April 6, 2026 Repost from cbs17.com
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Girls’ youth hockey is gaining momentum across the Triangle, and much of that growth can be traced to the work of Sarah Swingle.
As the Girls and Women’s Hockey Specialist for the Carolina Hurricanes, Swingle also serves as Girls Hockey Director for the Carolina Junior Hurricanes. In that role, she coaches both the 16U and 19U AAA teams while helping build a strong pipeline for young female athletes in the sport.
But her impact goes far beyond elite competition.
Through the Lil Lady Canes program, Swingle has helped introduce girls ages 6 to 11 to hockey in an environment designed just for them. The program focuses on skill development, practices, and games, all led by an all-female coaching staff. For many young girls, it’s their first opportunity to play the sport without being the only girl on a co-ed team or sharing a locker room where they feel like an outsider.
“I have created a monster,” Swingle joked, reflecting on the rapid growth and enthusiasm surrounding girls’ hockey in the region.
That growth is translating into success at higher levels. The Junior Hurricanes girls program has become one of the strongest in the Southeast, with its 14U, 16U, and 19U AAA teams all capturing Southeast District Championships and advancing to the USA Hockey National Championships.
The program is also producing collegiate talent. Apex native Lily Cassaro recently committed to play college hockey at Wesleyan University, marking another milestone for the rapidly developing hockey scene in North Carolina.
Casaro and her teammates hope their success inspires younger players coming through programs like Lil Lady Canes to pursue the sport at higher levels.
With expanding opportunities, increasing visibility, and a growing community of players and coaches, girls’ hockey in North Carolina is no longer a niche; it’s a movement. And if current trends continue, its future looks brighter than ever.
Learn More carolinajuniorhurricanes.org/girls