Six girls’ hockey players participated in the JWHL All-Star Game in February 2023. Photo provided.
Six Huskies were selected for the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL) All-Star team: Georgia Bailey ’23, Natalie Zarcone ’23, Brooke Kelley ’24, Anna Pavlasova ’23, Chloe Lewis ’23, and Halle Mules ’24.
Mules and her teammates are grateful for this experience. “This League has opened up so many opportunities for everyone on our team,” Mules said. It has given the team more exposure to college coaches and “boosted our team’s confidence going into the season,” she added.
Mules appreciates the travel and opportunities the league provided Northwood’s student-athletes. “We played at the University of Minnesota, we played in their women’s rink, and their facilities were just amazing… and then we also played a couple of games at Boston College, and we played at Brown,” Mules added.
The Northwood Girls’ Hockey team played in the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL) for the first time this year. This entails playing in a selective tournament consisting of some of the best U19 teams in North America. The team are from Boston Massachusetts, Chicago Illinois, Detroit Michigan, Marlborough Massachusetts, Stowe Vermont, Ottawa, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Many of these players dream of earning college scholarships and playing for their country internationally. The JWHL provides a platform for them to hone their skills and display their talent. Founded in 2007, the league’s mission is to provide a high-level of competition for young female players and to help develop and promote women’s hockey.
In addition to providing a competitive environment, the JWHL emphasizes education and personal development. Players are encouraged to prioritize their academic studies and are provided with resources to help them balance school and hockey.
The league also offers programs to help players develop on and off the ice. For example, the JWHL’s “Empowerment Series” provides players with tools and resources to help them become leaders and role models in their sport and communities.
Though the team did not get the results they wanted in their first season of league play, the Northwood players fought hard, highlighting their talent.
