Flames' Giordano open to women coaching in the NHL
Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano told reporters that it's a question of "when" as opposed to "if" women someday will occupy a coaching role in the NHL.
Via The Calgary Herald:
The NHL has yet to join the other major professional sports leagues in North America in breaking the glass ceiling on the gender equality front.
"Absolutely. With the way women have progressed in sports over the years, I think it's just a matter of time. Teams already have women employed by their organizations in different jobs. It'll be in the near future when they're behind the bench or in the press box coaching."
The NFL has seen groundbreaking news in that regard, with Smith's hiring coming shortly after Jen Welter was named the league's first female assistant of any kind prior to the 2015 season. Welter worked with the inside linebackers for Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians on a part-time basis.
The NBA saw Becky Hammon hired as an assistant prior to the 2014-15 season and Nancy Lieberman serve as an assistant in 2015.
On Kathryn Smith: "I recognize the significance of the hire but it was all about getting someone good in that role." pic.twitter.com/yGjqkFfMh5
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 22, 2016
Major League Baseball saw Justine Siegal become the first woman to hold a coaching position in September when she joined the Oakland Athletics as a guest at the team's fall instructional league for prospects.
