ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – This week, Premier Ice Prospects is hosting a camp for girls hockey players around late elementary school to middle school age. Former Olympian Bri McLaughlin is one of the many coaches helping the young players learn on and off ice skills.
While they’re far from their potential as hockey players, they’re already learning tons of things to set them up for bright future
But having a league of their own hasn’t always been the case for girl’s hockey.
“When we were little it was like, we want to play in the NHL! We didn’t have that option, I barely even knew about playing college hockey,” said McLaughlin.
But now – even for the youngest skaters – they’ve got their own leagues, teams, and even a high profile camp taking place this week at the Tim Horton’s Iceplex.
“I just want to improve on everything. I want to get to a really high level,” said camper Kenzie Brown.
“You learn how to stick handle, you know how to shoot, and I feel really comfortable with the coaches,” said camper Savina Veltri.
Of course, it’s easy to feel comfortable when you learn from the best, like two-time Olympian Bri McLaughlin, who had as long of a pro career as any women’s hockey player out there.
“Maybe it’s a little bit different than what they’ve been taught and you see this UGH in their face, they’re a little bit frustrated and then they put it together a little bit more, and they put it together a little bit more, and we’re finishing every single practice with a smile on our face and feeling a little bit better about that skillset,” said McLaughlin.
Campers have a week to really get better and improve on the ice. But off the ice it matters too. These girls are here to make friends with each other and also just improve character traits that matter in life in general.
“You see them on their boys teams and they have such a different personality when they get here, and they’re with their friends, and they get to learn together,” said McLaughlin.
“People can learn from each other by being good teammates, being nice to each other and picking each other up. People learn from that and then it can grow on,” said Brown.
And unlike when Bri McLaughlin started playing, there is a clear avenue to playing college hockey, and even in the pros.
“It’s an honor, cuz I get to play it as a kid and I want to play it through college hockey,” said Veltri.
“It makes me excited that there’s more women’s hockey in the world. Back then there was only boys hockey and there wasn’t a PWHL like there is now,” said Brown.
Making it to the PWHL isn’t too big of a dream. We just saw 2 Rochester natives get drafted to the league on Tuesday, in Haley Winn and Kiara Zanon. It looks like there could be more to follow in the future.
2x Olympian Bri McLaughlin shares wisdom at girl’s hockey camp in Rochester WHEC.com.
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