This year was riddled with challenges and we at the NGHL are proud to have been able to successfully run events, providing opportunities for the girls to continue to play this season.

It’s hard to believe that spring is finally here. Let’s hope that soon we can put words like “Pandemic”, “New Norm”, “Pivot” behind us. More than likely COVID has touched every household so let’s take a deep breath and assess what we’ve learned from a girls’ hockey perspective.

We’ve put some thoughts in our end-of-season newsletter (attached) and hope you take the time to read it (and share it) with a light heart after such a tumultuous year.

Best regards,
NGHL TEAM
Kathryn, Sean, Leslie, John and Andrew.

Click below to download the 2020-21 Newsletter PDF and read more. Share it with your club and teammates.

2020-21 NGHL SHOWCASE CHAMPS

Division Champions

12U RED Springfield Jr Thunderbirds

12U BLUE Boston Bkd Beans

14U RED CT Northern Lights

14U BLUE Rome Girls Hockey

16U RED Bay State Breakers

16U BLUE NE Wildcats

19U RED Niagara Purple Eagles

19U BLUE Connecticut Ice Cats

Division Champions

14U Naperville Sabres

16U Naperville Sabres

19U Nashville Predators

Division Champions

12U Carolina Jr Hurricanes

14U Red Team Illinois

14U Blue Team Illinois

16U Dallas Stars Elite

19U Florida Alliance

Division Champions

14U Team Colorado

16U St Louis Blues

19U Blue Seattle Lady Admirals

19U St Louis Blues

EXPOSURE CAMP

Training is part of every ice hockey player’s routine and who better to learn from than select D1, D3, and Prep school coaches. The NGHL College Exposure Camp on Thursday, September 3rd brought together competitive female hockey players and college coaches to train and talk hockey.

The athletes ranged from 13 – 18-year-olds, all striving towards the goal of playing hockey in college. During the day, athletes were given the opportunity to sample various coaching styles while on the ice and got to know the coaches on a personal level. The off-ice discussions included “What it takes to be a College Hockey Player”, “Skills & Conditioning” and “Scholarships & Financial Aid.”

Based on the resounding success of this event, the NGHL will present another camp this season. Stay tuned to our social platforms at @nghlhockey for that update.

CONNECTICUT FACE-OFF

This Labor Day weekend the NGHL hosted the 2020 Connecticut Face-Off. Sixty-nine (68) teams across 5 divisions – 12U – 19U – played across three days – September 4-7, 2020 – in the Simsbury area at the International Skating Center of Connecticut (ISCC), Enfield Twin Rinks, and Bolton Ice Palace. We are grateful to have been able to hold this event in the current climate and hope it was a great way for these teams to kick-off their season.

We also want to thank the players, coaches, and families for respecting the protocols that we had to put in place to ensure we all stay healthy and safe. We had very few issues throughout the weekend and that can only be attributed to the leadership of the programs, and the understanding of the parents, players, and families.

Video highlights from this weekend can be seen in our Instagram Stories Highlights at www.instagram.com/nghlhockey .

This year’s division winners were:

12U RED Springfield Jr Thunderbirds
12U BLUE Lady Boston Baked Beans
14U RED Connecticut Northern Lights
14U BLUE Rome Girls Hockey
16U RED Bay State Breakers
16U BLUE New England Wildcats
19U RED Niagara Purple Eagles
19U BLUE Connecticut Ice Cats

Even before COVID-19 came to town, sports gear was a breeding ground for bacteria and odors. With a return to sports on the horizon, it’s never been more important to get into a routine of cleaning and disinfecting your child’s equipment.

Washing Sports Clothes and Uniforms

Unless your child is wrestling in ancient Greece, they are likely wearing some sort of uniform to game and practices. Use the following tips from The New York Times to thoroughly disinfect and sanitize sports clothes:

• More detergent doesn’t mean cleaner clothes. In fact, using too much detergent and laundry boosters like fabric softener can lead to a build-up that actually absorbs more odor.
• Throw a cup of white vinegar in with a half-dose of laundry detergent to eliminate odors and wash away build-up.
• Wash sports clothes inside out in cold water with sports specific detergents. Toss in a quarter or half cup of vinegar or baking soda for the particularly pungent loads.
• Air dry elastic clothing like football and baseball pants.

Washing Pads and Gear

The best way to maintain sterile, odorless gear is to spray and dry it regularly after use. However, everything needs a periodic deep clean.

• Spray gear with Force of Nature, Clear Gear, or a similar product on the EPA’s Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) list.
  Allow the gear to air dry.
• Pads and bags can be washed in the washing machine using the detergent guidelines above. Use gentle settings on top load washers, as the mixer may knick or damage equipment. Set the washer for a large load, pre-wash, and heavy soil level.
• Wash football shoulder pads in a pillowcase with the open end tied.
• Do not machine dry sports equipment as it can lead to warping and malfunction. Instead, hang dry or place on a rack and use a fan to circulate airflow.
• Helmets: wipe down and spray regularly, paying close attention to chin guards. To deep clean, fill a bathtub with warm water and baby shampoo and use a sponge or toothbrush to scrub nooks and crannies.
• Skates, cleats, and shoes: Spray and air dry immediately after use. Insoles can be removed and machine washed, and periodically replaced as needed.

Sterilizing Equipment

Some sports require athletes to touch and share the same equipment. If that’s the case, it’s important to have a plan in place to sterilize equipment and the players using it.

• Encourage players to properly wash hands before and after practice, and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the dugout, on the bench, or in the locker room.
• Use sprays and wipes on the EPA’s Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) list or make your own CDC recommended cleaning solution: 5 tablespoons (⅓ cup) bleach per gallon of water.
• Per CDC COVID-19 guidelines: “Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces … at least daily, or between uses as much as possible. Use of shared objects and equipment (e.g., balls, bats, gymnastics equipment) should be limited, or cleaned between use by each individual if possible.”
• Reduce the need for shared equipment by encouraging each athlete to use their own batting helmets, balls, bats water bottles, towels, etc.
• Clearly label all gear to avoid mix-ups.

Designate a parent volunteer to frequently disinfect shared items at games and practices.

Repost from SportsEngine. Written by Sam Wigness, Contributor at SportsEngine Inc.

TOP TEN (and more!) SHOOTOUTS!

The word for this 2019-20 season is undeniably SHOOTOUTS! Take a look at some of our top shootouts of the season!

We know that everyone across the nation has been facing a difficult challenge with the coronavirus pandemic.  In this climate, we know hockey may not be your first thought but attached is our March 2020 newsletter highlighting events from 2019-2020, announcing new members (more to come), and outlining a tentative showcase schedule for the 2020-2021 season.  We hope that this provides a welcome distraction at this stressful time.  

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this virus and we appreciate the rink owners, programs, the various districts, USA Hockey, in addition to those who are on the front line working to contain the coronavirus.

Stay healthy. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other.

NGHL Newsletter March 2020

THE NGHL IS THRILLED TO SHARE THAT THE CT NORTHERN LIGHTS WILL JOIN THE LEAGUE FOR THE 2020-21 SEASON.  

The CT Northern Lights is the only all-girls ice hockey Tier 1 and Tier 2 hockey program in Northern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. The program is committed to supporting the development of young women as athletes, leaders, and members of society through a competitive hockey environment that instills life values such as teamwork, sportsmanship, a consistent work ethic, and respect for self and others.

The Connecticut Northern Lights Girls Hockey program was founded in 2000 as part of the Avon-Canton-Farmington-Youth-Hockey organization. Connecticut Northern Lights Girls Hockey, then known as Avon Girls Hockey, had only one U-15 team in the 2000 – 2001 inaugural season. In the 2002 – 2003 season, Northern Lights also added an additional U-15 team and launched the Learn-to-Play and Learn-to-Skate (Foundation) program which was the first team called the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights became a standalone program in the 2003-2004 season. The program moved to the Newington Arena in Newington, CT for the 2003 – 2004 season and started a U-12 team and also a High School team. In the 2004 – 2005 season Northern Lights moved to the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury, CT, where the Northern Lights call home today. The Northern Lights continues to grow and offer programs to girls of all ages and abilities throughout the state of Connecticut.

The Lights have a great history of players who have gone on to play college hockey. Below is a list of their most recent alumnae and some of their current players who have college commits.

• Grace Melanson – Nichols College (2020)
• Nora Birmingham – Assumption College (2020)
• Kori Bartko – Western New England (2020)
• Samantha Kulman – Kings College (2020)
• Ellen Cook – Utica College (2020)
• Maddy Manser – Nichols College (2020)
• Carly Duval – Assumption College (2020)
• Samantha Ostrowski – Sacred Heart University (2020)
• Abby Harris – Manhattanville College (2020)
• Jill Croteau – Western New England (2020)
• Julia Swanson – Assumption College (2020)
• Andy Chancio – UNE tryout offer (2020)
• Luci Alissi – Keene State (2020)
• Audrey McMillen – Bentley College (2020)
• Brigitte Goeler-Slough – Wesleyan University (2019)
• Aishling Cavanaugh – Salve Regina (2019)
• Meghan Stepka – University of Rhode Island (2019)
• Katheryn Pettibone – Nichols (2019)
• Kathleen Olmstead – Grand Valley State University (2019)
• Jacqueline Howlett – Anna Maria College (2019)
• Kelly Worthington – R.I.T. Club (2019)
• Georgia Kraus – Dartmouth (2019)
• Lindsay Madigan – University of Rhode Island (2019)
• Cassie Nevers – Sacred Heart (2019)
• Meredith Mack – University of Delaware (2019)
• Allison DiPrato – Lebanon Valley College (2019)
• Maya Borden – UMass Amherst (2019)
• Tori Amaral – Salve Regina (2019)
• Nikki Herz – UMass Amherst (2019)
• Rachael DeLong – Sacred Heart University (2019)
• Holley Riva – Elmira (2019)
• Stephanie Nevers – Trinity College (2019)

Girl’s ice hockey is far from being sleepless in Seattle.  Just ask the Seattle Junior Lady Admirals.  The National Girls Hockey League is proud to announce its newest member in the Seattle Junior Lady Admirals for the 2020-2021 Season!

The Seattle Junior Hockey Association is a coed club founded in 1974. The association began hosting all-girl teams in the mid-1990’s.  The program has been home to a number of accomplished female hockey players, including:

• Kelly Stephens – 2006 USA Olympic Bronze Medal Winner and Gopher Grad
• Brooke Whitney – 2002 Patty Kazmaier Award Winner and Northeastern Alum
• Molly Doner  – 2011 National Champion at University of Wisconsin
• Lexi Bender – Current Professional with Boston Pride and Boston College Grad

The amount of registered USA girl hockey players has tripled in the state of Washington over the last 4 years.  With the coming of the newest NHL franchise, the number of girls in the region is expected to triple in size again.  Seattle Junior is working closely with the new NHL Seattle franchise to provide opportunities for girls to play hockey and just recently hosted a try hockey for free in collaboration with the NHL Seattle organization.

In addition, to growing the game for the girls, Seattle Junior will be the host of the Pacific Districts female divisions including teams from California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska this year and Seattle Junior has been host to both an all-girls Veterans Day tournament and Washington State Female District camp.

The Lady Admirals play local coed teams for league play and participate in a number of all-girls tournaments during the season.  The NGHL will allow the Lady Admirals to play on a national stage with some of the best teams in the country while still having time to play league games locally.

“Seattle Junior is excited to join the NGHL league.  We are committed to the growth of girls hockey and giving our girls the opportunities to play nationally that we believe the NGHL will provide.” – Nick Fouts, Seattle Junior Athletic Director.

The National Girls Hockey League is proud to announce its new member in the LA Lions for the 2020-2021 Season!

The LA Lions is an all-girls hockey club founded by Becki Winckler and Megan Rivera (BC alum and former LA King employee) and operated by the LA Jr. Kings. It started with a small core group of girls that were playing on different boys travel teams. This group had all been on the same in-house team previously for several seasons and had developed a special bond. 

 Becki was instrumental in working to keep the team together, amidst doubt that it could not be done successfully, due to past attempts that failed. Gaining the support of the LA Junior Kings, the young LA Lions teams entered their first tournament over Labor Day weekend in 2015 as a single Mite team and placed 3rd out of 7 against all-boys teams ( having never practiced as a team). The families were ecstatic, and Becki knew this team had something special. This began the grassroots efforts to grow girls hockey in LA. The Lions started having open clinics and pounding the pavement getting the word out looking for girls. Within a month they had about 25 girls. Shortly after, they were branded by the NHL Club, LA Kings. The Kings provided an amazing name and logo and announced the new program during a game at the Staples Center. 

While the La Lions flagship girls team at the Peewee level is successful on the ice, they continue to face struggles as a new club. Retention, travel and the cost to play are the three main hurdles they hope to overcome as they continue to grow. There is not a local “girls league” to play in so their weekly games are against boys teams and most of their teams don’t typically experience success in this model.  GM, Tori Pizzuto and Becki are constantly trying to find a solution for and also change/create the culture in LA for girls hockey. ”We think the NGHL is a crucial step in that direction and supports our vision. We are extremely excited about next year!!”

This year for Thanksgiving weekend, the National Girls Hockey League hosted the first annual Country Classic Showcase in Nashville, Tennessee. The event brought 28 teams of which 24 American Teams and 4 Canadian Teams to Nashville for the weekend where they competed at the Ford Ice Centre in Bellevue and Antioch, Tennessee. 

The three-day event showed great competition across the U12, U14, U16, and U19 divisions. 

Congratulations to the 2019 winners of each division!

2019 Country Classic Winners: 

• 19U Division – Dallas Stars Elite 
• 17U Division – Winnipeg Avros 
• 14U Red Division – Burlington Barracuda 
• 14U Blue Division – Florida Alliance 
• 12U Division – Team Illinois 

In addition to the youth event, the Country Classic also played host to the D1 Girls College Showcase which saw Harvard, Boston College, Minnesota, and Wisconsin compete in a 2 game showcase. Each game saw an amazing turn out with over 800 fans composed of both NGHL member teams and local hockey fans enjoying a great display of Women’s Division 1 Hockey.  A special thank you to members of each college team who took some time to meet with NGHL players post-game! The meet and greet was a memorable experience for all youth players who were able to attend! 

College Showcase Results 

Friday, November 29th, 2019 

• Wisconsin (5) vs. Harvard (1) 
• Boston College (2) vs. Minnesota (2) 

Saturday, November 30th, 2019 

• Wisconsin (5) vs. Boston College (3) 
• Minnesota (4) vs. Harvard (0)

In addition to the hockey, Nashville had many sights to offer our families including Music Row, honky-tonk bars, great shopping and of course chicken and biscuits!  

We want to thank the Nashville Predators and the Ford Ice Centre Staff for their support for our girls’ and women’s hockey events.  Lastly, we want to give a big thank you to all the teams and their families who traveled to Nashville over the holiday weekend and made this event such a success! 

We hope you’ll join us next year as we return to Nashville, November 27-29, 2020!

The NGHL works to put in place quality events for girls hockey programs across the country. Our goal is to support a healthy environment for our member’s teams to thrive. We know that hockey requires a large commitment from both the player and their families, and we want to thank you for your commitment.

As we end the first half of our inaugural season, we’d like to share our first NGHL Newsletter with you. Click here to read, download and share

If you’re interested in joining the NGHL contact us at info@nghlhockey.com