The Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame will induct its first female hockey player into its Wall of Fame next week.

Erin McIvor, now Erin Howe, enjoyed success with York University’s women’s hockey team in the early 2000s.

She started her hockey career playing with the boys in Fort Frances due to a lack of a girls’ program.

“I guess the closest option would have been ringette, but no girls’ hockey. To be honest, I don’t even remember that being a thought. It was just sort of a hey, do you want to try playing hockey? The answer was yes,” says McIvor.

McIvor eventually transitioned to the girls’ program when it came into existence near the end of her minor hockey career, playing for teams in both programs before graduating from high school.

McIvor says joining the university hockey team was an eye-opener.

“Very exciting, definitely an eye-opener, a lot of ice time. I go from Fort Frances, you get your hour practice and a game a week to two hours a day, as well as balancing university and all games were road trips,” says McIvor.

McIvor was rewarded by her coaches in her sophomore year, naming her an assistant captain.
She wore the “A” until the end of her university career.

Professional hockey for women was still in its infancy at the time. Players had the option of joining the now-defunct National Women’s Hockey League or challenging for a spot on Canada’s national team.

McIvor opted for neither.

“It would have been an amazing thing to continue, but I was studying university. Just getting to play hockey at that level was an honour.”

She played with a senior team in Toronto for a few seasons before turning her attention to coaching.

She assisted a team in Newmarket for a season and returned to Fort Frances to help Thunder Bay’s Katie Weatherston with her hockey camp.

“I now coach in southern Ontario in the minor hockey program, both OMHA and OWHA, both the girls and boys, as well as sit on the executive.”

“I’ve had the honour of seeing quite a few players that are now going off to Division 1 schools. Some very high-calibre players.”

McIvor will be honoured this Saturday when the Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame inducts her to their Wall of Fame, along with two other athletes, one builder and two teams.

“I’ve had a lot of great coaches along the way from a very young age. In Fort Frances, Tom Koski and Jim McMahon and not just hockey. I played soccer in high school and had coaches like Struchan Gilson and Caroline Spencer. Just great role models.”

“At the university level, I had Tim Manastersky at York. A great, great help there in terms of navigating the school hockey balance.”

She also credits her father for helping with her hockey path.

“He was the biggest force. He was involved with my hockey right from the get-go. Even after I left Fort Frances, he continued to help coach and referee in Fort and just be very involved in the community.”