February 15th 2008 - by Leslie Mooney & Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber
Girls, are you interested in playing hockey? Come out for the Girls Introduction to Hockey Program on March 29th and Sun. March 30th at the Forum at Fishers Ice Arena. For more information check out the Fishers Youth Hockey League Website at eteamz.com/fishersyouthhockey.
Claire Heger, 9, has been playing hockey since the age of 5 and frequently has to explain that it is indeed ICE hockey, not field hockey that is her love. Although there has been a surge of girls and women playing hockey in the US, in many communities it is still rare to see girls out on the ice. The numbers of girls and women registered thru USA Hockey has increased from about 10,000 in 1993 to over 45,000 in 2003. The largest group has been in the 10 and under division as girls start playing earlier and perhaps get their friends to join them. Like many girls who play, Claire started because she had an older brother who played and she also lived in Northern Minnesota where most kids enjoyed the outdoor skating rinks all winter. She put her first pair of figure skates on at 2 and quickly progressed into hockey skates at age 3. Her older brother started when he was 4 and while he went to practice she passed the time learning to skate on the outdoor rink.
After moving to Indiana in 2004, Claire decided she wanted to play on a hockey team like her brother. Claire started in a youth program where she was the only girl on the team. She started off on a house team and moved to an All Star team the second year. While this was lots of fun, she wished more girls played the game.
In 1998, the Indy Stars, a girl’s developmental team was created. The all girls team grew to include GU12, GU16 and GU19 Teams. Being parent driven, the program experienced great highs and some lows. Under the Indianapolis Youth Hockey Association the girls competed in the Girls Central Hockey League (GCHL) out of Chicago. In 2003 and 2004, theU15/ U16 Indy Stars Girls Team won the USA Hockey Mid-American District Tournament and won a spot in the USA Hockey’s National Tournament being one of the 12 best teams in the nation!
In 2004, the IndyStars became the Heartland Select Team in an effort to provide an opportunity for girls from the surrounding states to play on a competitive team. As the only US team in an international competition, it shocked the nation by wining the International Silversticks Girls PeeWee B Division.
In 2007 the IndyStars are back as a GU 14 team. The hardworking players range in age from 9 to 14 and come from all over the Indianapolis region. Most of the players also play on other youth teams as well and the team welcomes new hockey playing girls to the team. Even if you are just thinking about playing or are considering giving Ice Hockey a try, this is the team for you! The Indy Stars are a developmental team aimed at providing an excellent opportunity for girls to learn the game and to play and support each other! . Some players have a few years of experience playing while others are brand new to the sport of hockey. The Indy Stars are part of the Midwest Girls Hockey League and one weekend a month play other girls teams from Columbus, OH, Cincinnati, OH, N. Kentucky, Nashville, TN and Fort Wayne, IN. The Indy Stars practices weekly on Thursday evenings at Pan Am Plaza. The Indy Stars will host a girls GU 14 tournament January 26th and 27th, with games taking place at Ellenberger Ice Arena and Pan Am Plaza.
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