The West Madison Polar Caps are proud to offer all-girls’ teams at the 8U, 10U, & 12U age levels for the 2024-2025 season.
If we have enough players at any age level, we will field multiple teams divided by skill level based on evaluations.
The 8U all-girls team may be a full-season team or a Jamboree (tournament) team, which would offer 8U girls who play on co-ed teams the opportunity to play in local all-girls events throughout the season.
The Polar Caps girls’ teams will also be open to female players from neighboring associations who want to play on an all-girls team if their home association does not offer an all-girls team at their age level. This is allowed under the WAHA guidebook. Associations that border WMPC include Verona, Middleton & Oregon; and Dodgeville players are also considered a neighboring association for WMPC.
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Girls Director
The Polar Caps association believes in creating opportunities for girls to play on all-girls teams. We are committed to a path forward toward sustainable growth of girls hockey. 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. During the 2022-2023 season, the Polar Caps had the first 10U all- 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.
Nationwide, female participation in hockey has grown significantly - 2024-25 will be the first year that USAH has had more than 100,000 female registrants.
However, in Wisconsin, the number of young female players has not grown more than 3% per season over the past 8 years and the total number of female players from age 1 to 14 was lower in 2023-24 than it was before Covid, in 2018-19. And female registration numbers decrease at the older age levels - to 12U & 14U, which is partially due to the limited number of opportunities for girls to play on all-girls teams.
USA Hockey & the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) believe that providing girls with all-girls teams brings more girls to the game and keeps them in the game longer.
USA Hockey: Girls Teams and Youth/Co-ed Team Options
Hockey Canada: Girls Teams and Youth/Co-ed Team Options
“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.”
International Ice Hockey Foundation Women’s Hockey Hub