October 17, 2021 IIHF
by Martin Merk
Turkey: Istanbul
It wasn’t big due to Covid-19 restrictions but Turkey had it’s World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend event with ten participants organized by Istanbul Paten Sporlari Dernegi. The participant were between 5 and 15 years old.
“We are happy to make it possible that ice hockey meets with the girls, and make them to experience the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend spirit even at micro-level during the pandemic,” said Merve Tunali, the club’s president and coach.
Newcomers and figure skaters came to the Silivrikapi ice rink and learned how the WGIHW is celebrated globally. The new players learned about the basics from current players.
“We think that the WGIHW may have a huge impact in countries like Turkey where hockey is not actually a part of the culture since it enables the people to visualize, see, and experience ice hockey where most of them don’t have this chance most of the time,” Tunali said. “Some people just say that they don’t want ice hockey for their girls – and we think that it is mostly because they don’t know it. When you explain and just simply demonstrate it in such an event the ice breaks in a very easy way.”
And that’s what was done with one or the other parent at Sunday’s event in Istanbul. Also on the ice there were some family bonds as current player Melis (8) was paired together with her younger sister Selen (5
Norway: Haugesund
The Haugesund IK organized a WGIHW event with 30 persons from 4-year-olds to adults.
After getting helped with the own or borrowed equipment the women and girls from the club helped the newcomers who were divided into different groups according to their experience.
“The reactions from the participants were overall positive. We perceived that the girls and women participating were having fun on the ice. There were also new participants that wanted to come back to the club and start playing ice hockey,” said Tore Lund, board member of the club. “We hope that the impact from the World Girls´ Ice Hockey Weekend event will result in more girls wanting to start playing ice hockey. Our girls’ players in the club are a minor group, and we would love to see this group expand. We also want to expand our women’s team, and that is why we also invited women to join the event.”
Slovakia: Michalovce
No less than 104 girls from the age of 4 to 14 came to the event organized by the women’s hockey club of Michalovce.
The program on the ice lasted 75 minutes and included shot on the net, collecting colourful pucks and balls on ice, touch-last, obstacle course, relay and the beginners learned skating with tools. After the event there were gifts such as bracelet, magnets, bags, pucks, juice, bottles and a certificate.
“It was a great event and the girls and parents wished to have more events like this. The girls were happy about the jersey and kept it on for the way home,” said club manager Jozef Kuzma. The goal was to get more girls in the club and some already signed up after the event.
Iceland: Reykjavik
Another World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend event in Reykjavik took place on Sunday at Egilsholl organized by the Fjolnir ice hockey club and 40 participants came from 3 to 32 years of age.
During the hour-long ice sessions the girls and women went through four station: skating, falling & stopping, passing and finally playing. After the ice session and the big group photo the girls were offered hot chocolate, home-made crepes and cruller.
“The reactions were overall positive. The girls had a lot of fun. Parents and players were surprised about the turnout. We are hoping more girls will sign up for our girls practice on Sunday and in the future to have a U16 girls’ team,” said girls’ hockey coach Laura-Ann Murphy.
Slovakia: Spisska Nova Ves
Local women’s hockey club HC Osy Spisska Nova Ves welcomed 85 girls from 3 to 14 years of age to their ice rink. After getting some information from coach Barbora Kezmarska they took the ice in different groups at five stations.
The kids and also the parents enjoyed the opportunity after a tough period due to Covid-19.
“We would like to thank all the girls who came to the ice and showed what ice stadium, and hockey should look like. Their main features are smile, joy, laughter, good mood and courage,” Kezmarska said.
“This year’s World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend in Slovakia was highly promoted by the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, which brought large attendances. Hopefully it will bring good results in the number of new players in next years as well as it will bring women’s hockey closer to the general public,” said club manager Tomas Cerny.
Slovakia: Kosice
Kosice this year joined the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend. HC Kosice and the women’s hockey club Ice Dream invited girls from the area to get to know ice hockey better.
“32 girls accepted the invitation and they enjoyed this day with coaches, hockey players of Ice Dream and former Olympians Barbora Brem, Andrea Koll and young hockey representative Nina Hudak. We believe that they liked it and that they will find their way to ice hockey,” said Eva Molekova of Ice Dreams.
Russia: various
The clubs in Russia’s Women’s Hockey League always try to reach out to the next generation during World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend and this year was no exception. From anniversary celebrations at one of the country’s best-known women’s teams, to a first-time event in Chelyabinsk, which joins the league this season, 2021 was another busy year.
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USA: Las Vegas NV
There’s nothing quite like a party in Las Vegas. Just ask the girls who enjoyed the local edition of World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend, organized in partnership with the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights.
The 40 participants, ages 6-12, started off with a street hockey game in front of City National Arena, the practice facility of the Vegas Golden Knights. Next up was an on-ice dance party, where the girls skated around to their favourite songs for an hour with a DJ and light show.
“This event helps build a culture here for girls’ hockey,” said coach Sheri Hudspeth, the girls’ hockey program manager for the Jr. Golden Knights. “People walking by saw the event and how many girls we had playing hockey. Some stopped to ask questions about the program. Visibility will help with registration. The event had a positive impact on our community by offering more opportunities for girls to participate in ice hockey.”
The festivities finished with dinner for all participants at Mackenzie River Pizza inside the arena. The girls cheered for the Golden Knights as they battled the L.A. Kings on TV.
Hudspeth, who played NCAA Division I hockey as a forward with Minnesota State, added: “Exposure is so important to us in a warm-weather state like Nevada where hockey is fairly new.”
Slovakia: Ziar nad Hronom
13 girls came to the Ice Stadium in Ziar nad Hronom and created a good atmosphere from the beginning. The organizers first talked with the girls about hockey, then helped them wear skates and put on helmets. Many activities were planned for them on the ice and at the end the coaches played ice hockey with girls before they got some presents. The club hopes that with this event some of the girls will stay in hockey and join the club.
Sweden: Enkoping
Enkopings HC had a full program for girls during three days as part of the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend. On Friday they had free entrance to the game of the men’s senior team before newcomers and members of the girls’ team hit the ice themselves on Saturday.
Seven players from the junior girls’ team (14-18) were coaching the younger players. 35 girls were on the ice for two one-hour sessions with a barbeque break between. Among them were seven beginners from 7 to 14 years of age. Later the younger girls had the chance to watch the season opener of the junior team.
“The event was greatly appreciated by the beginners, as well as the existing players, that got an event were older players participated as role models,” said Nina Lindstrom from the club and mother of two hockey girls.
“The event was mostly organized by parents and team leaders of one of the girls’ teams in the club, and the hockey club was thankful for the drive and organisation of the event. It enlightens girls’ hockey and gives us an opportunity to draw more girls to the sport, as well as empowering the girls already playing and hopefully keep them playing in the future as well.”
Slovakia: Presov
The women’s hockey club Sarisanka Presov welcomed 51 girls who were divided into five teams to play various games on the ice with coaches and players of the club.
“The atmosphere was very good, and the parents said that they will bring their children next time too,” said club manager Jaroslav Sabol. The girls also had the opportunity to skate with former Olympian Petra Jurco, who was available for a photo and autograph session with the girls.
Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar
For the first time Mongolia hosted a World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend event at the newly opened Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar with the first indoor ice rink in the country’s hockey history.
The hockey academy of long-time national team player Mergen Arslan hosted the event despite difficulties due to Covid-19 measures and nine girls aged 5 to 10 came.
The ice time for the girls was two hours on late Saturday morning with a skating lesson and few games on the ice.
“It was so much fun and the new girls and others were so happy. In Mongolia hockey is only known as a men’s sport but the parents were positively surprised how much girls also love hockey,” Arslan said. “When the girls are playing, a lot of parents get involved… And when parents get involved, we have a chance to develop hockey in Mongolia.”
Slovakia: Povazska Bystrica
The youth hockey club of Povazska Bystrica organized an event on Saturday late afternoon and with 49 participants had more girls than expected.
“The Youth club coaches of prepared for the girls a very interesting program. The result was excited girls and satisfied parents. At the end girls got certificates, presents and hockey jerseys. The ambassador of the event was former Olympian Iveta Fruhauf. She was a great inspiration for the girls, for what I would like to thank her,” said club manager Stefan Konecny.
Slovakia: Trencin
Many newcomers came to the Pavol Demitra ice rink in Trencin. Of the 94 participants at the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend 89 have not been registered with any hockey club.
“The event had a very positive response from the girls. The girls really enjoyed skating with our former Olympian Iveta Fruhauf and with our team of coaches. The girls were very happy when they got a new hockey jersey, puck, bracelet and bags with the logo of Hockey Slovakia. They can’t wait for the next event,” said coach Milan Stuhl.
Slovakia: Zvolen
The women’s hockey club from Zvolen took part for the first time. “We didn’t know what to expect therefore we prepared thoroughly. We expected 19 girls, but 29 girls came,” said head coach David Sprusansky. “At the beginning we had nice visit – first steps on the ice with mascots. After this we had ice session with girls. At the end they got sweets, certificates and presents for their special day on ice.”
Romania: Bucharest
25 girls and young women from the age of 3 to 16 came to the ice rink in Otopeni near Bucharest for the annual event hosted by women’s hockey club Triumf Bucharest.
Due to the Covid-19 situation and strict protocols the organizers were limited with the number of people at the arena but made the best out of the situation and the participants had a good time on the ice.
Australia: Melbourne
Due to the lockdown there was no on-ice action in Australia this year. However, the Melbourne Chargers Ice Hockey still had their event on Sunday with a video conference that included 10 participants aged 15 to 47.
Players from the Melbourne area had the chance to share their experience with three guests: Tara Chisholm, head coach of the Canadian women’s para ice hockey team; Rylie Padjen, captain of the Australian women’s ice hockey national team; and her dad Rocky Padjen, the coach of the original women’s national team.
“Hopefully the girls took something away from the Zoom discussion to think about in relation to their hockey, but more specifically to think about with regards to their return to play post lockdown. We are scheduled to open up and be permitted to skate in two weeks from now,” said Emma Poynton, President of the club.
Australia: Melbourne
Due to the lockdown there was no on-ice action in Australia this year. However, the Melbourne Chargers Ice Hockey still had their event on Sunday with a video conference that included 10 participants aged 15 to 47.
Players from the Melbourne area had the chance to share their experience with three guests: Tara Chisholm, head coach of the Canadian women’s para ice hockey team; Rylie Padjen, captain of the Australian women’s ice hockey national team; and her dad Rocky Padjen, the coach of the original women’s national team.
“Hopefully the girls took something away from the Zoom discussion to think about in relation to their hockey, but more specifically to think about with regards to their return to play post lockdown. We are scheduled to open up and be permitted to skate in two weeks from now,” said Emma Poynton, President of the club.
MORE TO COME…..STAY TUNED
