Women's hockey in Canada received a gut punch on Sunday after the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) announced it was folding. The league will officially call it quits on May 1st.

Photo courtesy of Taylor WoodsThe end of the CWHL means up to 150 female hockey players will be without a team to play on, including Morden's Taylor Woods. Woods has played in the CWHL the last three seasons, all with the Brampton Thunder.

Although it came as a shock to the system, Woods feels many people will continue to push on to see the sport of women's hockey grow at a professional level. "All the players, all the staff, the volunteers, everyone who has been putting their heart and soul into growing the sport, and women's sports in general, we just need to keep on it."

With the folding of the league, Woods hopes awareness will only grow for what so many have tirelessly worked toward achieving. "We're trying to grow the game, grow sports for women. It should be a conversation piece, it should be a movement in action throughout all of Canada."

Woods says she sees what is happening with a silver lining.  She feels it's a step toward a unified professional women's hockey league spanning both Canada and the United States. She believes they will continue to push forward to see that come to fruition.

"We need to bring professional sports for women into the light, and women having access in the growth of the game." Woods says they are not seeking to have salaries like players in the NHL, but an opportunity to play professionally and make a livable wage.