Look Back

My Favorite TIG Pieces of 2025

Looking back on some of my favorite pieces The Ice Garden writers have put together in 2025.

As we wrap up the 2025 calendar year, I'm so incredibly proud of the work we're doing here at The Ice Garden. Whether you're looking for overall women's hockey coverage or are into a specific niche such as the PWHL, NCAA or international hockey, our talented staff has you covered!

We're already preparing for 2026 — and what a year that will be, with the Milano-Cortina Olympics right around the corner — but before we turn the page, I'm looking back on some of my favorite pieces The Ice Garden writers have put together in 2025.

Support TIG with a subscription

Germany's Lilli and Luisa Welcke Reflect on Fulfilling Dreams and Growing the Game

Lydia Murray chats with the Welcke twins for their thoughts on qualifying for the 2026 Olympics, growing women's hockey in Germany, and more.

The Road Less Traveled: Claudia Castellanos' Journey from Spain to Lindenwood University

Giselle Velazquez shines a spotlight on Claudia Castellanos, the first player from Spain in NCAA Division I history. In a first for The Ice Garden, this piece is also available in Spanish!

Kendra Fortin: The Love that Blossomed a Movement

It's easy to think about student-athletes as just athletes, but they're more than that. The Hockey Humanitarian Award focuses on what they've accomplished off the ice, and here, Giselle provides a look into Kendra Fortin's work.

Agent Notebook: Mailbag, Vol. 1

Traditionally, it's not easy to connect with sports agents. But here at TIG, we're lucky enough to have Eleni Demestihas, who is Director of Hockey Operations at Cook Stark Hockey — she provides an inside look at what goes through an agent's mind.

International Break Comes at Much Needed Time for PWHL Coaches

Geremy takes an analytics-based look at the start of the PWHL season and why many losing teams were barely scoring to kick things off.

The State of D3 Women's Hockey, Fall 2025

Understandably, much of women's hockey coverage focuses on Division I. But there's a lot more happening across the country, too! Melissa Hellman takes a look at what's changed heading into this season.

Column: Two TIG Writers' Thoughts on Britta Curl-Salemme, The Athletic

One of the things I love about being here at TIG is that we are able to cover an array of topics, from lighter pieces to the nitty-gritty. Meredith Foster and Natalia Rachman share their thoughts on the Britta Curl-Salemme situation and how The Athletic handled a recent piece in this well-thought-out op-ed.

The PWHL's Gender Inclusion Policy Remains a Work In Progress

Unfortunately, nine months have passed since Alyssa Turner wrote this piece and there's been no public movement on the PWHL's gender inclusion policy. I understand taking your time to get it right, but ... come on.

Designing PWHL "Reverse Retro" Jerseys, Part 1: The Canadians

I'm all about anything that recognizes the rich history of women's hockey, so I absolutely love this piece from LJ Bachenheimer. (Really looking forward to part two with the American teams, too!)

Shaiyena Côté Widens the Path for Indigenous Women in Hockey

Love this two-part piece from Sally Hoerr about Shaiyena Côté, who is a member of the Temagami First Nation working to create paths for Indigenous women in the sport of hockey.