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PWHL Ă— STRONG GIRLS UNITED
Mentorship That Goes Beyond the Ice
A first-of-its-kind collaboration empowering the next generation of girls in hockey.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League Mentorship Program, developed in collaboration with Strong Girls United, connects young athletes with women competing at the highest level of professional hockey.
Together, we're creating a new model for how professional sports can invest in the next generation—combining athlete mentorship, mental skills development, movement, and community to build confidence, leadership, resilience, and belonging on and off the ice.
 Where Role Models Become Mentors
Girls are seeing women compete on professional hockey's biggest stages. Through this partnership, they have the opportunity to connect with them, learn from them, and see what's possible for themselves.
The PWHL brings world-class athletes, powerful role models, and a growing professional hockey community.
Strong Girls United brings expertise in youth mentorship, mental skills development, movement, leadership, and creating spaces where girls feel confident and connected.
Together, we're turning visibility into connection—and connection into impact.
Getting Ready for the 2026–27 Season!
We’re getting ready for another exciting season of the PWHL Mentorship Program with Strong Girls United!
Applications for the 2026–27 PWHL Mentorship Program will open in October 2026. We can’t wait to welcome a new group of young athletes to connect with PWHL players, build mental skills, grow their confidence, and become part of this one-of-a-kind mentorship community.
Want to be the first to know when applications open? Follow @stronggirlsunited and add your name to our newsletter at the bottom of this page for application announcements and future opportunities.
More Than Mentorship
Participants experience the program through four core opportunities designed to build confidence, connection, leadership, and belonging.
PWHL PLAYER MENTORSHIP
Small-group connections give girls the opportunity to learn directly from PWHL players—their journeys, challenges, successes, and lessons beyond hockey.
SGU EDUCATION NIGHTS
Interactive experiences help participants develop confidence, positive self-talk, resilience, leadership, emotional awareness, and other mental skills they can carry into sport and life.
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
Girls become part of a league-wide community while also belonging to a smaller PWHL team cohort—creating friendships and a sense of belonging that extends beyond their own hockey teams.
IN-PERSON EXPERIENCES
Participants have opportunities to bring the mentorship relationship to life through experiences connected to the PWHL season.
2026 PWHL Draft Event in Detroit, MichiganÂ
 At the 2026 PWHL Draft in Detroit, Strong Girls United and the PWHL brought girls together for an immersive afternoon experience centered on mentorship, confidence, connection, and the future of women's hockey.
Our Inaugural Year. Real Impact.
When girls have access to mentors, mental skills, and a community that believes in them, powerful things happen.
73%
of mentees reported growth in confidence66%
reported being proud of their ability to balance hockey with school, work, and other life responsibilities64%
reported overcoming a significant challenge during the season59%
reported meaningful improvement in their hockey performanceÂ120
girls participated in the inaugural program24
PWHL players served as mentors
COUNTLESS LASTINGÂ CONNECTIONÂ
meaningful mentorship connections were created
IN HER WORDS
PWHL Mentorship Program Mentee
"The mentorship program has helped me build up bravery and taught me to face challenges head on rather than being scared or telling myself that I can’t do it."
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 from a parent
Parent of a PWHL Mentorship program MENTEE
"The program gave my daughter the tools she needs to face adversity not only in sports but in all areas of her life.”
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IN HER WORDS
PWHL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM MENTEE
"I have learned I am not alone in my struggles, and how to cope and overcome."
ROOTED IN THE STRONG GIRLS UNITED MODEL
Through its evidence-based FAM (Female Athlete Mentorship) program, developed in 2020, Strong Girls United partners with leagues, schools, and organizations nationwide to integrate mentorship and mental skills training into sport. The collaboration with the PWHL marks the next evolution of this work—bringing the SGU model to a professional league level and reaching girls across North America.
ABOUT US
SG United Foundation ("Strong Girls United") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission is to empower girls to be strong, confident, and resilient through sports, mentorship, and mental health programming.
EIN: 84-2731661
