Women's Ice Hockey

If you're looking for an affordable way to see great hockey--check out collegiate hockey, especially women's college hockey. These young women are passionate and skilled players that definitely could use some crowds cheering them on and some upcoming hockey players to see there is life after house/travel.

Here's what you missed this past weekend at Niagara University. The women's ice hockey team upset nationally ranked No. 4 Mercyhurst in a very exciting overtime. Freshman Kristen Richards scored her biggest goal ever when she put the puck on the top shelf taking the Purple Eagles to a 4-3 victory.

Leading up to that OT, was an exciting game of hard skating, some hitting, lots of shooting and a hard fought game on both sides.

Coach Chris MacKenzie noted that this was a total team effort with everyone working hard to take home the win.

Not only do you see great hockey but there's also a chance to see members of Team USA. Many of these girls play collegiate hockey, taking time away from college to play for the USA.

Aside from that, its a more informal atmosphere after the game where players can connect with their fans.

So in the Western New York area, go to the websites of Niagara University, Buffalo State College, University of Buffalo, RIT, Cornell, Elmira, Syracuse University and check out their schedules. Take note of their opponent and go to that website and find out who plays for Brown, Harvard, Yale, Northeastern and other colleges.

Now an update from WNY Varsity. The girls have taken to the ice with tryouts and practices. They have ordered their jerseys, continue to work on fundraisers and are ready for the puck to officially drop on December 1. The Girls Varsity Hockey Federation of 2010-11 will find seven teams representing nine schools facing off in the Inaugural Season. You can follow what's happening and get the schdule on their Facebook page or at Girls4VarsityIceHockey.com

Two WNY girls are featured in the Fall issue of My Ice Magazine. Katelyn Koester and Brigid O'Gorman each have unique stories to tell and they share their hockey experiences with the world. Katelyn, deaf from birth, will play varsity ice hockey with the girls in the Inaugural season and Brigid shares her experiences in Uganda working in a clinic and sharing her love of hockey with the villagers. Check out My Ice magazine at their website.

My apologies again for not keeping this as current as I had planned. With the season beginning, the news will roll in and I'll share it.

For those in New York State, WNY Hockey Magazine will be premiering a New York State E newsletter in 2011. Watch for it and if you have news to share please send it to me at janetschultz@yahoo.com

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.

First Women's Draft Held

The first-ever draft for women hockey players was held by the Canadian Women's Hockey League. They have restructured the league and will ice five teams this fall including Boston, Brampton, Burlington, Montreal and Toronto. In doing so, five players were protected for the Boston team including three Team USA Olympians--Kacey Bellamy, Caitlin Cahow and Molly Engstrom. Also protected were Melissa Haber from Toronto/Boston University and Cherie Hendrickson who most recently played for the CWHL Burlington Team.

By holding a draft, league officials feel that it will ensure that players will return to the League after a year of training for the Olympics.

The draft, which was held at the Hockey Hall of Fame on August 12, will be followed by team tryouts, an evaluation and a mini-draft before the start of preseason play on October 9.

Summer Hockey Update

Well, its been a while since I posted. With family coming in and out of town, vacation and lots of yard work it's been a summer moving very quickly. For many young women, it's also a time for some summer hockey development and working hard at accomplishing another goal in their hockey career.

Congratulations to Emily Pfalzer of Getzville, New York who was named to the USA U18 Team and will attend the National Festival in Lake Placid. The week-long event is highlighted with a three-game competition between the US and Canada on August 18, 19 and 21. Pfalzer is a defenseman who plays for the Mississauga Jr. Chiefs. Another New Yorker named to the team is Albany's Courtney Burke.

USA Hockey has named Reagan Carey director of women's hockey. She comes from Colby College where she captained the team and has spent the last nine years working for the NHL Atlanta Thrashers. Carey replaces Michele Amidon who will now handle the USA Hockey American Development Model. Amidon was the first-ever Director of Women's Hockey for USA Hockey.

Sabrina Harbec was named Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey Assistant Coach. She comes from St. Lawrence University. This will be Syracuse's third season.

WNY Has Girls Varsity Ice Hockey

It took 4 1/2 years of constant talking to school boards, school administrators and anyone that would listen, but the Girls 4 Varsity Ice Hockey Committee and players celebrated the formation of a Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League in Western New York last week.

At present seven schools have agreed to field six teams. One district is joining forces with another to make this a reality for our girls. This Fall, Williamsville, Amherst, Mgs. Martin Catholic Schools, Kenmore-Tonawanda, West Seneca and Orchard Park/Frontier will battle it out on the ice.

What makes this whole story so unique is that the parents and players that came together to make this happen are historically rivals on the ice through their local hockey organizations. Another thing that came out of this is that a whole group of people that barely knew or didn't know each other have formed a lasting friendship all in the name of a common cause--ice hockey for their girls!!

At the present time this Committee will be focusing on fundraising for those teams who have been directed to fund their team either totally or in part for the coming year. This due to the fiscal situation in the State and at the School District level.

Orchard Park has plans to sell red, white and blue necklaces at the July 4 celebration in Orchard Park; they will also have a booth at the Taste of Orchard Park on July 28 and will also be at the Orchard Park Street Dance on July 31. I urge anyone who can attend these events to stop over and support these girls as they work to raise money for their team.

In addition Orchard Park has sent many letters to businesses, individuals and organizations asking for cash donations. There are several levels to give including Founders, Premier, Sponsor, Donor and Super Fan. To learn more check out their page on Facebook.

As the move goes forward, the Athletic Directors are meeting regularly to work out schedules, ice times, coaching, refereeing and other particulars.

For those who don't feel a girls varsity league is necessary--let's look at how many of them would have made it on a boy's varsity team, how would collegiate scouts find them to offer scholarships so they can continue playing and how many will now have the opportunity to look at Team USA possibilities, coaching possibilities and a future as an adult in hockey.

Another event for girls is a Girls Hockey Camp being held at Leisure Rinks in the Buffalo area on July 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 11 and August 3 and 5. The skates will be held Noon to 1:30 p.m. daily. Registrations are due Sunday, June 20--short notice I realize. For information email dgilham@opschools.org

This is an amazing, historical happening for Western New York and Girls Ice Hockey. My congratulations to all who worked so hard.

Don't Let This Die

Well the school budgets are passed. When will the Districts step up and agree to field girls varsity ice hockey for Fall 2010. A group of parents, coaches, players and supporters have worked diligently for four years to make this happen. They have been put off by Athletic Directors, Superintendents and Boards of Education long enough. They have four teams committed and need one more to make the league. They even have a district who won't commit until they have five--why won't that district be number 5??? The boys in WNY have had a varsity league for years. The group has proven the same commitment and probably more for the girls. They have offered to fund raise, they have proven there are enough players for this year and in years to come. I guess my frustration is coming out in that women have to work so hard for everything they accomplish even after all these years. We thought we had equal rights, we thought we had support from our families, friends and male counterparts to move up and on in the world--Hey everyone--that includes Sports. The physicalness of hockey makes it necessary for women and men to be separated. However, women's hockey is still hockey and still carries some physical attributes--has any looked at penalties in women's hockey at the collegiate level--did anyone watch the physical play of the olympic teams? Come one WNY, step up to the plate and show the world that we love our hockey here at all levels and all genders!!!

if this doesn't happen for Fall 2010, it will be a travesty for the area, for women's hockey and hockey in general. GIRLS DESERVE TO PLAY ICE HOCKEY!!!!

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I apologize for my lack of blogging in the past few weeks. I've had a lot of personal travel to do and in a couple of places hard to access internet. Hockey hasn't gone away just because seasons ended, schools are coming to a close and championships have been awarded.

Western New York faired very well in amateur hockey play.

The Buffalo Bison's U!2 team tied for fifth place overall, posting two wins and one loss in the round robin play of the Nationals. The Bison's finished the year with an overall record of 34 wins, 22 losses and 6 ties. They took the Conference Title in the Canadian League and played in the Canadian Frozen Four.

The Bison's U14 team beat the Northern Lights Silver in the first game of the taking them to the quarterfinals where they lost 5-2. Both goals coming in the second.

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Tier II U14 Team made their first national appearance and played through to the semi=finals before being defeated by the Bay State Breakers, the 2010 National Champs.

Buffalo Bisons U16 Team lost in the first round of the nationals.

In the Women's Senior A Division a combined team made up of players from the Rochester Edge and other Western New York teams were the first ever to play in the nationals at this level. Although defeated they made a good showing by beating Assebet Valley and Team Connecticut before losing to Minnesota, the champion from the last three of four years.

In the 30 Plus Division the Rochester Edge beat the Columbus Capitals and then lost to the East Coast Wizards and Team Michigan.

More on collegiate in next blog.

For complete Women's coverage look for copies of Western New York Hockey magazine at news stands in Wegmans.

USA Nationals

Trying to keep up with what's happening at the USA Nationals.
In Tier I the Buffalo Bisons 12U team will face Green Bay Bobcats in the Quarterfinals today. they beat Midfield 1-4; Ohio Flames 7-2 and Little Caesars 6-3 to get there. Congratulations.

In Tier I 14U the Bisons lost to Honeybaked 3-2; Team Pittsburgh 4-3 and beat Northern Lights Silver 3-2. They face the Chicago Mission in the quarterfinals.

16U Tier I Bisons beat the Connecticut Polar Bears 3-1, lost to Team Pittsburgh 4-2 and to LIttle Caesars 3-2. This ended their season. Great job girls!

Over in Michigan the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles have made it to the semi finals where they will take on the Bay State Breakers. They lost their first game 0-1 to Central Maine but came back to beat the Michigan Capitals 4-2 and Team Pittsburgh 6-0 in regular play and then took out the Michigan Ice Breakers 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

The Lysander Lightning lost to the New Jersey Quarry Cats 1-0 in the quarterfinals. To get that far they lost to Mid Fairfield Ct. Stars 6-2 and then came back and won two games in shoot-outs. First the Birmingham Rangers 2-1 and the Quakers 3-2. Lysander's Marissa McNamara was named to the Top 10 Goalkeeper List.

There's been some outstanding play by these girls which I will recap at a later date.

Nationals Begin This Week

The USA Girls Nationals begin this week in Green Bay, Wisconsin and East Lansing, Michigan. Western New York is proud to have four teams taking part.

At the Tier I level the Buffalo Bisons 12U, 14U and 16U girls will take the ice. At Tier II it's the Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles at 14U.

The Buffalo Bisons !2U team will face MidFairfield, Ohio Flames and Little Caesars.
The Buffalo Bisons 14U team faceoff against Northern Lights Silver,Team Pittsburg and Honey Baked.
The 16U teams takes on the Connecticut Polar Bears, Team Pittsburg and Little Caesars.
Those games will be played in Green Bay.

In East Lansing Michigan the Purple Eagles take on Central Maine, Michigan Capitals and Team Pittsburgh.

Finals will be held April 10.

The Women's USA Nationals took place a week ago. The winners and runners up included:
Women's Senior A: Minnesota Blue Js with the New York All Stars and Rochester Edge runners up.
Senior B: Minnesota Blue J Hawks; runners-up: Anaheim Lady Ducks
Senior C: Mission; runner-up: San Jose Lady Sharks
30 plus: Team Connecticut with the Chicago Stars finishing second.

Representing WNY were the Rochester Edge in the Sr.C division. They lost to the Utah Thunder 2-1 in the quarterfinals. To get to that point they beat Indy Speed 6-1 and the Senior Lady Monarchs.They lost to Mission, the eventual champions, 4-1.

At the Sr. A division it was the NY All Stars and Rochester Edge teaming. They lost to Michigan 7-0 and Assabet Valley 1-0 before beating Team Connecticut 2-3 taking them to the semi finals where they beat Assabet Valley 3-0. They lost in the finals to Minnesota Blue Js 3-0.

Christine Pano and Katherine Morrison were named to the top 10 scorers list and Goalies Ashley Schneegold and Alexandra Talbott were named to the Top 10 GoalKeepers List.

The Rochester Edge beat Columbus Capitals 2-0, lost in sudden death overtime to the East Coast Wizards 2-0 and lost to Team Michigan 2-4 in the 30 Plus Division. Zoe Haubert and Chrissy Brewar were named to the Top 10 Goal Keepers Honors.

Sorry for no blog last week. Other commitments kept me from the keyboard.

Girls Hockey Showcased in Buffalo

For the first time in its history the Scotty Bowman Showcase will feature a 20 minute girl's ice hockey game. The Tournament pits top high school boys players from Buffalo against top players from Rochester. The tournament honors Scotty Bowman, the winningest coach in the NHL who coached the Buffalo Sabres.

This year girls from local Buffalo club ice hockey teams will compete to show their support for a Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League in Western New York

The Scotty Bowman Showcase will be held Monday, March 29, at HSBC Arena, Buffalo. The first boys game begins at 6 p.m. and the second at 8:30 p.m. The winner of the second game is the recipient of the Bowman Cup.
Admission is $5.

There is also a possibility that the Buffalo Regals will form a new Girls 14U team next season and the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles may try and move to Tier I.

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles 14U Tier II team took the New York State Championships last weekend. They went into the championship game undefeated with 21 goals for and 1 goal against for an amazing 5 game shutout run. They will represent New York State at the Nationals in East Lansing, MI in April.

The Buffalo Bisons U12, U14 and U16 Tier I teams also won New York State Championships. They will also be representing NYS in the Nationals.

Congratulations goes to Mercyhurst's Vicki Bendus. Bendus is the recipient of the 2010 Patty Kaxzmaier Memorial Award. The award is given annual to a female ice hockey player who shows outstanding athletic ability as well as leadership, community service and academics. She served as team captain and is near the top of the NCAA leader board in nearly all offensive categories. She has 65 points; 5 short-handed goals, averages 1.81 points per game, and is a RBK Hockey First Team All-American. Among her team statistics she was first in shots (194), tied for first in points (65) and shorthanded goals (5); second in goals (28), assists (37), power-play goals (8); tied for second in gasme-winning goals (5) and fourth in plus/miknues (+37). Off ice she volunteers regularly at the Erie Veterans Hospital and took part in the annual Mercyhurst Thanksgiving Food Drive.

It's Frozen Four Time

Western New York Girls Hockey will be featured for the first time during the Sixth Annual Scotty Bowman Showcase set for Sunday, March 29, at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY.

The Showcase consists of two all-star hockey games between high school aged boys players from Buffalo and their rivals from Rochester.

This year, with the strong effort in Western New York to ice a Varsity Girls Ice Hockey League next fall, there have been a number of showcase girl's games played. Thus a 20 minute Girls Showcase will be held between the boy's games and will feature some of the top local high school girl's players from the Buffalo area.

We urge support for both the boys and girls. Tickets are only $5 with the puck being dropped at 6 p.m. between the juniors followed by the girl's showcase game and an 8:30 p.m. game between the seniors.

Also a congratulations to the girl's teams from the Western New York area who took in the New York State Championships this past weekend. Girls from the Niagara Purple Eagles and Buffalo Bisons organizations registered wins. I'll have more on that as results come in.

The Frozen Four for women's ice hockey is upon us. The NCAA has announced the following will take part in the Fifth Annual Frozen Four Skills Challenge to be held April 9 at Ford Field in Detroit Michigan. The women's East squad will include Boston University's Melissa Anderson; Harvard's Anna McDonald, from Dartmouth, Sarah Parsons, Kelly Patron of New Hampshire, Britini Smith, St. Lawrence and Allie Thunstrom, Boston College. In goal will be Brittony Chartier, St. Lawrence and Melissa Haber, Boston University. From the West are Kelli Blankenship, Minnesota; Rachel Davis, Ohio State; Caitlin Hogan, St. Cloud State, Kyla Sanders, Wisconsin; Chelsea Walkland, Robert Morris and Ashley Young Minnesota State/Mankato. The two goalies are Lauren Bradel, St. Thomas/Minnesota and Lindsey Park, Wayne State.

The finalists for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award are Vicki Bendus of Mercyhurst College. Kelly Paton, University of New Hampshire and Noora Raty, University of Minnesota.

The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is presented annual to an outstanding female hockey player who best exemplifies Patty Kazmaier. The criteria include outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and the love of hockey. There is also consideration for academic achievement civic involvement.

Kazmaier was a four-year varsity letter winner and All-Ivy League defenseman for Princeton University from 1981 to 1986. She passed away in 1990 after a long struggle with a rare blood disease.

Team USA Under 18 Named

Getzville's Emily Pfalzer has been named to the 2010 U.S. Women's National Under 18 Team. The team will play in the 2010 IIHF World Women's Under-18 Championship. They will be playing Japan on Saturday, March 27 followed by Finland on Sunday; the Czech Republic on Tuesday followed by the quarterfinals, semi finals and medal games on Friday and Saturday. All games will be played at Walter Bush Arena in Woodridge, Ill. This is the first time this event will be played on U.S. soil.

Team USA captured the gold in Germany in 2009 and in Calgary in 2008. Highlighting the roster are Forward Kendall Coyne and Defenseman Meagan Mangene, both played for the Under-19 Team in those games. Other returnees to the squad include Brittany Ammerman, Lyndsey Fry, Amanda Pelkey, Taylor Wasylik and Alex Rigsby. They were all members of the 2009 U.S. Women's National Under 18 team also. Rigsby was named best goaltender of the 2009 tournament.

New to the team are Meghan Lorence, Aubree Moore and Jordan Slavin.

The balance of the team is made up of Aubres Moore, Gabie Figueroa, Marissa Gedman, Michelle Picard, Stephanie Anderson, Melissa Bizzari, Racheael Bona, Alexandra Carpenter, Zoe Hickel, Meghan Lorence and Haley Skarupa.

They will be coached by Katie King. Assisted by Catherine Hanson and Shelley Looney.

Girls Hockey

It's growing! Girls hockey that is. In WNY there is a move to have high school varsity hockey for girls. There currently are teams in Eastern New York State, which are too far to travel to on a regular basis; but a great way to have a playoff system in the State.

WNY needs five schools to begin a league in 2010. Thus far there are verbal commitments from Williamsville, Mgs. Martin Schools and Kenmore/Tonawanda. Several others are waiting to make decisions as their budget process moves forward.

The girl's, who play in leagues around the area, want the same chance as their brothers--to play for their school and enjoy school spirit. There have been six showcase games that showed the girls can play a great game, lots of action even though checking isn't allowed. They are fast skaters, good shooters and we've seen outstanding goaltending.

Urge your school boards to take a look at icing a team in WNY. Check out the Girls 4 Varsity Ice Hockey website for additional information.