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.