18th April 2025, Zagreb – The capital of Croatia will host the 3rd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy. From 25th to 27th of April the city of Zagreb will welcome over one hundred young female ice hockey players from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia.
The third in the series of the WHPP educational events will build on the lessons learned from the previous two years of the project, still focusing entirely on the young girls under the age of 18. The event preserves the well-received dual focus of on the ice learning experience, combined with off the ice workshops. The WHPP Consortium believes this comprehensive approach ensures that participants receive a well-rounded education in various aspects of ice hockey, including skills development, strategy and mental preparation.
In order to enhance the real-game learning opportunities, the WHPP Festival will be played with four mixed teams, compiled from the five project partner countries at the beginning of the event. The games on Saturday will be played five on five, while the games on Sunday will be played three on three, with referees officiating the games.
At the same time, the focus of the WHPP Academy will be on the target groups’ education. During the three days event participants will attend presentations and workshops held by IIHF experts: Alexia CHEYROUX (FRA), Erika HOLST (SWE), Kristi KEHOE(USA), Satu KIIPELI (FIN) and Katja PASANEN (FIN).
https://www.whp4p.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_1686-scaled.jpg19202560WHPP PRhttps://www.whp4p.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/logo-whp4p-340x156.pngWHPP PR2025-04-18 15:25:092025-04-18 15:48:003rd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy
21st December 2024, Sarajevo – The last days of 2024 were a time to look back on the second year of the WHPP project, and to plan ahead for the third and final year of the joint efforts of the national ice hockey federations of Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia aimed at the development of women’s ice hockey in the Danube region.
In Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the representatives of the respective national ice hockey organisations attended the annual Consortium meeting to weigh in on the various topics on the agenda. They were joined by the other Consortium members from partner institutions and bodies, namely the Sports Institute of Finland, the University of Ljubljana and the International Ice Hockey Federation.
The Consortium addressed operational and strategic challenges faced by each federation, emphasizing the importance of knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving to advance women’s participation in ice hockey throughout the region.
Members of the Consortium thus reviewed the 2nd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival & Academy, which was held in Klagenfurt (AUT) in April 2024. While the initial impression reports had already been done directly after the conclusion of the event, the meeting in Sarajevo provided a platform for more in-depth reviews, educational outputs and evaluation.
The respective lessons learnt from both WHPP ice hockey festivals in Maribor (2023) and Klagenfurt (2024) are of important value for the planning process of the 3rd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival & Academy, which is to be held in Zagreb (CRO) in April 2025. The event’s focus remains on combining competitive tournaments with educational workshops to benefit players, coaches, officials, and other stakeholders involved in women’s ice hockey. Similar to the previous two festivals, the Zagreb edition will thus also include all elements of the previous ones: on-the-ice training, off-the-ice workshops and a final tournament as a practical implementation of the first two elements.
The Sports Institute of Finland and the International Ice Hockey Federation put forward the initiative to organise a WHPP Open Day in the ice hockey clubs of the participating countries, which would take place during the upcoming IIHF World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend. This could contribute to the project’s visibility and further promote the women’s game.
The Consortium also took stock of the preparation of the WHPP output publication “Equity in Ice Hockey” which will be one of the final deliverables of this three-year project co-funded by the European Union.
The WHPP project aims to promote equal opportunities in women’s ice hockey by enhancing governance practices, raising awareness, and providing education within sports organizations.
https://www.whp4p.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_12_21_WHPP_Consortium4-e1735461933835.jpg10201496WHPP PRhttps://www.whp4p.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/logo-whp4p-340x156.pngWHPP PR2024-12-22 16:11:262024-12-27 17:32:21WHPP Consortium taking stock of the project’s second year and drawing up plans for the next one
21st April 2024, Klagenfurt – The main rink at the Klagenfurt Ice Arena was only getting ready for the IIHF Women World Championship Division I-A, while the practice rink next door had already been swarming with young girls in hockey gear. The 2nd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy brought together over one hundred young female ice hockey players from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. Over the three days, they worked on their on-the-ice skills, learned about off-the-ice elements of the sport, and forged friendships with other young athletes from the region.
Day one of the event was focused on practicing various skills in small groups, headed by coaches from all five teams. The groups were mentored by the IIHF coaching experts Erika Holst, Kristi Kehoe and Satu Kiipeli. The session was of added value not only for the young players but also an opportunity for the coaches from the five different countries to share knowledge between themselves, as well as with the IIHF experts. A particular benefit of the session was the possibility of trying out the newly acquired approaches in real-time.
Staying with the tradition of the event’s dual nature of combining activities both on and off the ice, the other focus of the day was on a mental preparedness workshop led by Katja Passanen. She discussed the issues of motivation and self-confidence in sports with the young players and coaches. Since many of the participants have yet to attend such type of coaching, it was a welcome opportunity for them to get acquainted with this part of an athlete’s development and growth.
The second day at the ice rink included practices dedicated exclusively to hockey goalies and the ice hockey game officials. The goalies were mentored by Florence Schelling, a former Swiss Women’s National Team Goaltender and four-time Olympian. The referee sessions were led by Alexia Cheyroux, a linesperson in the French men’s professional leagues and linesperson at the recent IIHF Women’s World Championship in Utica, NY. These early bird coachings were followed by practice sessions for the teams, focusing on the various aspects of the game. In the afternoon, the teams got their chance to test the freshly acquired knowledge in three-on-three games, with coaches and experts standing by to evaluate and advise their actions in real-time. When not grinding on the ice, the teams also attended additional mental coaching workshops.
The third day started with another spell of educational practice sessions for goalies, coaches and referees. This was followed by a tournament of mixed teams of players from all the participating countries, with their coaches and IIHF experts as team staff. Regardless of the final winner, the tournament was the best possible conclusion of a three-day event, as the young girls got the chance to play with, and against their peers from the region.
Once again, the WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy proved to be a beneficial venue for young players, not only to develop their sports skills and knowledge but also to forge new friendships.
https://www.whp4p.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_1371-scaled.jpg19202560WHPP PRhttps://www.whp4p.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/logo-whp4p-340x156.pngWHPP PR2024-04-21 13:19:452024-12-29 10:25:492nd WHPP Festival and Academy a complete success
3rd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy
/0 Comments/in News /by WHPP PR18th April 2025, Zagreb – The capital of Croatia will host the 3rd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy. From 25th to 27th of April the city of Zagreb will welcome over one hundred young female ice hockey players from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia.
The third in the series of the WHPP educational events will build on the lessons learned from the previous two years of the project, still focusing entirely on the young girls under the age of 18. The event preserves the well-received dual focus of on the ice learning experience, combined with off the ice workshops. The WHPP Consortium believes this comprehensive approach ensures that participants receive a well-rounded education in various aspects of ice hockey, including skills development, strategy and mental preparation.
In order to enhance the real-game learning opportunities, the WHPP Festival will be played with four mixed teams, compiled from the five project partner countries at the beginning of the event. The games on Saturday will be played five on five, while the games on Sunday will be played three on three, with referees officiating the games.
At the same time, the focus of the WHPP Academy will be on the target groups’ education. During the three days event participants will attend presentations and workshops held by IIHF experts: Alexia CHEYROUX (FRA), Erika HOLST (SWE), Kristi KEHOE(USA), Satu KIIPELI (FIN) and Katja PASANEN (FIN).
Friday, 25th of April 2025
ADMIRAL ICE RINK ZAGREB
ADMIRAL ICE RINK ZAGREB (OFF-ICE)
TEAMS’ PROGRAM – HOTEL
16:30 – 17:30 Katja P.
21:30
Saturday, 26th of April 2025
ADMIRAL ICE RINK ZAGREB
TEAMS’ PROGRAM – HOTEL
Sunday, 27th of April 2025
ADMIRAL ICE RINK ZAGREB
TEAMS’ PROGRAM – HOTEL
Winning teams: 17:15 (dressing room)
WHPP Consortium taking stock of the project’s second year and drawing up plans for the next one
/0 Comments/in Governance, News /by WHPP PR21st December 2024, Sarajevo – The last days of 2024 were a time to look back on the second year of the WHPP project, and to plan ahead for the third and final year of the joint efforts of the national ice hockey federations of Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia aimed at the development of women’s ice hockey in the Danube region.
In Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the representatives of the respective national ice hockey organisations attended the annual Consortium meeting to weigh in on the various topics on the agenda. They were joined by the other Consortium members from partner institutions and bodies, namely the Sports Institute of Finland, the University of Ljubljana and the International Ice Hockey Federation.
The Consortium addressed operational and strategic challenges faced by each federation, emphasizing the importance of knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving to advance women’s participation in ice hockey throughout the region.
Members of the Consortium thus reviewed the 2nd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival & Academy, which was held in Klagenfurt (AUT) in April 2024. While the initial impression reports had already been done directly after the conclusion of the event, the meeting in Sarajevo provided a platform for more in-depth reviews, educational outputs and evaluation.
The respective lessons learnt from both WHPP ice hockey festivals in Maribor (2023) and Klagenfurt (2024) are of important value for the planning process of the 3rd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival & Academy, which is to be held in Zagreb (CRO) in April 2025. The event’s focus remains on combining competitive tournaments with educational workshops to benefit players, coaches, officials, and other stakeholders involved in women’s ice hockey. Similar to the previous two festivals, the Zagreb edition will thus also include all elements of the previous ones: on-the-ice training, off-the-ice workshops and a final tournament as a practical implementation of the first two elements.
The Sports Institute of Finland and the International Ice Hockey Federation put forward the initiative to organise a WHPP Open Day in the ice hockey clubs of the participating countries, which would take place during the upcoming IIHF World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend. This could contribute to the project’s visibility and further promote the women’s game.
The Consortium also took stock of the preparation of the WHPP output publication “Equity in Ice Hockey” which will be one of the final deliverables of this three-year project co-funded by the European Union.
The WHPP project aims to promote equal opportunities in women’s ice hockey by enhancing governance practices, raising awareness, and providing education within sports organizations.
2nd WHPP Festival and Academy a complete success
/0 Comments/in Coaching, Development, Game Officiating, News, Players /by WHPP PR21st April 2024, Klagenfurt – The main rink at the Klagenfurt Ice Arena was only getting ready for the IIHF Women World Championship Division I-A, while the practice rink next door had already been swarming with young girls in hockey gear. The 2nd WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy brought together over one hundred young female ice hockey players from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. Over the three days, they worked on their on-the-ice skills, learned about off-the-ice elements of the sport, and forged friendships with other young athletes from the region.
Day one of the event was focused on practicing various skills in small groups, headed by coaches from all five teams. The groups were mentored by the IIHF coaching experts Erika Holst, Kristi Kehoe and Satu Kiipeli. The session was of added value not only for the young players but also an opportunity for the coaches from the five different countries to share knowledge between themselves, as well as with the IIHF experts. A particular benefit of the session was the possibility of trying out the newly acquired approaches in real-time.
Staying with the tradition of the event’s dual nature of combining activities both on and off the ice, the other focus of the day was on a mental preparedness workshop led by Katja Passanen. She discussed the issues of motivation and self-confidence in sports with the young players and coaches. Since many of the participants have yet to attend such type of coaching, it was a welcome opportunity for them to get acquainted with this part of an athlete’s development and growth.
The second day at the ice rink included practices dedicated exclusively to hockey goalies and the ice hockey game officials. The goalies were mentored by Florence Schelling, a former Swiss Women’s National Team Goaltender and four-time Olympian. The referee sessions were led by Alexia Cheyroux, a linesperson in the French men’s professional leagues and linesperson at the recent IIHF Women’s World Championship in Utica, NY. These early bird coachings were followed by practice sessions for the teams, focusing on the various aspects of the game. In the afternoon, the teams got their chance to test the freshly acquired knowledge in three-on-three games, with coaches and experts standing by to evaluate and advise their actions in real-time. When not grinding on the ice, the teams also attended additional mental coaching workshops.
The third day started with another spell of educational practice sessions for goalies, coaches and referees. This was followed by a tournament of mixed teams of players from all the participating countries, with their coaches and IIHF experts as team staff. Regardless of the final winner, the tournament was the best possible conclusion of a three-day event, as the young girls got the chance to play with, and against their peers from the region.
Once again, the WHPP Ice Hockey Festival and Academy proved to be a beneficial venue for young players, not only to develop their sports skills and knowledge but also to forge new friendships.