Local women's team sweeps UM

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

The Whitefish women's hockey team, the Northern Lights, got off to a nice start in their first competition of the season over the weekend.

They traveled to Missoula to take on the University of Montana Lady Griz team and won both of their exhibition games by scores of 4-2 and 5-0.

Co-captain Cody McCarthy said the Lights had upwards of 60 shots on goal and that the Lady Griz goalkeeper did a fantastic job.

"They were fun games," she said. "It was good for us to work on cycling the puck and work on our passing game. It's a great bunch of girls to travel with. We have a great time."

The Northern Lights players come from all different backgrounds and age groups, with most of the women playing at an amateur ability-level. The team even features a mother/daughter combination of Sue Powell and her daughter Megan.

Co-captain Lini Reading said the squad has had a great turnout this year.

"We have about 20 girls that show up regularly, and we encourage anyone to show up, regardless of skill level," Reading said. "I remember back when we played in the outdoor rink when we had four women."

Reading said she wants to stress the fact that any girl, regardless of age or skill level, can show up for the Sunday practice sessions at the Stumptown Ice Den from 7-9 p.m.

"The whole thing began with trying to bring as many women into this fun sport as possible," she said. "We all have fun, and everybody's welcome, from people who can barely skate to people who are really good."

McCarthy said so many women have turned up for practice this year that the Lights may even form a B team for the first time.

Coaches Ryan Ulvin and Peter Gall are preparing their team to host a tournament in Whitefish from Nov. 30 - Dec. 2.

Six teams from around the state and Canada will come to the Ice Den, and Gall said he is optimistic about his team's chances.

"We really cleaned up (in Missoula)," he said. "We really have high hopes for the tournament here in Whitefish. We kind of win every tournament we go to, but we've never won our hometown tournament. Isn't that something?"

Gall said he's impressed by the amount of interest shown in women's hockey in Whitefish.

"Having enough players for two teams is really encouraging for our little program," he said.

Ulvin said he is glad that he actually has two goalkeepers on the team this year.

"We went from having zero goalies last year to having two this year, so we're looking pretty good," he said.

McCarthy said that while she wants her team to be as competitive as possible against tough teams, such as the Canadians, she said good sportsmanship is paramount.

"We play hard, but we don't get into screaming matches on the ice," she said. "We just like to have fun."

McCarthy said the Northern Lights played Sparwood and Fernie, B.C., last year "and they just killed us, so we're looking forward to playing them this year."

"Some of those girls were born with skates on their feet," Reading said of her Canadian counterparts.

Reading said this is the first year that the Northern Lights will actually have some games under their belts before tournament time.

The Northern Lights travel to Sparwood, B.C., for a tournament on Nov. 17. For more information, contact Cody McCarthy at 862-6755.