In rinks across Canada, girls’ hockey is growing faster than ever. But while registration numbers are climbing, one New Brunswick father saw a gap — not in talent, but in opportunity.
Doug Grandy, a lifelong hockey player and father of two daughters, has launched Rink Rebels — a new club in Fredericton dedicated to creating an inclusive, supportive space for girls and women to play, train, and fall in love with the game.
“I feel like with female hockey, sometimes the equality isn't always there like it should be,” Grandy said. “The boys’ hockey just seems to take the forefront, and a lot of girls don’t really have a place to call their own.”
Filling the Gaps Left by Traditional Programs
Despite a 42% increase in female hockey registrations in New Brunswick over the past five years — with women and girls now making up 21% of all registered players — the infrastructure hasn’t always kept pace. Many competitive players are pushed into co-ed leagues due to a lack of options, while others struggle to find recreational pathways that allow them to simply enjoy the game.
Add in the cost of equipment, ice time, and travel, and the sport quickly becomes inaccessible to many families — especially those whose daughters aren’t pursuing elite-level competition.
Grandy saw this reality up close. One of his daughters is highly competitive, the other simply loves to play. Rink Rebels was his solution to serving both.
“We’re open to rec players and Triple-A players,” he said. “We don’t want to leave anyone out. Whether you’re new to the sport or heading to university hockey, this is a place where you belong.”
Led by Role Models, Built on Friendship
Rink Rebels isn’t just about hockey — it’s about mentorship, camaraderie, and building community. The club offers $20 ice sessions and $25 dry-land training workouts, with subsidized options for those in financial need. But perhaps its most powerful asset is the people leading it.
Katia Pelowich, a standout player with St. Thomas University now heading to Concordia in the fall, is one of the club’s coaches. For her, Rink Rebels is something she wishes had existed when she was growing up.
“Growing up, I never had something like this,” she said. “Just getting involved in something I love and am passionate about — it’s been awesome. And being a role model for younger players is surreal.”
Lexie Thompson, a U-15 AAA player preparing for her U-18 tryouts, says skating with older players like Pelowich makes every session more fun and meaningful.
“It’s pretty cool to play with players from the Tommies,” Thompson said. “It brings me to my full potential.”
Tournament Play with a Twist
To further foster that sense of belonging, Rink Rebels will host its first-ever tournament from August 8–10, bringing in nearly 200 young players from across the Maritimes, Ontario, and even Maine.
But this isn’t your average tournament.
Yes, there’s a championship on the line. But the deeper goal is connection — giving girls the chance to meet others who love the sport, so that when they return to their hometown rinks, they carry that sense of belonging with them.
“Not everything about hockey is positive,” said Ava Burns, a junior coach with the club and right winger for the AAA Fredericton High Black Kats. “But you come here and it’s all smiles at the rink.”
She describes Rink Rebels as more than a team — it’s a family.
“Anyone can join, no matter your background, whether you played the year before or your skill level. You come through Rink Rebels, you join the movement, and you’re part of the family immediately.”
Why It Matters
According to research from Canadian Women & Sport, 63% of girls aged 6 to 18 participate in sports weekly — slightly below the 68% participation rate of boys. The study calls for more investment in girls’ programs, more tailored coaching, and safer, more supportive environments.
What Doug Grandy has built with Rink Rebels answers that call directly. It’s a grassroots initiative that blends passion and practicality, and — most importantly — reminds girls why they fell in love with the game in the first place.
As Grandy puts it: “We always have to go back to the grassroots — why did the girls start playing? They started playing because of the community, everybody that’s around them. As long as we stick to that here with the Rink Rebels, I think we’re going to help a lot of girls.”
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