ZURICH – Hayley Wickenheiser was one of the keynote speakers at the World Hockey Summit in Toronto last August, and she delivered a memorable speech which was thoughtful, intelligent, and insightful.

To answer critics who suggested the women’s game had not evolved, she showed game-action clips from 1990 through to the 2010 Olympics, showing with undeniable clarity the sensational development of skills. For every problem in the game that has come to light, she suggested solutions.

It is still only eight months later, but Wickenheiser discussed what has happened since the Summit, both good and bad, looking to the future to an even better women’s game in which several teams can compete for gold, a pro league can be established, and the game can grow worldwide.

On positive steps to come out of the World Hockey Summit

There really has been positive movement. The IIHF has implemented a coach and athlete mentor program which is a really positive step for nations 5-12 to get support from the top four countries in the world both from the coaches and athletes who have been there. They’ve put $2 million in, and I’m helping them with that, so I can say from being on the inside that they’ve actually done things. And they’ve hired Tanya Foley as the women’s program manager.

On her role to develop the game

I’m helping Tanya as a co-ordinator with the athletes, helping them to work with the nations and help the players help themselves. That’s a big problem in the women’s game. Sure, there’s not always not enough support from the federation level, but also the athletes have to do more. We have to empower them to learn how to train and do all the other things that it takes to be successful. These are all positive steps. The Russians have been talking about coming to Canada to train, so there are some good things happening out there.

On the need to keep getting better

Canada and the U.S. can’t stop improving because that’s not good for the game. People need to see the highest level of women’s hockey played. That’s very important. You want to see the highest skill, and you want to see the potential that’s there with the other countries. It’s important we continue to play good hockey.

On playing more games during the season

I’m not sure, but I don’t think it has happened yet. But it’s important to have more tournaments, more games, to really improve the level of play. Facing Canada and the U.S. is important for these countries. That would be part of the package.

On what she sees as important for the 2011 World Women’s

I’d like to see attendance increase. That would be important for women’s hockey. I’d like to see an upset or two, as always. I don’t think we’ll see a different order in the top four teams, but that would be great. You just want to see countries battle and compete for 60 minutes regardless of the score. I guess that’s what I hope for right now.

On the difficulty of young players cracking the Canadian lineup

We have five new girls in the program this year from Vancouver, which is a big change. I hold to the theory that you take the best players available, whether they’re 35 or 15. I was 15 once and now I’m over 30. The age doesn’t matter; it’s the development. With the under-18 and under-22 programs, it sets up the national program really well. That way, when players make the national team, they’re ready.

On the growing worry about head injuries

I know a lot of players who’ve had concussions. I think the stats are accurate. In women’s hockey, there are more concussions. Part of it has to do with level of respect, in the same regard in the NHL. We see some hits when games get out of hand, and maybe players think because we wear full cage or facemask we won’t get a head injury. Sometimes I think if they added hitting it would help. But with female athletes, too, it’s about training and taking care of your body and understanding it’s a physical game and people are going to get hurt. And also maybe in the women’s game they evaluate it a little more frequently, I’m not sure.

On the scheduling of the World Women’s Championship

I think it’s too late this year. I think it’s about two weeks too late. Most of the seasons are done around the world. NCAA was done two or three weeks ago, so was the CWHL. I think it should be the first part of April, around 6th-12th.

On developing a true women’s league

The NHL is the key – for them to take an interest, to take control of putting people in places who can drive the game forward. We’ve tried it in the club systems in Canada long enough now to see that it doesn’t work. We need a professional and businesslike approach. The players are there. The talent is there. It would take off. I would say the first five years would not be a money-making business. It’s a sponsorship type thing and you’ve got to figure out a way to support it and help it grow in that time. From there, anything is possible.

ANDREW PODNIEKS