On Sunday, 9-year-old Samantha McNamee from North Bellmore stepped onto the ice at UBS Arena, feeling both excited and a bit overwhelmed by the huge crowd surrounding her and nearly 400 other local girls.
“It was a thrill to be on an NHL rink. Things have been going pretty well this past year,” McNamee, who’s been skating for about ten months, shared.
The occasion marked the Islanders’ “Girls Hockey Weekend,” where former U.S. Olympian Erica Lawler, the LIU women’s hockey team, and Isles alumnus Aaron Assham were on hand to inspire the next generation and fuel their passion for hockey.
“It was awesome learning from real players,” McNamee noted, recalling her first experience with a hockey stick at last year’s smaller event.
“I know I can learn a lot from them,” she added.
Break the Ice
Lawler expressed her delight at seeing so many girls eager to try hockey this time around. Starting at the youth level is especially meaningful for her. The 2010 Vancouver silver medalist shared how intimidating it had been to play as “one of the only girls among a bunch of guys” in her youth.
“It’s really wonderful to see the game expanding here on the island…and to witness girls supporting each other while they play,” Lawler remarked, emphasizing her commitment to cultivating a positive culture.
“Whenever I have the opportunity to run clinics like this, I make sure to fit it into my schedule,” she said.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Jocelyn Cummings, the Islanders’ senior director of hockey development, who explained that the aim is to “break down all barriers” and reassure girls they are welcome on the ice, whether competing against boys or not.
“We’re starting to see progress with more school teams,” she noted. “It begins at the grassroots level, and as interest grows among girls, more organizations will explore launching girls-only teams.”
Blade of Glory
This year has also been quite notable for the hockey world, notably with the Quad-Country Game in February catching attention. Closer to home, there’s been much excitement surrounding the Islanders’ top draft pick, Matthew Schaefer.
McNamee’s sister Sarah mentioned that Schaefer was her favorite player and that his presence inspired her to take the ice for the first time on Sunday.
“It was fun…especially when he scored,” remarked a 6-year-old boy who saw Schaefer net his first NHL goal against the Capitals.
Sarah diligently practiced the drills that Lawler taught, as the girls were split into different groups based on age and skill for exercises like skating and puck passing.
Matt Herr, NHL’s senior director of industrial growth and youth hockey, is optimistic about the future for Nassau County.
“Events like this create excitement in the community, and people start to take notice,” said Herr, who also skated alongside the kids. “While it takes time, activities like this help to build a commitment for the long haul.”
That sentiment is shared by the McNamee sisters and many other girls on Long Island aspiring for success.
“We practice a lot now,” Samantha said. “We really want to keep improving.”
