The following is part two of a collaboration special with HerGameToo Ice Hockey Ambassador and Manchester Storm fan, Kate Gleave. Coupled with Head of HerGameToo, Rebecca Shaw.
Check out @hgticehockey on Instagram for more information!

CS: How has women’s ice hockey grown in popularity over the years?
RS: There have been many key developments that have helped increase the popularity of women’s ice hockey, from the creation of national leagues to the growth of the IIHF World Women’s Championship. Now, with the PWHL, it has paved the way for young girls to have role models to look up to, and it means that it is getting easier to get involved in women’s ice hockey.

CS: What challenges does women’s ice hockey face in terms of media coverage, as its professionalism is still in its early stages?
RS: There is very limited coverage for women’s ice hockey. We are starting to see some improvement with live streams of matches, but there is still a long way to go. For me, one of the most significant milestones has been seeing the PWHL start and complete its first-ever season, along with the popularity it gained.

CS: What impact has social media had on women’s ice hockey?
RS: Although at times there is negativity online aimed at women across all sports, including ice hockey, it also has its positives. It has helped increase the visibility of women’s ice hockey and given teams and leagues the chance to highlight their achievements and promote fixtures.

CS: Where can I find women’s ice hockey news and updates?
RS: I find a lot of my news through the teams’ social media pages. They share upcoming fixtures and past results, and they also share links to streams where you can watch the matches. The ZPG Ice Maidens is a great podcast to learn all about the WNIHL; they cover news, match reports, upcoming fixtures, and interviews.

CS: Who is your all-time favourite Storm player, and why?
KG: Critchlow. He’s the first player whose name I remembered from my first game, and every interaction I’ve had with him has been lovely. I’m looking forward to seeing him back on the ice shortly.

CS: If you could bring back one line to the Storm, who would it be and why?
KG: Last season’s ‘dream team’ of Hinam, Critchlow, and Johnson. I was delighted to see them all return for another year; they are definitely fan favourites.

CS: What’s your pre-game or game-day ritual when the Storm are playing at home?
KG: Mum and I arrive for doors opening, and I go straight for the hot chocolate (usually from the vending machine to skip the queues!). We then watch the warm-ups. We both really enjoy seeing how each individual player prepares physically and mentally for a home match.

I would like to thank Kate; Rebecca and HGT for their time to do this Q & A. If you would like to be a part of future chapters of ‘A View From The Glass’ please contact: schoracallum@yahoo.com
Please take a look at @hgticehockey on Instagram for more information!