NORTH SMITHFIELD (WJAR) — An all-girls hockey clinic is taking place this week in North Smithfield.
The camp is being put on by the Valkyrie Initiative, a non-profit organization founded last year to give girls and women of all ages the opportunity to connect through ice hockey.
“We wanted to provide this opportunity to as many kids for free as possible so we raised a lot of money, got a lot of donations,” said co-founder and president Kelsey Pepler. “It should be something that’s bringing people in, and wanting them to stay and then hopefully they come back and build the community with us, and give back.”
The initiative formed last year by a group of North Smithfield High School alums, who played on one of the first girls high school hockey teams in Rhode Island more than 20 years ago.
Pepler said they all reconnected through the sport.
“Hockey brought us all back together,” she said. “We really want to foster that environment and bring it to the new generation of kids.”
Girls hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, but doesn’t offer the same opportunities as boys hockey does.
Pepler and her staff wanted to give girls in Rhode Island the opportunity to participate in a camp that is 100% female.
“It’s amazing,” said Keira Chin Gerding, who will be a freshman at Smithfield High School. “I used to do clinics with boys because I couldn’t find the girls ones. I would find myself isolated, solely because I am a girl.”
“I like it,” said Tenleigh Bisson, who will be in the seventh grade at the Rectory School. “It’s building the community of girls hockey and it’s really cool to see a lot of people who have the same interest in hockey as me.”
The five-day camp focuses on a different aspect each day, with the intention of bringing the girls together through their love of the game.
On day one, the focus was strength and conditioning work, with a special appearance from Olympic gold medalist and Warwick native Sara DeCosta Hayes.
She took time to speak with the group and offer tips.
“You don’t get to speak to many Olympians, much less female Olympians so it’s an honor to have her here with us,” said Chin Gerding. “I think it will be really cool.”
Most importantly, Pepler hopes the girls will gain confidence and a sense of community that they can carry on and off the ice.
“The lessons are so far beyond just the ice and it’s super important to have these teammates and working toward something together,” Pepler said. “It builds a lot of character and confidence together, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”
All proceeds from the clinic will go toward financial support to help girls who want to play on club hockey teams, along with equipment and coaching/referee certifications.
The Valkyrie Initiative is looking to make the all-girls clinic a yearly event. Pepler also said they are hoping to set up a fundraising tournament to put toward a Valkyrie scholarship.