Talent environment development in Canadian female youth ice hockey: a first look into the Quebec developmental landscape

Introduction In the Canadian context, ice hockey functions as a fundamental agent of socialization and a catalyst for national identity. Despite the exponential rise of female participation—bolstered by the professionalization of the Professional Women’s Hockey League—a significant “gender gap” persists in sports science literature, which traditionally prioritizes male cohorts in talent development research. This investigation pursued three primary objectives: (1) to evaluate the structural validity and internal consistency of the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 (TDEQ-5) within the Quebec female youth hockey context; (2) to examine variances in environmental perceptions based on competitive calibre (A, AA, AAA) and age category (U11–U18); and (3) to quantify the predictive contribution of TDEQ-5 dimensions in shaping athletes’ long-term engagement intentions. Methods A sample of 473 female ice hockey players (N = 473) was recruited during a centralized provincial tournament. Results Confirmatory factor analyses supported the five-factor structure of the TDEQ-5, although the Alignment of Expectations (AE) dimension exhibited lower internal consistency. MANOVA revealed no significant differences based on competitive caliber, suggesting a structural homogeneity of developmental standards. However, a significant multivariate effect for age was observed, characterized by an erosion of the Support Network (SN) and Alignment of Expectation (AE) among older players (U15 and U18). Regression analysis indicated that TDEQ-5 dimensions accounted for 29.1% of the variance in long-term engagement intentions, with Long-Term Development (LTD) and AE emerging as the most significant predictors. Discussion These findings highlight the critical importance of maintaining a supportive climate and ensuring clarity of pathways during the transition to adulthood to foster player retention.