Women's Hockey

THE WOMEN'S GAME
DESERVES REAL REPRESENTATION.

The women's game is growing faster than the industry can keep up. New leagues, new money, new opportunities, and most agencies are still treating it as an afterthought. ISM isn't most agencies.

Our dedicated Women's Hockey Division is led by PWHLPA-certified agent Courtney Tougas and provides the exact same level of service, resources, and commitment that ISM delivers to its men's clients. Same development team. Same mental wellness support. Same direct access. No watered-down version.

PWHLPA
Courtney Tougas is a PWHLPA-certified agent, meaning she's recognized by the Professional Women's Hockey League Players' Association to represent players at the highest level of women's hockey.
NCAA
D1 & D3 Recruiting
PWHL
Pro Placement
Services Include
Contract NegotiationNCAA RecruitingScholarship StrategyPWHL PlacementInternationalMental WellnessS&C ProgramsBrand Building
Not an Afterthought
WHAT ISM DOES DIFFERENTLY

Most agencies added a "women's division" as a checkbox. ISM built one that actually works.

🏗️
SAME INFRASTRUCTURE

Sean Skahan's performance programs. Danny Sheppard's mental wellness sessions. Chris Stanley's skills coaching. Video analysis. Brand strategy. The full ISM development team, not a stripped-down version of it.

📱
SAME ACCESS

Direct phone access to Courtney and the ISM team. Same response times, same parent involvement, same level of personal attention. ISM doesn't do tiers. Every client matters the same.

🎓
NCAA EXPERTISE

ISM's family advising team has secured $7.7M+ in scholarship dollars. That expertise applies to women's hockey recruiting: D1, D3, scholarship negotiation, school selection, academic planning, the full roadmap.

🌍
GROWING WITH THE GAME

The PWHL is just the beginning. International women's leagues are expanding. ISM is building the relationships and infrastructure now so our clients are positioned when those opportunities arrive, not scrambling to catch up.

Division Lead
YOUR AGENTS
Family Advisor
COURTNEY TOUGAS
📍 United States
+1 (807) 630-6762

Courtney brings over a decade of coaching experience at elite levels of hockey, guiding athletes across Canada through development and championship success. She has served as Head Coach at Stanstead College for both the U15 Boys and U16 Prep Girls teams, leading the girls' program to a JWHL Championship in 2024. Previously, she coached at the Ontario Hockey Academy and Okanagan Hockey Academy, where her leadership contributed to a CSSHL Championship in 2018. Inducted into the Northern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2023, Courtney is passionate about player development and preparing young athletes for the next level of their careers.

Family Advisor
JUSTIN NERLING
📍 Western Canada
+1 (250) 938-7685

Justin manages ISM's Western Canada operations, handling client relationships, recruitment, and scouting across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. His regional expertise in the WHL pipeline, Western Canadian prep schools, and NCAA recruiting networks helps families navigate the path from minor hockey to junior and collegiate opportunities.

The Landscape
WOMEN'S HOCKEY BY THE NUMBERS

The women's game isn't just growing, it's accelerating. Here's what the landscape looks like right now.

PWHL
First major professional women's league with sustainable funding and media deals
$80M+
NCAA women's hockey scholarship money available annually across D1 programs
41
NCAA Division I women's hockey programs, and growing every year
6
PWHL teams, with expansion markets actively being explored for coming seasons
The Path Forward
WOMEN'S HOCKEY PATHWAYS

The women's development pipeline is different from the men's game. Here's how it works.

AGES 13–16
BUILD THE FOUNDATION

Play AAA or highest level available. Start building video. Focus on skating, compete level, and academics. Begin understanding the recruiting landscape. This is earlier than most families expect.

AGES 16–18
RECRUITING & EXPOSURE

NCAA coaches are watching. Campus visits, showcases, and tournament exposure matter. This is where scholarship conversations start. Prep school or U18 AAA can be a launching pad. ISM coordinates outreach and manages the recruiting process.

AGES 18–24
NCAA & BEYOND

Competing at the NCAA level while earning a degree. For top players, the PWHL and international opportunities are real options post-college. ISM handles contract negotiation, transfer portal strategy, and long-term career planning.

Women's Hockey Questions
WHAT FAMILIES ASK US
Yes, and it's getting more realistic every year. The PWHL launched with real investment, media deals, and growing salaries. It's still early, but the trajectory is clear: women's professional hockey is here to stay. For elite players coming out of NCAA programs, the PWHL is a genuine career option. ISM's Courtney Tougas is PWHLPA-certified and positioned to represent players at that level.
NCAA Division I women's hockey programs offer up to 18 full scholarships per team. These can be split, meaning partial scholarships are common. Division III schools don't offer athletic scholarships but often provide strong academic and need-based aid packages. The key is starting the recruiting conversation early (age 14–16), building a strong video package, maintaining academics, and having an advisor who knows which coaches are looking for which type of player. ISM handles all of this.
If she's 14–15 and playing competitive hockey, it's not too early to have a conversation. NCAA recruiting timelines are moving earlier. Coaches are identifying players younger than ever. You don't need to commit to anything. But understanding the landscape, the timeline, and what coaches are looking for gives your family a real advantage when decisions need to be made.
Beyond the PWHL and NCAA, women's hockey is growing internationally. European leagues in Sweden (SDHL), Finland (Naisten Liiga), and other markets are expanding. There are also national team programs, international tournaments, and coaching pathways. ISM monitors all of these and helps players find the right fit based on their goals, whether that's playing professionally abroad, representing their country, or building a career in hockey after playing.
Yes. Full stop. Sean Skahan's performance programs. Danny Sheppard's mental wellness sessions. Video analysis. Brand strategy. Recruiting coordination. Direct agent access. ISM doesn't do tiers or second-class divisions. Every resource available to our men's clients is available to our women's clients. That's not a marketing line. It's how we built this from day one.
READY TO GET STARTED?

Same conversation, same standards, same commitment. Reach out and Courtney or Justin will be in touch.

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