Fourteen-year-old Anniston Yoder’s journey in ice hockey began four years ago at a frozen pond in Hillside Park, South Abington Township. Today, she plays as a wing for the Wilkes-Barre Jr. Pens co-ed youth team. Reflecting on her experience, she remarked, “I saw that there weren’t a lot of girls, so I thought that this was a great opportunity for me to do my best.”
Surge in Interest for Girls’ Hockey
In the wake of the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team’s thrilling gold medal victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Junior Pens Girls Try Hockey for Free event at the Toyota SportsPlex saw a remarkable turnout. Sixty-three girls registered for the event, a significant increase from the 25 participants at the last event, according to Coach Bobbi Fedele.
“Just seeing this overwhelming response and having to open up registration for extra people, even though we don’t really have enough equipment, was really overwhelming and just a great thing to see,” Fedele commented. “Hockey is growing in Pennsylvania, and we want girls to be a part of that.”
Learning the Ropes on the Ice
The event, attended by girls aged 4 to 18, featured a mix of beginners in bike helmets and more experienced players in full hockey gear. Guided by certified coaches and volunteers like Anniston, participants rotated through various stations to learn fundamental skills such as passing, shooting, and stick handling. A designated red zone provided a safe space for those needing a break from the ice.
The ultimate aim of the Junior Pens is to inspire enough girls to field their own team. “Right now, we’re looking to have a 14 and 16 and under girls team to compete in a league called … the Mid Atlantic Women’s Hockey Association,” Fedele stated. Learn more about the Junior Pens.
Engaging Young Aspirants
Among the participants were the Mahaffey sisters from Sugarloaf Township, skating with their father and uncle, both experienced hockey players. Abby, the youngest, was trying skating for the first time, with aspirations to become a hockey player. “I mean, sometimes when I get better at this,” she said.
Caitrin, the oldest at 12, is already seasoned with five years of travel hockey experience. She encourages girls interested in hockey, stating, “There’s in-house, there’s so many clinics like stuff like this that they can do to see if they really enjoy it.”
The Case for a Girls Team
Anniston Yoder, who volunteered to teach younger girls, emphasized the sense of community in hockey. “And just become like one family, one team,” she expressed. “That’s how I feel about the sport myself. But we really need a girls team. So this is great.”
Fedele, a seasoned player and coach, highlighted the broader life skills hockey imparts. “We’re always teaching our girls they can do hard things, and once they build this confidence of skating and playing hockey, it just adds another tool to their toolbox to become a great leader, a great friend, you know, not just in sports, but in their whole life,” she explained.
