The Home of Women’s Hockey : equity and community growth through intentional (re)development

Partnership between a university and a Female Hockey Association has reimagined ice hockey culture around inclusive forms of flourishing that are often absent throughout sport. As a result, the Kehoe Forum, known as the Home of Women’s Hockey, was created. As a facility dedicated to equity and inclusion in hockey, it is essential to understand how it can be sustained. The purpose of this study is to explore leadership perspectives on equity and community growth and retention in an arena for women’s hockey. Interviews with 18 leaders across the partner organizations generated six themes: social norms that inhibit growth of women’s hockey, programming opportunities through an inclusive lens, infrastructure and scheduling, inclusive leadership, equity-driven research, and community support for social change. These results demonstrate how governance, leadership, space, scheduling, community engagement, and partnerships can create sustainable community spaces that celebrate diversity, support equity, and inspire future generations of hockey players.