3rd WHPP Festival and Academy was a pinnacle of the three-year project

28th April 2025, Zagreb – This past weekend, the capital of Croatia proudly hosted a three-day WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy. Following the decision made at the last WHPP Consortium Meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, this third and final event in the series marked another milestone in the EU-funded project’s mission to develop women’s ice hockey in the Danube and Western Balkan region. Building on the successes of the past two years and similar events in Maribor (Slovenia) and Klagenfurt (Austria), this edition, held from 25 to 27 April, welcomed over one hundred girls under 18 years of age from Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Continuing WHPP’s mission, the event maintained the project’s well-established dual-format approach: combining on-ice training and competitive play with off-ice educational workshops through a collaborative, educational platform. The curriculum was carefully designed to support each stakeholder group by covering game strategy and tactics, skill development, coaching dynamics, mental preparation and resilience, leadership, and officiating standards.

The off-ice Academy featured experts commissioned by the IIHF, who led insightful sessions for players, coaches, team leaders, and referees. Satu Kiipeli (Finland), Katja Pasanen (Finland), Alexia Cheyroux (France), Erika Holst (Sweden), and Heather Mannix (USA) contributed to WHPP’s holistic vision by developing female athletes and other key stakeholders involved in women’s ice hockey.

The on-ice Festival showcased all the main highlights that had previously proven valuable during the three-year project. In an effort to promote regional unity and foster friendships, four mixed-nationality teams were formed from the five national U-18 teams. Saturday’s action featured fast-paced 3-on-3 play with a two-referee system, while Sunday’s programme shifted to standard 5-on-5 matches, officiated by a three-person crew. These formats aimed to give players varied, real-game experiences, while instructors provided tailored feedback based on on-ice observations.

The success in Zagreb sets a positive trajectory as the WHPP Consortium prepares for future activities, maintaining its commitment to sustainable and impactful growth in women’s ice hockey across the region.