WELLS, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Saturday, more than 100 girls from across the U.P. hit the ice at the Wells Sports Complex for a series of hockey program tryouts.
The morning began with tryouts for the Michigan Made Selects summer program. Girls ran through drills and scrimmages, coached by six collegiate-level players.
More than 70 girls ranging from 10U to 16U put their skills to the test in hopes of making the Michigan Made Selects team, which will go to the USA International Cup Tournament in Minneapolis in August.
“I am incredibly overwhelmed with the response that we’ve gotten for this,” said Michigan Made Selects Coaching Coordinator Emily Marcotte. “I am overwhelmed and overjoyed that we have so many female young players that are wanting to take the next step in their development.”
“I really want to join this team so I can get better at hockey and I could learn to skate better,” said one young participant before heading onto the rink.
“I think it would be really fun to practice with other girls and play games with them,” another added.
In the afternoon, more than 30 teen female hockey players tried out for the Superior Icebreakers travel hockey team, which will play its inaugural season this fall.
“This is a great opportunity to bring competitive hockey back to the Upper Peninsula,” Superior Icebreakers Team Coordinator Tori Irving said. “A lot of the girls that play at a higher or travel level, they have to leave the area, so this is a really great way to have those girls closer to home and really bring and build competitive hockey right here.”
In addition to skating, stick handling, shooting the puck, and goaltending, Marcotte and Irving say the tryouts taught the girls important life skills. Michigan Made Selects and the Superior Icebreakers also give them a chance to do something they love together.
“It gives them something to work really hard for and strive for,” said Marcotte. “If they have a place to play with girls that are just like them, it gives them the motivation to continue to play, maybe longer than they ever anticipated.”
“This is very exciting,” Irving said. “We are all very passionate about this program, and we are just thrilled to provide this opportunity for the girls.”
One young girl echoed those thoughts when asked why she tried out for Michigan Made Selects by saying, “Just inspiring kids to keep playing hockey and making new friends and having fun.”
Click here to follow Michigan Made Selects Hockey on Facebook. View the Superior Icebreakers Facebook page by clicking here.
