holland/Hockey Canada Images via AP)

Kori Cheverie reflects fondly on the conversations she had with her grandfather growing up in Nova Scotia, where he encouraged her to believe anything was attainable in sports.

First woman to play for the Toronto Blue Jays? Sure. Hoist the Stanley Cup over her head while representing the Toronto Maple Leafs? Go for it.

Though doing so as a player is now out of the question, Cheverie’s gender-breaking aspirations appear far more achievable today to the 34-year-old, who has spent the past five years chipping away at hockey’s male-only coaching barrier.

In 2017, Cheverie became the first female assistant coach of a men’s hockey team at the Canadian university level (at Ryerson). This month, after serving as an assistant on the Canadian women’s Olympic championship team, she completed a stint as Hockey Canada’s first woman behind the bench of a men’s team at the Under-18 world championships.

“It’s kind of funny, looking back and reflecting on those conversations as a kid, because I am the first to do quite a few things on the men’s side of hockey,” said Cheverie, recalling the talks with her grandfather, Jack Rehill. “They speak to the limitless childhood that I had growing up, and what I was told I could be capable of.”

And she’s not done dreaming.

Cheverie’s ascension coupled with the growing number of women entering pro hockey management and developmental roles has rapidly sped the timetable on when — not if — there will be a woman working behind an NHL bench.

As much as Pittsburgh Penguins president Brian Burke believes the glass ceiling should have been shattered yesterday, he balances his impatience by noting the inroads the league is making to blow up its image as an old boys club.

“I think it’s basically we’ve been bound by our past, which is white people playing hockey and going into management,” Burke told The Associated Press.

“It might be a slower build than people like,” he added. “But I’m greatly encouraged by the change in the last two years of the role of women in hockey, which has gone from nonexistent to significant in a very short time.”

In four years since Hayley Wickenheiser opened the door by becoming the Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant director of player development, the league’s female hockey-related ranks have increased to nearly 30. And that doesn’t include five NHL teams featuring female presidents.

The Penguins are among the NHL teams leading the way. With two women already on their hockey staff, the Penguins expanded the list by naming U.S. Olympian Amanda Kessel as the first participant in the team’s executive management program last month. Vancouver is the first NHL team to hire not one but two assistant general managers in Cammi Granato and Emilie Castonguay.

“I think it’s pretty nearsighted if people didn’t think that ultimately there’d be some sort of equalization between genders, not just in hockey but in every industry,” NHL Coaches’ Association president Lindsay Artkin said. “It wouldn’t be unrealistic to see a female hired in the NHL after next season.”

The NHLCA has played a role in fast-tracking the movement. With the backing of her male coaching membership, Artkin launched a female developmental program two years ago.

The program identified 50 women — including Cheverie — at various levels to work directly with NHL coaches in advanced training sessions. Aside from exchanging ideas, the program also provided women networking opportunities they previously lacked in getting on the radar as potential coaching candidates.

While Artkin said NHL coaches are impressed by the wealth of knowledge the women bring, the female participants find the sessions reinforced the belief of being equals when working with men.

“It’s absolutely validating,” said University of St. Thomas assistant women’s coach Bethany Brausen. “The terminology might be slightly different, but we’re all speaking the same language.”

Whatever apprehensions Brausen had about overseeing men melted away when one male coach said most players don’t care about gender but just one thing: Does the coaching make them better?

“That’s a very simple thing to say,” Brausen said. “But I think hearing a male, coaching at that level, explicitly say that, it’s `Of course.´ As soon as he said that, I’m like, `Why would it matter how you look or, frankly, what your background is?'”

A conversation during a 25-minute drive with Christine Bumstead was all it took to convince former Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice how knowledgeable she was in recommending her to the program.

“Christine is going to be a great coach. She is one now,” Maurice said of Bumstead, who just completed her first year as an assistant for the University of Saskatchewan women’s team. “There’s a lot of really intelligent young coaches, some of them are male, some of them are female, and they now have an opportunity that just wasn’t there 20 years ago.”

He’s confident the gender barrier will be broken, much like other walls have fallen in recalling how Canadian Junior Hockey Leagues once shunned American-born players.

“If you’re not willing to change and evolve as a coach, you’re done,” Maurice said, before noting “men don’t have the market cornered on communication.”

“You listen to Jennifer Botterill on TV. She talks about the game differently,” he said of the Canadian Olympian-turned-broacaster. “It’s just a different perspective at times. It may or may not have anything to do with her being a women. But she’s interesting.”

The NHL has lagged behind North America’s three other major pro sports in hiring women.

In 2019, Rachel Balkovec became major league baseball’s first full-time female hitting coach and this year became the game’s first female minor league manager. The NBA featured seven female assistants this year. And the NFL’s ranks of female coaches grew to 12 last season.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he expects the process of women being hired as coaches to evolve, rather than imposing quotas or implementing rules.

“I’m hoping we don’t need that,” Bettman said. “I’m hoping that it evolves to the point where it just becomes a part of how you function where you don’t need arbitrary rules for people to be doing the right things.”

The chances of that happening have vastly improved, NHL vice president Kim Davis said, in crediting the developmental program for providing women direct access to those who have hiring authority.

“The fact that they have access and you have women in these roles, it’s going to ultimately result in those women ascending to these top positions as GMs, as coaches,” Davis said. “So I’m hugely encouraged by our progress. We have a lot more to do. By no means are we taking a victory lap.”

As much as Cheverie would most certainly like to be the first woman hired to coach in the NHL, she stressed the opportunity would have to be the right fit in working on a staff and a team open to hearing her voice.

“I would love to be in the NHL. Of course, I think, many female coaches would. But it’s not the be-all, end-all for me. I want to do the best that I can do,” she said.

“I’m really looking forward to the day where this isn’t a conversation,” Cheverie added. “I wish that day was today and it’s just us talking about a coach coaching a team and trying to help them win versus how does a female fit into a group of males in a sporting setting.”

___

AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

NHL closing in on seeing its first female coach