Friday, October 22, 2010

WNY HAS Girls Varsity Ice Hockey

It's finally here--the 2010 - 2011 Ice Hockey Season and with Western New York icing a Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League. Made up of nine schools forming seven teams these girls will take to the ice in November for tryouts and practice. Then on December 1 at 3:50 p.m. the first-ever Varsity Girls Ice Hockey game will be played at the Northtowns Ice Center at Amherst pitting the Catholic schools of Monsignor Martin against Williamsville school district.

While the first game of the season will be historic, so will the second. On December 2 at 5 p.m. Orchard Park/Frontier will take on Lancaster at the Time Warner Rink in East Aurora. What's so unique? The rink used is outside and is the rink that was used in the NHL Winter Outdoor Classic held New Year's Day in 2008 at Rich Stadium in Buffalo. That was the first-ever NHL Winter Outdoor game held pitting the Buffalo Sabres against the Pittsburgh Penquins.

Games continue at rinks thoughout Erie County including West Seneca, Lincoln, Tacoma, Hamburg and Dann Memorial at Nichols School.

In addition to the teams above girls will be playing for Kenmore West Seneca, and Amherst/Sweethome.

The girls are proud to be wearing their school colors and having their classmates cheer them on. On other days these girls will continue to play together at their respective house/travel teams.

While these nine schools are taking the chance, Girls 4 Varsity Ice Hockey is waiting and willing to help all other schools in Western New York get their teams on the ice. Funding for these teams is not entirely by the schools. In fact a couple schools have told the teams they must raise their entire yearly budget and they are doing that with fundraisers that range from golf tournaments, pancake breakfasts, bbqs, hot dog sales and bake sales.

It's been a long hard-fought four years to get to this point from the grassroots effort of parents, coaches and supporters who formed Girls 4 Varsity Hockey. They still have a long way to go. But on December 1 they will be celebrating as the puck drops.

Come and show your support! Their schedule will be posted in WNY Hockey Magazine and on their website.

Congratulations to all who worked so hard and thanks to the school districts who had the foresight to agree to icing a team.