Most people are surprised to learn that women's ice hockey has a history that dates back more than 120 years, beginning with the earliest known film image of women involved in a game of ice hockey — featuring Isobel Preston, daughter of Lord Stanley Preston (of Stanley Cup lore), playing hockey on a flooded lawn in the winter of 1890. For more than a century, girls and women have pursued their interest in the sport, and today that segment continues to be one of the fastest-growing in USA Hockey.* Fast forward to this month's 2022 Beijing Olympics. On NBC, the gold medal women's hockey game between Canada and the United States averaged 3.54 million viewers, more than any NHL game televised in the U.S. this season. In addition, it was the second most-watched hockey game in the U.S. since 2019.* A look back at the history of the women's game reveals a fantastic evolution, with the best yet to come for females involved in the sport. It continues to be Sno-King's goal to support and grow girls' hockey participation, and we are excited to build on this year's momentum in our planning for the 2022-2023 season. With planning actively underway and some important girls' events ahead, we wanted to recognize and celebrate our players' and team successes.

With 135 registered girls, the Sno-King girls' program has grown into one of the largest in the state. We expanded the girls program this season to include our first 16U AA girls' team. With teams from 8U to 16U AA and opportunities for younger girls to dual roster on youth teams, the Sno-King girls saw massive growth in both skill and player development and are paving the way for future generations.

Next weekend, March 3-6th, please join us to cheer on Coach Doug Kirton and the 14U AA girls' team as they head up to Fairbanks, Alaska, for the Pacific District Regional Tournament. The team hopes to repeat last year's victory and head to USA Hockey Nationals in April. Also coming up March 18-20th in Anaheim is the WGHL Championship weekend where both 14U AA and 16U AA girls will be playing to secure division champions in their respective age groups. Good luck!

At the end of January at the PNAHA State Development Camp, 15 players from Sno-King were chosen to attend the USA Hockey Pacific District Regional Camp, more players than any other PNAHA association. Pacific District Camp is the first step toward advancing players to the USA Hockey National teams. Congratulations to 2008 players: Maealie Glanzer, Sydney Hermanson, Allison LeBret, Savanna Stamp; 2007 players: Esme LiChong, Darby Marshall, Brooklyn O'Brien, Olivia Tucker, Teagan Williamson; 2006 players: Christa Bashinski, Dani Layne Karinen, 2005 players: Gabriella deVita, Lily Kollodge, Julia Lyrintzis, Andrea Welliver. More info about PNAHA Girls Development camp is here: Girls/Women's Hockey (pnaha.com)

Sno-King also celebrated National Girls Hockey weekend in October at the T-Birds game at ShoWare. Several 8U/10U girls skated during intermission, 12U girls promoted an upcoming Try Hockey free event and 14U/16U girls sold 50/50 tickets to raise funds for the program and team travel expenses. Additionally, many Sno-King girls have volunteered to assist with our popular Try Hockey Free sessions which have seen a record interest in new girls trying the sport.

We are proud of all the achievements of the Sno-King girls' teams this year including all the incredible coaches and managers!

• 8U Major Girls team: playing in the Metropolitan Hockey League (MHL), with highlights including Dru Hammond Memorial Tournament and the upcoming Sno-King 8U Jamboree in March. Several 8U girls also participated in an intermission skate during a Kraken game at Climate Pledge Arena.
• 10U Girls: two teams, playing the MHL plus the girls are also split into two, skill-level Development teams for various local games and tournaments offering a variety of game play and development. Highlights include:
  • Team Tuttle - 14 MHL games (10:4:0) and undefeated against other local girls' teams
  • Team Rodgers - 13 MHL games (7:4:2) and undefeated against other local girls' teams
  • Team Rodgers placing 2nd in the Sno-King 10U Tournament
  • 10U A Girls team is also undefeated against other local all-girl A team, Sno-King 10U B Dev, and 8U Dev teams
• 12U Girls team: 14 MHL games (4-8-2). Highlights include a record of 2-1-0 vs. a local girls team in addition to participating in a total of 4 girls' tournaments and 2 co-ed tournaments including Winthrop.
• 14U AA Girls team: Ranked 6th in the National USA Hockey 14U Tier II Girls category with a record of 34-0-1*. 14U AA Division Leads in the Western Girls Hockey League (WGHL) with a record of 9-0-0, CCM Windy City Elite Tournament Champions and Seattle Fall Classic Tournament Champions.
• 16U AA Girls team: Leaders the Western Girls Hockey League (WGHL) North division with a record of 9-2-1 plus Seattle Fall Classic tournament champions. Ranked 44th in National USA Hockey 16U Tier II with a record of 14-10-1*

Mark your calendars for these important upcoming events including tryouts for these existing Girls Tier II teams (14UAA, 16UAA). Stay tuned for more girls' announcements to follow in the coming weeks.  

• Sno-King Annual awards – nominations close March 5th so be sure to nominate any players, coaches, or volunteers you think should be recognized!
• End of Season Celebration March 26 in Snoqualmie from 4-7 pm
• 12U Girls Jamboree weekend hosted at Sno-King March 26-27
• Spring Girls Development Series – Beginning the week of April 4th
• Ty Hennes Girls only camp – July 29-30
• Prep Camp dates are April 22-24 for 12U/14U/16U
• Tryout dates are April 29-May 1st 14U/16U

Please join us to congratulate and celebrate our players and teams for their incredible accomplishments this season plus join us to cheer on our girls as they prepare for some exciting games and tournaments ahead. We look forward to continuing to grow and enhance the girls program as we plan for the 2022-2023 season.

 Doug Kirton, Hockey Director and Coach for 14U AA and 16U AA Girls teams
(hockeydirector@snokinghockey.com)