As women’s sport grows to new heights across Canada and around the world, Scotiabank Centre was proud to showcase women who are changing the game and support emerging athletes who are the future of it.
Going for Gold
From October 25 to 27, Scotiabank Centre hosted 2024 Skate Canada International, a senior-level international invitational competition series and the second event of the 2024-25 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. With the men’s singles, women’s singles, pair skating, and ice dance competitors from around the world on our ice, Skate Canada International also showcased the dedicated skill of eight elite Canadian female skaters, including Deanna Stellato-Dudek, a veteran who, with partner Maxime Duchamps, captured a gold medal in the pair skating competition. In March, Stellato-Dudek became the oldest female figure skating to capture a world title at the World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal. Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier placed first in ice dance at Skate Canada International. Scotiabank Centre was proud to be the host of this international competition showcasing world-class female figure skaters.
From February 28 to March 1, Scotiabank Centre welcomed back the 2025 Bell AUS Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, one of our signature seasonal events for the last thirty years. Ten of the best collegiate teams in the region competed for the Atlantic Canada title and the chance to advance to the national championships. With two consecutive banners (2023 and 2024), the Saint Mary’s University Women’s team entered the competition at Scotiabank Centre after a strong season with an 18-2 standing. On Sunday, March 1, the SMU women team took down the University of PEI with an 68-53 final score, securing their spot in the U SPORT Final 8. The first time in AUS history that a team won three years straight, this year’s championship game demonstrated unmatched momentum for women’s sport in the Atlantic region.
Making an Impact
As the home of the Halifax Mooseheads, hockey is at the core of what we do. On February 6, the Team Canada and Team USA Women's Hockey teams met at Scotiabank Centre for the much-anticipated Rivalry Series. The international showdown co-hosted in Summerside, built on Scotiabank Centre’s legacy as host venue for incredible moments in hockey – from the 2004 IIHF Women’s World Championship to the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. Broadcast from Scotiabank Centre, the Rivalry Series welcomed over 10,000 fans cheering for Team Canada, with special cheers for Stellarton, Nova Scotia’s Blayre Turnbull. In the second period, Turnbull, the homegrown Team Canada assistant captain, scored a short goal to tie the game. And, while Team USA won in the third, the Rivalry Series was an epic event for Halifax hockey fans of all ages.
“With the growth in the women’s game and success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the Rivalry Series was a signature event in our calendar. We were very excited to give these incredible players the platform and celebration they deserve, and we are proud to have a role in supporting the growing enthusiasm for girl’s and women’s hockey in Canada.”
- Suzanne Fougere, Executive Vice-President, Scotiabank Centre.
Along with the main event, the Rivalry Series was an important moment for young women and girls in Halifax. With the tremendous success of organizations like Hockey Canada and the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), women's hockey is growing to unprecedented heights around the world.
At Scotiabank Centre, we know that interest in the game begins at the community level. With the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, Scotiabank Centre sponsored a meet and greet event, Up Close & Personal with Team Canada, at the Lighthouse Arts Centre on February 4. The panel session was a chance for our community to meet Team Canada players and hear from coach Troy Ryan, and assistant coach Kristin Cheverie on the experience of representing Canada on an international stage. This unique evening encouraged young female players in our community to understand the opportunity to play professionally at advanced levels and continue shaping the future of women’s hockey not just in our region, but in larger markets across Canada and around the world. The expansion of the PWHL and launch of teams in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver demonstrate a strong interest in and future for the women’s game.
On February 5, Hockey Canada and Hockey Nova Scotia teamed up to invite Halifax-based U-18 AAA players to watch Team Canada practice at Scotiabank Centre, with opportunities to participate in Girls Hockey Development Night and Coach and Official Development sessions, on and off the ice – an inspiration for emerging players. “Seeing how much girls’ hockey has grown within the past few years, that definitely gives you the push to keep going,” one local player shared.
Scotiabank Centre proudly supports young women and girls who aspire to shape the future of hockey. For the second year at Scotiabank Centre, Scotiabank Girls Hockey Fest invited young players from across Halifax and Nova Scotia for a full day of on-and-off-ice hockey clinics. On March 9, around 250 girls laced up their skates and hit Scotiabank Centre’s ice with drills, exercises, and coaching led by local senior varsity-level players and Olympian and PWHL’s Jessica Adolfsson.
This experience gave emerging players the opportunity to build their technical skills while strengthening an inclusive hockey community in which they can grow and thrive. Since 2006, Scotiabank Girls Hockey Fest has elevated the game of hockey for more than 16,000 girls in six cities across Canada each year. We are proud to be a partner with Scotiabank in delivering this annual event.