Hockey is for girls, too
Young ladies out there – pay attention. Of the 75 players registered in the Euclid Youth Hockey program, 12 are girls. That's one player out of seven. How do all those girls impact the program? You be the judge; Euclid teams had the best win-loss record in the Cleveland Suburban Hockey League for the 2009-2010 regular season.
EYHA President Frank Vidmar (favidmar@yahoo.com) knows firsthand how well the girls play. Five years ago, hockey was new to him. His daughter wished to play after watching her older brother play hockey. He and his wife found that hockey is a good sport for girls after watching Sarah Speroff play for her Euclid Squirt team a few years back. "Sarah could skate with the best and she made it look easy," said Vidmar. When Lucy started the Learn-to-Play Hockey program in 2007, they were pleasantly surprised to have a few other girls her age on the ice as well.
"An ice rink is an asset to its community. It gives a destination for people in months of cold and dark days. The people who utilize it actually look forward to winter. Imagine spending your winter months in front of a television instead of a bustling ice arena. Unfortunately, the later is too common," said Vidmar.
Mike Mramor has two daughters involved in hockey. The whole family enjoyed hockey and the girls grew up wanting to play. As typical girls, they want to take dance classes as well, and he said he always manage to find a dance class each year he can schedule around hockey. The ice arena has become a second home for them and their busy lives. They look forward to being at the arena because they've made so many friends through the program. Hockey families become close-knit. Four years ago when Mramor’s wife died of breast cancer, he was touched when the arena was filled with pink for the Halloween Hockey Tournament that year. Now a single dad, Mramor says, "Yeah, hockey's a commitment, but that's what we do. Wouldn't want it any other way."
It's not too late for your son or daughter to play hockey this year. Your kids can begin the Learn-to-Play Hockey program at any time - the sooner, the better, and rates are prorated. EYHA welcomes boys and girls, ages 3 to 14, from any area city; it's especially convenient for Euclid, Collinwood, Bratenahl, Wickliffe and Willoughby. For information about EYHA visit http://www.euclidyouthhockey.com/.