Bauer Hockey Commits $100,000 To Black Girl Hockey Club’s Equipment Grant

Hockey equipment company Bauer will commit $100,000 over the next four years to the Black Girl Hockey Club’s new equipment grant. These grants will help fully equip hockey players identified through BGHC’s scholarship program.

The grant announcement comes one day before the formal launch of Black Girl Hockey Club Canada tomorrow. “We are so excited to kick off this partnership with Bauer at the BGHC Canada launch this weekend,” said R. Renee Hess, founder of Black Girl Hockey Club and BGHC Canada board member.

“The impact that the Bauer equipment grant will have on Black girl hockey players allows BGHC to build an even stronger presence and celebrate Black girl hockey excellence developing across North America. I’m looking forward to helping grow our BGHC community as we develop new programming, different partnerships, and an even stronger commitment to the local players.”

Recipients of the Fall 2022 scholarship will receive $1,000 worth of hockey equipment. Today’s announcement between Bauer and BGHC guarantees up to $100,000 over the next four years for more full equipment scholarships in the future. The eligibility requirements and other details are forthcoming per the release.

The Black Girl Hockey Club scholarship began in the Summer 2020 and has awarded 60 different girls $107,660 in scholarship funds to aid with expenses for travel, equipment, and hockey fee. Recipients have come from around the globe, including the UK, Kenya, France, the United States, and Canada.

Per today’s release, one of BGHC’s former scholarship recipients helped grow the partnership with Bauer. Dayton O’Donoghue received a $5,000 BGHC scholarship in Winter 2021. The Toronto, Ontario, native has committed to Dartmouth to continue her education and hockey career.

Earlier this year, O’Donoghue was featured in Bauer’s campaign entitled, ‘The Barn.’

“I was briefly involved with the Black Girl Hockey Club and she the initiatives they’re doing, it honestly inspired me and that led me to become the head of the Black Student Union at my school,” O’Donoghue said in her Bauer profile.

“I’m focusing on Black excellence specifically in the sports world (because) I feel like representation or the lack of, is hurting the young Black who want to grow up and be successful.”

Dayton goes on to say she’s never had a Black teammate. She hopes that in five years it’s less of a surprise to see Black players not only competing but excelling in ice hockey. “I want to see more color and I want to see more representation, and I want to see the women’s game be further than it is right now,” she said.

This financial commitment from Bauer, facilitated by Black Girl Hockey Club, and inspired by O’Donoghue has great potential to move the needle on the girls and women’s side of the game.

Bauer first announced their $100,000 commitment to BGHC in March as a way to honor Dayton’s barn story.

“We are proud to expand our partnership with Black Girl Hockey Club and extend our reach into Canada through our scholarship program,” said Mary-Kay Messier, VP of Global Marketing for Bauer Hockey.

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“Together with BGHC, we are helping to empower the next generation of Black leaders and lifting up communities of color through the benefits hockey offers, including the value of teamwork, driving toward a shared goal, and lifelong friendships.”

The 10 BGHC Fall 2022 scholarship recipients and their families will be recognized at the launch of BGHC Canada tomorrow, Saturday, November 12th, at Scotiabank Pond in Toronto from 2-4 pm ET. Former Yale University player and current Toronto Six defender Saroya Tinker will serve as executive director of BGHC Canada.

Congratulations to Adassia Clock, Akeeliah Graham, Elicia MacDonald, Emerson Henry, Gem Winter, Giselle Eichenberg, Makayla Avotri, Makayla Sheppard, Olivia Blake, and Sekhmet Walsh.