America Celebrates IIHF World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend – USA Hockey

It was an extra-special weekend for Cristina Tortolano.

The 11-year-old from Rhode Island celebrated both her love of hockey and her mighty courage during the Rhode Island Columbus Day Invitational Tournament, one of many events held nationwide during IIHF World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend.

A creation of 1998 United States Olympic teammates Vicki Movsessian-Lamoriello and Sara DeCosta-Hayes, the tournament hosted more than 70 girls teams from throughout the northeast and also raised money for families fighting cancer – a cause dear to Tortolano, who fought her own battle in 2011.

Love at First Sight

Hockey found its way into Tortolano’s heart early, when she was still a toddler in her mother’s arms. She’d laugh as players flipped pucks toward the glass during warm-ups, while her dad, a college hockey referee, patrolled the ice.

By age 3, she was skating herself, and soon after, she joined her first mite team, skating with a squad of boys through her seventh birthday. All was well until she suddenly lost her appetite and began spiking fevers. Then she slogged, weak and flu-ridden, through her first team photo. The diagnosis was a shocker. Tortolano had kidney cancer.

She was immediately admitted to Hasbro Children’s Hospital for a nephrectomy, seven radiation treatments and 15 rounds of chemotherapy.

“She wanted to play hockey in the worst way, but she just couldn’t,” said Aimee Tortolano, Cristina’s mother. “She had to give up the only sport she loved.”

But there was no giving up her battle against cancer. Tortolano overcame, dreaming of the day she could “be a normal kid again.”

One season later, and one week after her final radiation treatment, she was back on the ice for tryouts, but not at full strength. In her weakened condition, she couldn’t rejoin her former mite team, so her parents sought an alternative. They found an 8U development program that accepted Cristina, but she was again the only girl. Feeling a little removed socially, she savored being back on the ice regardless, and gradually began regaining her strength. By the next season, she was fully ready to compete. That’s when she found the Rhode Island Sting, an all-girls program founded by the aforementioned Movsessian-Lamoriello and DeCosta-Hayes. Three years later, she’s still skating with the Sting and loving every minute – perhaps even more than most, because she knows too well the precious value those minutes.

“She inspires all of us,” said DeCosta-Hayes, coach of the U12 Sting. “It makes us appreciate how lucky we are to be out here playing hockey.”

And play they did Sunday, squaring off at 9 a.m. against the Nova Ice Dogs in the U.S. Girls Global Game, a one-hour chunk of the IIHF 24-hour worldwide girls game. It was yet another memorable skate for Tortolano, who’s found a happy home with girls hockey and the Sting.

“Her transition to girls hockey has had such a positive impact on both her education in the game and her social life,” said Aimee Tortolano. “She loves going to practice, games, and especially tournaments, when she spends extra time with the friends she’s made.

“The growth of girls hockey, especially in Rhode Island, has been wonderful. It’s giving girls more opportunities to play and building a foundation for them to continue to play past youth hockey.”

Meanwhile in Michigan

No country hosted more IIHF World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend festivities than the U.S., where hundreds of events played out nationwide.

In the Mitten State, more than 15 associations hosted, including the Livonia Hockey Association, which held an all-girls clinic and three girls games, one officiated by a mother-daughter tandem. The event connected girls who were new to the game with more experienced players in the 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U age classifications for a celebration of the sport.

Girls hockey was also part of the grand-opening at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, where the National Team Development Program saluted girls teams from Little Caesars and Compuware during its Sunday game against the University of Notre Dame.

“Hockey has a strong tradition in Michigan and it’s exciting to see so many programs supporting girls hockey initiatives at all levels,” said Kristen Wright, USA Hockey’s manager of girls player development. “It was a great weekend for programs to welcome new girls to the sport and celebrate current players who love to play the game. We’re especially excited about the direction that Michigan has taken to grow its grassroots programs for girls.”

One such example was found at Arrington Ice Arena, where the Adrian Youth Hockey Association hosted its “Play Like a Girl” event. Drawing an enthusiastic troupe of young skaters and families, the festivities helped maintain the Junior Bulldogs’ momentum in building a program that launched five years ago. Its partnership with Adrian College was on full display, as several Adrian student-athletes served as coaches at the event, which attracted 20 girls to the ice.

“Girls hockey has grown in Michigan over the past three years and we’re excited to see that continue,” said Jean Laxton, Michigan District Girls/Women’s section director. “Our continued emphasis on grow-the-game events and support of associations that offer entry-level, grassroots programs is the key.

“We’re committed to growing the numbers, and with the continued support of USA Hockey, we’re confidant that the future is bright for girls hockey in Michigan.”

Girls Hockey in the Heartland

The IIHF worldwide celebration brought USA Hockey’s Michele Amidon, ADM regional manager, to Missouri, where she spent Friday and Saturday working with the St. Louis Lady Cyclones.

An all-girls association founded in 2002, the Lady Cyclones are growing by leaps and bounds, having tripled membership in the past six months. Club officials expect to have 150 girls playing in the 8U, 10U and 12U age classifications this fall, and many were on hand over the weekend for festivities ranging from on-ice practices to street hockey games and a tasty Show-Me State barbeque. Even Louie, the Blues’ polar bear, was there to celebrate.

“It was such a fun atmosphere for hockey and we had a great time,” said Amidon, who conducted practices and discussed player development with the Lady Cyclones parents.

“Grassroots events like these help grow the game and bring everyone closer together, which is great for girls and women’s hockey worldwide.”

After working with the Lady Cyclones, Amidon traveled north to Minnesota for on-ice and off-ice sessions with the Chaska Chanhassen Hockey Association, which hosted a USA Hockey Parents Night focused on age-appropriate training and competition. The event included an American Development Model overview along with an interactive station-based practice for the association’s parents and players.

“Minnesota Hockey does a nice job emphasizing the importance of skill development, and you can see the evidence of that, along with the contributions of so many passionate hockey people in the communities,” said Amidon. “There’s no doubt they’ll continue to be leaders in developing talent. It’s fun to come here and see all of the excitement and passion for girls hockey and for creating a great community-based development environment.”