This season will go down in history as a landmark year for women's and girls' hockey in Atlantic Canada. From grassroots growth to hosting world-class events and the PWHL making its debut in the region, the passion for the game has never been stronger.
Twenty years had passed since Team Atlantic last stood on the podium at the Canadian U-18 national championships, bringing home bronze in 2005. But in 2025, the team rewrote the story, earning a silver medal after a hard-fought 3-1 loss to Quebec in Newfoundland and Labrador. Prince Edward Island blueliner Megan Mossey was named Best Defender, while Nova Scotia's Kendall Doiron earned Best Forward honors and captained the squad. Together, they led a talented group that put Atlantic Canada's rising stars firmly in the national spotlight.
The momentum didn't stop there. The Northern Selects captured the region's first-ever medal at the Esso Cup, Canada's U-18 national club championship, taking home bronze. The tournament, hosted in Dieppe, New Brunswick, featured an all-Atlantic Canada final between the Selects and the host Moncton Rockets. Northern Selects captain Hali-Rose MacLean, a Syracuse commit, was named tournament MVP, while Moncton's Audrey Poirier, a Brown commit, earned Top Defender honors.
On the international stage, Sydney, Nova Scotia, welcomed the world for the 2026 U-18 World Championships. Eight nations—Canada, USA, Czechia, Sweden, Slovakia, Finland, Switzerland, and Hungary—battled for gold, with the United States defeating Canada 2-0 to finish undefeated. Canada's silver medal roster featured PEI's Megan Mossey, who was named a tournament All-Star, alongside Nova Scotia's Kendall Doiron and Jaylee MacKinnon.
From local rinks to global arenas, Atlantic Canada's women's and girls' hockey community proved that the game is thriving. Whether it was the pride of a home crowd, the thrill of a medal win, or the excitement of PWHL action arriving for the first time, this unforgettable season showed that the future of hockey in the region is brighter than ever.