Flames' Giordano: Women could coach in NHL

The Buffalo Bills made NFL history this week hiring Kathryn Smith as the league’s first full-time female assistant coach. Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano believes the same thing will happen in the NHL soon.

“Absolutely,” Giordano told the Calgary Herald. “With the way women have progressed in sports over the years, I think it’s just a matter of time. Teams already have women employed by their organizations in different jobs. It’ll be in the near future when they’re behind the bench or in the press box coaching.

“I’d be open to it, I know that for sure.”

Flames general manager Brad Treveling agreed.

“I’m sure there are people closed-minded to it,” Treveling told the Herald. “But it’s like anything else. If you’re going out and looking for the best possible talent, the best possible individuals regardless of anything else. I just know that some of the women I know … they’re as educated in the game, well-versed in the game as any number of men.

“In our situation in Calgary, the first criteria would be: ‘Can you help us be better?’ Outside of that, everything else is somewhat secondary.”

According to the Herald, at Hockey Canada’s annual general meeting in 2015, there were 639,510 players registered across Canada, and 87,494 of them are women and girls. In 2005-06, that number was 69,557.

The report also said there are 7,067 female coaches in various roles with registered teams in Canada. 

“Knowing the number of women that play and speaking to them, they’re really good,” Treliving said. “They grew up in the game. You’re also seeing the growth of very smart, intelligent, good coaches that are coaching these women. I think it’s great. I applaud the Bills for having that foresight. [Smith] has a certain skill set -- regardless of gender -- and they’re looking at getting better.

“If there is a woman coaching in football, obviously that’s awesome … and I think the same will happen, at some point, in hockey.”

Jamie Lee Rattray of the Brampton Thunder of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League also said the day will come when a female is coaching in the NHL.

“One hundred percent I do think I will happen,” Rattray said Saturday at the CWHL All-Star Game in Toronto. “I think we learn the game at the same level the guys do now. I think you see a lot of girls developing as players and coaches now. A lot of coaches at the highest level of women’s hockey are female, so I think we’ll see it one day where an NHL team will hire a woman coach.”