A Minnesota female hockey coach was suddenly replaced by a less experienced male coach—right in front of her daughter. Sadly, this isn’t an isolated story. In this episode of Two Women Who Give a Puck, Sarah and Tera break down the key takeaways and actionable steps to fight gender bias and create a more positive hockey culture for girls and women.

🔥 What you’ll get:

- Real talk on gender bias in youth hockey

- How boards and associations can do better

- Tangible tips for female coaches to advocate for themselves

- Ways parents and allies can support change

These actionable insights aren’t just for coaches—they’re for anyone who wants to make hockey fairer, more supportive, and empowering.

💡 Listen, share, and help us build a hockey community where everyone belongs!

Listen to the original story here:

EP 17 - Unbenched: The Untold Reality of Female Coaches in Minnesota Hockey

YouTube - https://youtu.be/re6BiOVC0as

Podbean - https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-3zcuk-19dabd3

In today’s episode of Two Women Who Give a Puck, we share a powerful, true, anonymously submitted story from a Minnesota female hockey coach whose world was turned upside down overnight. After years of playing, coaching, developing players, and building a positive culture, she discovered—without warning—that she had been removed from her head coaching role and replaced by a man with no hockey playing experience. No explanation. No conversation. No accountability.

What happened next reveals a painful truth about female coaches in youth hockey: mistrust, dismissal, and unfair replacement are not rare—they are part of a wider pattern happening quietly across associations, even in the “State of Hockey.”

In this emotional episode, we explore:

🏒 The impact of losing a coaching role without reason

🏒 The message these decisions send to young female athletes

🏒 Why female coaches must constantly prove competence

🏒 How associations can make better, more equitable decisions

🏒 What support, advocacy, and community can look like

🏒 How YOU can help change the culture for girls and women in hockey

This story is raw, real, and deeply important. It’s a reminder that female coaches belong in hockey, their voices matter, and their presence changes the game for the better.

If you’re a coach, parent, board member, or anyone who cares about the future of girls’ hockey—this is a must-listen.

🔗 Share this episode with someone in your hockey community.

📩 Have a story? Want to stay anonymous? Email us at: twowomenwhogiveapuck@gmail.com

🌐 Learn more: TwoWomenWhoGiveAPuck.com

#TwoWomenWhoGiveaPuck,#GenderBiasInSports,#WomenWhoCoach,#GirlsHockey,#SportsAdvocacy,#SilentStruggles,#WhatThePuck,#FemaleCoach,#WomenInSports,#StateOfHockey,#SupportFemaleCoaches

In today’s episode, Sarah and Tera sit down with Diane Smith, a former collegiate hockey referee, to explore an often overlooked but critical part of the sport: officiating. Diane shares her journey into hockey, the moment she fell in love with the game, and how seeing one female ref changed the entire trajectory of her future.

Together, we dive into:

🏒 What it’s really like to be a female official

🏒 Why new referees quit — and how we can help change that

🏒 How coaches, parents, and players contribute to a safe and positive environment

🏒 The emotional and physical challenges of the job

🏒 Why representation in officiating matters more than ever

🏒 What Diane hopes her legacy will be in the world of hockey

Whether you're a parent, coach, player, or someone who simply loves the game, this conversation will deepen your appreciation for the refs who keep hockey safe, fair, and fun — and inspire more girls and women to pick up a whistle.

💬 Key Takeaways

- Seeing one female ref opened a door for Diane — and she hopes to do the same for others.

- Officiating builds leadership, confidence, communication, and quick-decision skills.

- Keeping refs in the game requires support from everyone — coaches, parents, and players.

- Representation matters: young girls need to see women in roles they might never have imagined.

- At its core, hockey should always be fun, safe, and inclusive.

🤝 Join the Movement If you loved this conversation, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. And remember:

We belong in hockey — and we deserve to be part of the greatest game in the world. Don’t forget to invite someone else in.