While members of the PWHL are pioneers of professional women's hockey, the Utica University Pioneers women's hockey team are thrilled to share their facility with the best players in the world twice this year.
While members of the PWHL are pioneers of professional women's hockey, the Utica University Pioneers women's hockey team are thrilled to share their facility with the best players in the world twice this year.
In Utica, New York, there are women's hockey pioneers in the stands and on the ice. There are also women's hockey Pioneers participating in the PWHL's inaugural preseason festivities. Those Pioneers are members of the Utica University Pioneers women's hockey team.
Sharing their facilities this week with the best women's hockey players on the planet, the NCAA Division III Pioneers, who are currently ranked in the top ten in the NCAA, have been excited to see the event in their city, and in their home rink at the Utica University Nexus Center.
"It's obviously such a great thing for women's hockey and inspiring for our players and young girls to see such a professional set up for women's hockey," said Utica University women's hockey Director of Hockey Operations Hannah Beckman. "It's been an uphill climb for years, so seeing players get that professional treatment is great. Shows the growth toward equality, not only for women's hockey but for women's sports."
"It's amazing to see growth in this sport, you grow up playing hockey hoping you can make it to college, wishing you could continue after college, but now we're at a point where there is something to look forward to after college, you don't just have to hang the skates up," echoed Alexa Carlon, a senior forward on the Pioneers from Lancaster, New York. "This growth and excitement continues to build every year."
Members of the Utica Pioneers women's hockey team were on the same ice this week as PWHL teams practicing, and also players and staff from the team have been serving as the ice crew during media timeouts in the preseason games.
Not only are the Pioneers excited to have the PWHL in town this week, but they'll welcome elite women's hockey players from across the world to their home facility this April when the IIHF Women's World Championships arrive.
"It's unbelievable, this building has brought such a spotlight to Utica," said Beckman. "To see this level of hockey in front of our eyes is just incredible."
"We're so grateful already to have this space, but we all know players out there, they've been our coaches, our mentors, our role models throughout the years, so it's very exciting to see them doing what they love doing, and continuing to do it in our home rink, there's just so much excitement," added Carlon.
The PWHL Preseason Camp wraps up this week in preparation for the league's inaugural season that begins January 1, 2024. The IIHF Women's World Championships will drop the puck in Utica, New York from April 3-14, 2024.