From the Green Mountains of Vermont to the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, girls flocked to their local rinks to celebrate their involvement in the game as part of IIHF World Girls Hockey Weekend, Oct. 12-13.
Joining in on the fun were past and present Olympians, who were more than willing to help lay the groundwork for the stars of tomorrow.
Members of the U.S. Women’s National Team turned out at Cairns Arena in South Burlington, Vt., to skate with more than 100 young females, while two-time Olympian Karyn Bye Dietz hosted a girls’ skills clinic in Hudson, Wis.
In all, there were 118 events as part of the celebration of female participation in the sport, which has consistently grown every year since women’s hockey was added as an Olympic sport in 1998.
The goal of the event, which began in 2011, is to grow the game through a variety of events that introduce beginners to basic skills in a fun environment and develop a lifelong love of the sport.