When Tracey Hatcher walks into the Conception Bay South Arena this weekend, it’s going to be hard to wipe the smile off her face.

The arena and the CBR Minor Hockey Association (CBRMHA) are hosting the first-ever Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador Under-11 Girls Festival, starting Friday, Dec. 2.

“I'm excited to see this as a celebration of girls' hockey,” said Hatcher, who is the Hockey NL female council chairperson.

Hatcher has been involved with the female council for the last 11 years. She watched her own daughter graduate from the program, and since joining the council she has watched female hockey grow into an entity that has sustained growth and can offer provincial leagues at the AAA level.

The festival is another step in the growth of female hockey in the province. Modelled after the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Global Girls’ Game initiative, which Newfoundland hosted in 2020, the idea is to bring female players from across the province together to celebrate their game.

“I'm very proud of where we've come, but I really want to make sure I see the girls having fun and celebrating girls' hockey,” said Hatcher.

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