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Addressing the growing interest and a call for more hockey programming for girls in the community, Don Mills Civitan Hockey League has installed a new girl's division for the upcoming season.

Hockey dad Greg Thompson, whose daughter Lauren expressed the desire to play in an all-girls league, lobbied league executives and its president, Dave Croutch, earlier this year about facilitating a girls division.

"There were some meetings and we're now moving forward with it," said Jeff Sharpe, whose boys toil in the co-ed side of the Don Mills league. "We're at the stage now where we're hoping to get enough interest to make this viable."

Because the city allocates ice time based on data from the prior season the non-profit league had room for just four teams (64 players) this year, with the target of icing four more squads in the 2009-10 season.

The division for 8- to 10-year-olds is still in its infancy but it's already getting good reviews, he said. Crouch and Thompson are the first two registrants to sign their daughters on.

"The message is just getting out, but parents are saying that yes there are some girls that want this," he said.

"The girls want to play but don't want to play with the boys... some are skittish about the aggressiveness.

Females who wish to continue with their existing co-ed league are welcome to remain where they are.

Registration can be done online at www.dmchl.com or at the Don Mills Civitan Arena Sept. 4 to 6.

The arena is at 1030 Don Mills Rd.

"This concept of having an all-girls league will remove some of the barriers some kids have about playing," added Sharpe.