Play Like A Girl!

Volume 2, Number 1
Play Like A Girl is an electronic newsletter created as a means of direct communication between the Girls'/Women's Section of USA Hockey and its members. We encourage you to distribute this newsletter to as many people in your association as possible, and encourage them to sign up for their own copy of Play Like A Girl. If you do not receive this newsletter directly from USA Hockey and would like to, please click here to subscribe.

NATIONAL NEWS

OneGoal Market Blitzes
OneGoal has selected two regions to help promote the growth of girls' hockey – the Atlantic District (Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey) and Florida. In those areas, market blitzes were being conducted by hosting "Try Hockey for Free" girls' clinics with the goal of inviting potential players and their parents to the rink.

The Atlantic District clinic was held Oct. 23 and the Florida event took place on Nov. 7. 135 Girls attended Atlantic Girls Hockey Day and 114 Girls attended Girls Hockey Day in Florida! For photos of these events, please visit "Come Play Youth Hockey" on Facebook. For a recap of each event, please visitgirlshockeydayinatlantic.com and girlshockeydayinflorida.com. If you would like information on hosting a similar event, please click here to download an informational .pdf.

2010 Women's Four Nations Cup Underway
The Women's Four Nations Cup is taking place Nov. 9-13, 2010 at the Mile One Centre in St. John's, N.L. Click here to view Team USA's schedule and roster. FASTHockey will webcast all games on a pay-per-view basis at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com. Team USA coverage throughout the week can be found at usahockey.com and live scoring updates for all U.S. games will also be available at Twitter.com/USAHockeyScores.

USA Hockey Introduces Red, White and Blue Hockey
USA Hockey's American Development Model initiative has introduced the Red, White and Blue Hockey program. The program promotes the integration of cross-ice practices and games into youth hockey in order to raise the level of creativity among players, increase participation and create a positive environment for kids to learn and play. Many resources are available for local associations interested in learning how to grow and develop the game. For a detailed brochure outlining the program,click here. In addition to the brochure, a video featuring prominent USA Hockey figures can be seen here.

Slogans Needed
Members of the girls'/women's section are assisting USA Hockey's membership development department in creating a female-specific marketing campaign and reviewing the Come Play Youth Hockey toolkit. The toolkit will address all female players and we are looking for some creative slogans for 4-8 year olds, 9-14 year olds, 15-19 year olds and women. If you would like to share your ideas, please send slogans for the age groups mentioned above to Margo Dreyer.

Women's National University Team Headed to Turkey
This January, the U.S. Women's National University Team will compete in the 25th Winter World University Games in Erzurum, Turkey. Comprised of 22 players from around the American Collegiate Hockey Association, this will be the first time a women's team has represented the United States at the games. During the Olympic-style competition, the women will compete with collegiate athletes from around the world including Canada, China, Finland and Turkey.

The team was selected during the USA Hockey Winter World University Evaluation Camp in Grand Rapids, Mich., this past August. Forty-five women from teams associated with the ACHA tried out for the team and the final roster includes players from eleven states. For the full U.S. roster, visit usahockey.com.

Women's National Festival
The 2010 USA Hockey Women's National Festival took place from Aug. 13-21 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., and featured 64 players on three teams, including 12 members of the silver medal-winning 2010 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. The Festival consisted of daily practices, scrimmages, testing and off-ice training.

The three teams competed against each other for the first half of the Festival, before the U.S. Women's Under-22 Select Team departed for Toronto to play three games against Canada in the 2010 Under-22 Series. Meanwhile, the U.S. Under-18 Select Team remained in Lake Placid to face off against Canada in the 2010 Under-18 Series and won the three-game series for the first time since it began in 2007. For more information, click here.

DISTRICT NEWS

ATLANTIC DISTRICT

MAWHA to Host 10U Girls' Jamborees
The Mid-Atlantic Women's Hockey Association Hockey is hosting two 10U girls' jamborees during the 2010-11 hockey season – the first was held on Oct. 23 in conjunction with Atlantic Girls' Hockey Day and the next one will take place on Feb. 12 as part of the region's celebration of Hockey Weekend Across America. Girls ages 10 and under from throughout the area are invited to participate. MAWHA is currently seeking a host organization and rink for the event.

In the spirit of promoting girls' ice hockey, MAWHA has asked for the cooperation of all Atlantic and Southeastern District member clubs, either in organizing a team, working with another club to establish a team or arranging Mite and Squirt schedules to avoid conflicts with the event.

MAWHA Announces Scholarship Awards
Two high-school seniors – Stephanie Bardell of the Lady Patriots and Jenna Vanderlinden of the New Jersey Selects – were selected as the first recipients of the $500 Paul Puchalik Book Grant Awards, as announced by the Mid-Atlantic Women's Hockey Association Scholarship Committee. The entire MAWHA organization is proud of the accomplishments, both in and out of the classroom, of all of the applicants.

Paul Puchalik, the first MAWHA Commissioner, passed away in 2009 after volunteering tirelessly on behalf of girls' and women's hockey. In Puchalik's memory, MAWHA encourages everyone to continue to be involved in female hockey and support the continuation of volunteer and community outreach activities.

MICHIGAN DISTRICT

Tournament News and Notes
The Michigan District is hosting the USA Hockey Girls' Tier I and Women's National Championships. Honeybaked Hockey is the host organization. Anyone wishing to volunteer for the championships may contact Joe Jones at the Honeybaked organization.

The 2nd Annual Manon Rheaume Invitational will take place Nov. 12-14 in Farmington Hills, Mich.

Growing the Game is Top Priority 
Growing the game is the focus for the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Girls'/Women's Committee, with a goal of putting more entry-level programs in place across the state. To host a Try Hockey for Free Clinic, please contact Patty Madden.

Upcoming Events Announced
February 21-27: Tier I Girls'/Women's State Tournament @ Taylor Sportsplex (Taylor, Mich.)
March 4-7: Tier II National Bound State Tournament @ Patterson Ice Center (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
April 1-3: USAH Women's National Champs. @ Onyx Ice Arena (Rochester, Mich.) & Suburban Ice (Macomb, Mich.)
April 6-10: USAH Girls' Tier I National Champs. @ Onyx Ice Arena (Rochester, Mich.) & Suburban Ice (Macomb, Mich.)
April 15-17: USAH Girl's Select Tryouts @ Patterson Ice Center (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

MID-AMERICAN DISTRICT

2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four Set for Erie
The Mercyhurst Lady Lakers will host the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four on March 18 and 20 at the Tullio Arena in Erie, Pa. More details on the event can be found in at frozenfourerie.com. Contact Yevet Anderson for team and ticket specials.

Put the Biscuit in the Net Program Still Cooking
The Put the Biscuit in the Net Program, a joint venture between USA Hockey and Girl Scouts is still putting biscuits in the net. Recently North Dakota held its first PBN, which was highly successful. To hold a PBN in your program, contact PBN ateriehockey@earthlink.net or click here.

Growing Strong in Mid-Am
The Mid-American District saw one of the nation's largest growth and retention rates in girls' hockey this year. Much of that is attributed to programs that implement the American Development Model format and offer fun and financially feasible programs that are female- and parent-friendly. Programs have been very successful, such as the North Pittsburgh Put the Biscuit in the Net and Girls' Learn to Play Hockey, as well as Timbit Minor Hockey in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

NEW YORK DISTRICT

Summer Zone Camps a Success
Over the course of the past summer, the New York State Amateur Hockey Association girls' program offered four regional skill development camps leading up to a skill development festival in Lake Placid, N.Y. Girls from all areas of the state participated in exciting, challenging and fun activities both on and off the ice. Participants had the chance to skate on the historic 1980 Rink and were housed and fed at the Olympic Training Center. Plans are well underway to hold the events again next year with an emphasis on implementing concepts of the American Development Model in the camp curriculum. All registered female hockey players may visit the NYSAHA website for more detailed camp information.

PACIFIC DISTRICT

Wine Tasting Tournament a Success
The Vacaville Ice Sports Arena in Vacaville, Calif., hosted the California Wine Tasting Tournament from Aug. 13-15. The tournament was divided into divisions, with 'We Should Be Irish' winning the silver division and 'Geisha Girls' capturing the top honor in the bronze division. The designated wine-tasting room at the rink hosted teams celebrating a victory, commiserating a loss or just establishing new friendships.

Team Orange from Madison, Wis., summed up its tournament experience: "We really enjoyed our California hockey experience. We enjoyed playing fast-paced games and were impressed by the caliber of our opponents. We came to have fun, make new friends, support our teammates and enjoy the Bay Area. Success was found in all areas."

WWFHA Participates in Girl Scout Event
The Western Washington Female Hockey Association joined local youth hockey associations to promote girls' hockey during the 2010 Girls Scouts of Western Washington's GirlsFest event at the Qwest Field Event Center on August 28. Over 10,000 girls from the Pacific Northwest attended the annual event that celebrated "everything cool about being a girl!" WWFHA worked with other associations to hand out free public skating passes, promote free learn to skate and play hockey events, provide information about each association, give girls a chance to try shooting a puck, show girls' hockey videos and more! WWFHA will also promoted the USA Hockey program specifically designed for Girl Scouts called, Put the Biscuit in the Net, where troop members learn to skate and play hockey.

Upcoming Events Announced
December 17-18: Alaska Affiliate Select Tryouts - Anchorage, Alaska 
February 25-27: Pacific District Women's Tournament - San Diego, Calif. 
March 3-6: Pacific District Girls' Tier I and II Tournament - Anaheim, Calif. 
March 30-April 3: USA Hockey Girls' Tier II National Championships - Anaheim, Calif. 
May 5-8: Pacific District Girls' Select Tryouts – Olympicview Arena- Mountlake Terrace, Wash.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

District Championship, Player Development Camp Dates Announced
The dates for the Rocky Mountain Girls'/Women's District Tournament will be March 3-6, 2011 at a site to be determined. Meanwhile, the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah, will host the Rocky Mountain District Player Development Camp from May 4-8, 2011.

SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT

Florida Girls' Hockey Day Held November 7
USA Hockey, the Tampa Bay Lightning, One Goal and the Girl Scouts hosted the first Florida Girls' Hockey Day on Nov 7. The St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, the Skatium in Fort Myers and Jacksonville Ice in Jacksonville each hosted a free event for beginning female players ages 4-10.

The session consisted of an introduction to the equipment, a learn-to-skate teaching session, and a short "game" for all participants. Brianne Mc Laughlin, U.S. Olympic silver medalist, was present at the St. Pete Times Forum to share her experiences as a female athlete. For more information, visit GirlsHockeyDayInFlorida.com.

North Carolina Teams Up for Breast Cancer Awareness 
To coincide with the first week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the Triangle Adult Hockey League Chiefs played Team CAHA from the Carolina Amateur Hockey Association in a benefit "Pink the Rink" charity hockey game. All proceeds from the game were donated to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.

As part of the event, both teams wore sponsored pink jerseys that players from each team sold to area businesses and individuals. Sponsors were able to choose a business or survivor name to have printed on the back of the jerseys, which were presented back to sponsors after the event. The event raised over $4,000 for the Jimmy V Foundation.

Upcoming U10 Girls' Jamboree Schedule
November 14: Extreme Ice Center (Indian Hills, N.C.) from 3:00-5:00 p.m.. For information, contact Joe Cardarelli
February. 12: York City Ice Rink (York, Pa.) - time TBD.

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