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)