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Toronto, ON – The Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association (PWHLPA) announced that Hayleigh Cudmore has joined the organization as Senior Director of Player Affairs.
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Cudmore brings a unique combination of player advocacy, legal experience, and firsthand knowledge of professional women’s hockey to the role. For the past year, she has served as Secretary of the PWHLPA, working closely with the Board on player advocacy, league discussions, and issues affecting players across the PWHL.
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“Hayleigh understands this union and the needs of our players from every angle,” said Malaika Underwood, Executive Director of the PWHLPA. “She has been a player, an advocate, a leader within the PA, and a legal professional. Her judgment, credibility, and commitment to players have already made her an invaluable part of our work. As our membership and the league continue to grow, adding Hayleigh to our staff will strengthen our ability to advocate for and support players every day.”
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As Senior Director of Player Affairs, Cudmore will work closely with Underwood to advocate for players, address and resolve player concerns, support player education, and facilitate communication with teams, the league, agents, and other stakeholders. She will also assist with league-facing issues and policy discussions, manage the supplemental discipline appeals process, oversee the day-to-day administration of the PWHLPA’s agent certification program, and help strengthen the organization’s internal systems and player services.
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“I am beyond excited and proud to start in this new role with the PWHLPA,” said Cudmore. “We have an amazing player group and look forward to working with them to continue to push the sport forward.”
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Before joining the PWHLPA staff, Cudmore built a career in law and dispute resolution, most recently serving as an adjudicator with Tribunals Ontario. She earned her law degree from the University of Calgary.
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Cudmore also brings extensive experience as a player. She played four seasons at Cornell University, winning two Ivy League championships and making two NCAA Frozen Four appearances. She represented Canada as part of Hockey Canada’s national team program and won gold at the 2010 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship. Cudmore later played four seasons with the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, winning the Clarkson Cup in 2016.
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Following the CWHL’s closure, Cudmore was part of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and the broader player movement that helped lay the foundation for the PWHL and PWHLPA.