OHL Clubs Champion Women in Sports, Providing Launchpad for Future Leaders

The Ontario Hockey League continues to demonstrate its commitment to developing not only the world’s best hockey players but also creating pathways for the next generation of women in sports media, communications, and operations.

On Saturday afternoon, the Brampton Steelheads hosted their second annual Women in Sports panel as part of a league-wide recognition of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, held each year on the first Wednesday of February. The day celebrates female athletes’ achievements, promotes gender equity in sport, and underscores the progress made since Title IX, while encouraging continued opportunities for girls and women in athletics.

Hosting the Steelheads event was Julia Tocheri, a prominent Canadian sports media figure whose career trajectory illustrates how OHL organizations can serve as meaningful stepping stones for women entering the sports industry.

Growing up playing minor hockey in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Tocheri turned a lifelong love of the game into a thriving career. After studying sports media at TMU and gaining early experience covering university athletics, she landed her first professional role as the in-game host for the Mississauga Steelheads.

“We know that the OHL is the greatest development league in the world, and I think it’s the same thing for those behind the scenes as well,” Tocheri explained. “My first real job in sports was as the in-game host for the Mississauga Steelheads, and it was just such a great opportunity to do everything because, in addition to in-game hosting, I also got to make some fun, creative social media content, and I also got to do the play-by-play for the Steelheads on International Women’s Day.”

That hands-on experience in the OHL helped open doors to larger opportunities. Tocheri later joined TSN’s BarDown team, producing digital content, hosting live events, and covering major hockey moments including the CHL and Memorial Cup. From 2021 to 2023, she co-hosted Leafs Lunch on TSN 1050, becoming one of the few women in Canada to lead an all-sports radio show.

For Tocheri, the OHL offered more than professional experience; it provided a supportive environment to develop her craft.

“It’s a great place to learn, and I felt safe making mistakes,” she said. “I think the players probably feel the same way, too. The play is a little loose, and the broadcasting’s a little loose. You just kind of get your reps, and you learn to cut your teeth.”

Today, Tocheri co-hosts the popular Jocks in Jills podcast alongside former Canadian Olympian Tessa Bonhomme. Created within the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Media House, the show has become a leading platform in women’s hockey, spotlighting stories from established stars and rising talent while connecting fans with the personalities shaping the sport.

Tocheri also pointed to the Mississauga Steelheads as an organization that has championed women both on camera and behind the scenes, crediting president and owner Elliott Kerr’s long-standing support of women in the game.

“The Steelheads are like a development factory. You see all the players coming out of the franchise lately and going right to the NHL. There’s been a lot of great women behind the scenes and in front of the camera who have come out of here, too,” Tocheri noted. “There’s just been a lot of great careers propelled here, and I think that speaks to how Elliott Kerr, who was also an agent for some of the great women who played the game, has an appreciation for women in sports. And I think that’s bled into how he runs this organization.”

As OHL clubs continue to host initiatives like Women in Sports panels and recognize National Girls & Women in Sports Day, they reinforce an important message: the league can function as a full development ecosystem – not just for athletes, but for broadcasters, content creators, executives, and emerging leaders who will shape the future of hockey and sports media for years to come.