Meet the women behind the CHL’s national events in 2025-26

As part of International Women’s Day 2026, the CHL wanted to spotlight the incredible women who help make our CHL National Event calendar a success each year.

At the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge in Calgary and Lethbridge, a number of women in different roles were part of the backbone that made the event a resounding success.

Name: Kathy Hong
Position & Title: Director, Marketing and Communications
Years with the Lethbridge Hurricanes: 14
Brief Description of role: A lot of emails day-to-day; it honestly varies depending on the month. I could be proofing media releases, gathering information to share with parents and billets, building a campaign for an upcoming promotion, working with clients on their in-game/in-venue advertisement, fielding donation or player appearance requests, or coordinating the details for an upcoming event. I wasn’t able to be at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge so my involvement was all behind the scenes leading up to the event. Helping the CHL staff gather information they need when they weren’t able to be on-site, connecting them with suppliers, partners, performers in Lethbridge. Helping coordinate guests for the Beyond Their Years event.

Is there a moment in your career where you’ve paused and reflected on how proud you are of what you just helped accomplish?

We were eliminated during the 2017 WHL Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Final at home. It sucked, but it also meant we were able to recognize our graduating players one final time on home ice. That year, we had a very special player who played his final WHL game, Tyler Wong. Tyler and I had a close relationship because I looked after public relations/community initiatives and he was a phenomenal role model in our community. He was great with fans of all ages, always volunteered his time for events, did more than what was organized by the team, and just always found ways to give back. He truly understood the impact he could have on Lethbridge and on our young fans, even as a teen and a young adult. It’s not every day that you get to work with a player like that. At that final game, we announced him as the first star that night, when he came out to do his lap he got a standing ovation. Not a short one either, a long and loud ovation from our fans showing their appreciation for their captain. I stood beside then WHL Commissioner, Ron Robison, who was in awe seeing the fan reception for Tyler Wong. What I saw and heard wasn’t shocking to me but it still left me speechless and proud. I really can’t take credit for what Tyler did for our community, but I work hard to engage with our players and help them find initiatives they want to work with while they’re with our organization. I don’t develop them as players on the ice, but off the ice I take pride in guiding them to be caring and giving community members.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice before starting out in the sports industry, what would it be?

Your gender does not dictate your passion, your knowledge, or your capabilities. When you’re passionate about something, you will go to great lengths to see it become a success. When you truly fully understand how an organization operates, your knowledge becomes power. When you have confidence in yourself and your abilities you’ll figure out how to do whatever it is you need.  

Name: Amy Bontorin
Position & Title: Manager, Business Operations
Years with the Calgary Hitmen: 7
Brief Description of role: I always laugh when I am asked to describe my role because it involves wearing so many different hats! No day is the same, but to sum it up, I am responsible for everything off the ice and not hockey related. I oversee the business side of the Calgary Hitmen – strategy, ticketing, marketing, sponsorships, community engagement – the list goes on. The CHL USA Prospects Challenge was an incredible opportunity for my career. It was a project that pushed me out of my day to day and into more of a project management role for that specific game. I was also blessed to get to work with some amazing people along the way.

Is there a moment in your career where you’ve paused and reflected on how proud you are of what you just helped accomplish?

I think I have those moments whenever we pull off one of our big games. Game days are the finished product of what we are consistently working on and I like to take a moment to step back on those days to take in the experience that we have created for fans. It’s kind of a surreal moment to think that you played a role in bringing these people together and giving them these experiences. It’s too hard to pick just one moment, I am pretty fortunate to have pulled off some pretty cool things with the Hitmen. 

How has your role evolved since you first started with the organization?

I started with the organization as a Project & Event Specialist and was very focused on execution. I am still hands on for a lot of execution because we have a small (but mighty) team, but now I am involved with driving the business and strategy. It’s been a fun progression and I have learned lots along the way.

Name: Cassandra Vilgrain
Position & Title: Manager, Communications and Player Development Assistant
Years with the Calgary Hitmen: 4
Brief Description of role: I oversee team communications, media relations, and digital content while supporting hockey operations in player development initiatives. I helped in the promotion of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge while also participating in panel discussions alongside Bryant McBride and Brent Dodginghorse in Calgary and Lethbridge.