These days, more and more girls like Winnipeg Saints goalie Danielle Bonot-Schmidt aspire to play at high levels of hockey.
"This is my third year but I played ringette before and my goals are to be triple A or prep team," said Bonot-Schmidt.
Hundreds of girls in Manitoba play already and this weekend, a tournament that's attracted at least 1,000 players will celebrate female hockey.
"Right from as young as five-year-old girls that maybe never stepped on the ice, all the way to elite players, are going to be participating and…officials and female coaches as well. So it's an all-encompassing celebration of female hockey in our province at this time," said Scott Furman of Hockey Manitoba.
The Scotiabank Girls Hockeyfest is part of Hockey Manitoba's 100th anniversary season where girls will be able to take part in events on and off the ice, learning new skills from the pros.
Winnipeg Twins centre Seren Jocelyn is eager to learn and hoping to impress.
"I think this is a great opportunity to get in from of some scouts and just have a bonding great time with my team," said Jocelyn.
Female officials will be there to learn too. There are about 100 at games throughout the province.
Officials manager at Hockey Manitoba, Ashely Desjardins, trains most of them and many also aspire to reach the big leagues like the Olympics, she said.
"We have a couple of female officials in the province that have gone on to reffing world championships and Olympic games and you know it is a possibility," said Desjardins.
The tournament could be the biggest of its kind in Canada so far. Hockey Manitoba says that speaks to the growing popularity of female hockey in this country.
There will be three exhibition tournaments for all levels of teams throughout the weekend and a number of feature games with some of this province's top female players
A hockey clinic will also be held by Olympian Meaghan Mikkelson on Saturday afternoon.
