The IIHF Women's World Championship opened Wednesday morning to a large crowd despite the poor weather outside.
The Adirondack Bank Center was booked with students from local schools. Despite the slippery weather, it did not deter participants from participating.
In fact, Rachel Kent, a fourth-grade teacher at Westmoreland Upper Elementary School, said the noisy mix had no effect on the children.
“They were jumping over puddles along the way,” she laughed.
Other spectators filled the event center, including Utica Pioneers players, volunteers and hockey enthusiasts.
Focus on women's athletic ability
Carly Stefanini (Massachusetts), Cameron Evans (Pennsylvania), Angelina Garganese (Florida) and Sydney Mintz (California) are this year's freshmen for the Utica University women's ice hockey team. They competed in the opening game as a group of friends.
“As the Women's Professional Hockey League (PWHL) begins to prepare for more physical competition, it's great that our players will be able to showcase their strengths a little more,” Stefanini emphasized. did. “People don't realize how much skill it takes to play this sport. We can't do that, it's all about pure technique.”
The group acknowledged that they previously played with some of the women on Team USA, so they decided to give them an extra shout out.
“Everyone grew up idolizing Hilary Knight,” Evans said. “She's a classic name, but aside from Team USA, there are a lot of talented female athletes on the ice. It's great to see him play at this level.”
volunteer gonzo
Officials say the event would not have been possible without the 450 volunteers who run the event.
Utica residents Diane and Michael Nassar both volunteered their time on opening day. They said they were happy to “witness the magic firsthand” selling USA Hockey merchandise and helping guide students to the food aisle.
The couple has been together for 43 years (and will continue to do so).
“And we still volunteer our time together,” Diane says, her eyes twinkling.
Their daughter, Alexis, works full time as a staff accountant for the Utica Comets.
“I’m a certified public accountant,” Diane said. “This event was so special to me that I put the 1040 aside and participated. It’s so exciting to have a tournament of this magnitude here in the Mohawk Valley. The impact this will have on our region. I don't think people really understand that.”
Michael is a former math teacher at Remsen Public High School. He praised local districts for making adjustments for children's participation.
“I was talking to two students who said it was their first time going to a hockey game,” he explained. “The excitement on their faces was priceless. As a former educator, there is a much better way to expose children to another culture than simply reading a book about it. This will last a lifetime for children. It will be an unforgettable experience.”
Alexis, who has attended several Comets games, confessed that the atmosphere in the championship was completely different.
“I’m busier and busier now,” she said. “We also have Sports Network (TSN) on site.”
In 1980, Michael was involved in the men's hockey game “Miracle on Ice” between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
“There were four other women volunteering with me, one of whom was from South Africa,” Michael said. “She ended up falling in love with upstate New York and moved her whole family to Lake Placid. One of her daughters is a figure skater and another is a hockey player, and she came to see this tournament. There is.”
Break before national exam
Kent said students have been preparing for the event for several weeks. The Utica Pioneers team recently visited Westmoreland and the kids have been hooked ever since, she said.
“In my class, we learned all about Denmark and Sweden,” Kent added. “We watched footage of past games and the kids learned about hockey as a sport and the vocabulary that goes with it. Being able to have an experience like this in our backyard is great from a cultural perspective as well. It's great for students. It makes them feel like they're part of a global community.”
Kristen Sayles, a sixth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, said the trip was a nice distraction for the kids to “de-stress” with New York state tests coming up next week.
“Teamwork, supporting each other, cheering for our country…there are important elements that cannot be incorporated into the curriculum,” Sayles emphasized. “Playing and having fun is just as important as focusing in the classroom.”
