The West Madison Polar Caps are proud to offer all-girls’ teams at the 12U, 10U, 8U, and 6U levels for the 2023-2024 season. If we have enough players at any age level, we will field two teams based on skill levels.

During the 2022-2023 season, the Polar Caps had the first 10U girls’ team in club history.  That was the first step the association took toward our commitment to grow girls hockey on Madison’s west side. The Polar Caps believe that offering female athletes the opportunity to play on girls-only teams is the path toward sustainable growth of the girls game. WMPC strives to offer equitable opportunities for all of its member families and these all-girls’ teams are an integral piece of our belief system.

Nationwide, female participation in hockey is growing exponentially, with over 91,000 registrants nationwide in 2022-2023. But female participation in Wisconsin hockey has consistently dropped at the 10U, 12U & 14U levels over the last decade, partially due to the limited number of opportunities for girls to play on an all-girls team.

Rosters:

The Polar Caps girls’ teams will also be open to skaters from neighboring associations if their home association does not offer an all-girls team at their age level, per the WAHA rule.

The Polar Caps girls’ teams will be for female players who want to play on an all girls team for their primary team. We will consider cross-rostering on a case-by-case basis based on the needs of the team. There is no evidence that shows that girls develop better when they play on co-ed hockey teams.

USA Hockey & the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) states that providing girls with girls-only teams brings more girls to the game at younger ages and keeps them in the game longer. Both organizations provide many articles and evidence on this topic.

Here are a couple of links for further reading.

1) USA Hockey: Should My Daughter Play for a Girls Team or a Youth Team?

https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/72b7-1664617/Play_Girls_Hockey_2018_FINAL.pdf?_gl=1*19hatlw*_ga*MTg4MzA4NzIwMy4xNjkwOTk1NTM5*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY5MDk5NTUzOS4xLjEuMTY5MDk5NTk2NC4wLjAuMA..#_ga=2.217715734.1471318200.1690995541-1883087203.1690995539

2) NHL &* NHLPA Grants to Help Nashville Predators Grow Girls Hockey

https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/nhl-nhlpa-grants-to-help-preds-grow-girls-hockey-skating-programs/c-319829466

3) IIHF Women’s Hockey Hub

https://www.iihf.com/en/statichub/42551/women_s_hub

4) Hockey Canada: Should my Daughter Play Co-Ed Hockey or Girls Hockey? 

“This really depends on what is best for each individual athlete and the opportunities that are available within your community and association. Organizations need to step up and create female teams at the Atom and PeeWee levels so the girls have the option of playing female hockey at all levels. It is important to remember that at some point the athlete will have to join the women’s game if they wish to continue to play at a high performance and/or post – secondary level. It is important for players (and parents) to remember that if you want to advance in hockey eventually you have to play female hockey.

The benefits of females playing female hockey are reflected on both the skill development and the social aspect of the game. It is important for girls to have the opportunity to interact with teammates and be leaders on their teams. The skill level of female hockey has increased dramatically and girls today have the opportunity to compete at a high level and still benefit from the social and leadership side of the game as well.”

Registration for 14U age girls will again be handled through the Madison Mavericks program administered by Verona. This will be for girls with 2009 and 2010 birth years for the upcoming 2023-2024 season.

Note that a link to registration will be added here when it is open at the end of the summer / beginning of the fall 2023.

Registration Link: TBD

Please see the calendar on Verona's website for a list of all of the Mavericks preseason ice times.