Former Westford Academy skater Delilah Cioffi is a driving force behind the creation of the Northeast Intercounty Scholastics Hockey League. (Steve Kapetanakis Photography)
WESTFORD – Co-founders Janelle Cioffi, Michael Cioffi and Denise Franczak have announced the launch of the Northeast Intercounty Scholastics Hockey League (NISHL), a groundbreaking initiative for girls hockey players in grades 9-12 whose schools do not have hockey teams.
The driving force behind the creation of NISHL was the Cioffi's teenage daughter, Delilah, who noticed that her friends were not getting the opportunity to play hockey in high school. Delilah Cioffi, 16, said these girls were being deprived of the rewarding experience of playing a sport with their peers at the high school level. Her idea to fill that gap led to the conception of NISHL.
“As dedicated owners of youth hockey programs and parents of boys and girls high school hockey players, we recognize the great impact and importance of playing hockey for your school and friends,” said Janelle Cioffi. “Our vision is to provide these opportunities for more young athletes in New England and foster a sense of community, teamwork and school spirit.”
The NISHL hopes to revolutionize girls' high school hockey in the region by providing a platform for young female athletes to showcase their talent and passion for the game, Sioffis said. Registration for the league is now open and welcomes girls hockey players across New England who don't have a team at their high school. The league's first year will focus on forming a girls' varsity team, with plans to add a junior varsity team in 2025-26.
The NISHL's inaugural season will begin the Monday after Thanksgiving in line with the Massachusetts High School Athletic Association's winter sports calendar. Teams will be organized based on the players' home high schools and regions. Players from different schools in the same county will be combined into county-wide teams to ensure balanced, competitive play while allowing players to represent their hometowns with pride.
“The decision to start this league was an easy one after learning that many schools do not offer girls' hockey programs,” said co-founder and league commissioner Michael Cioffi. “When a school has a boys' program, girls are often allowed to participate, but female players often face inappropriate situations, such as having to change in the janitor's room, bathrooms, or even outside.”
Michael Cioffi also pointed out potential dangers posed by physical differences and playing styles between male and female high school players.
“We want to create a safe environment for girls to play hockey and provide more opportunities for young female athletes. The league aims to elevate the standard of girls' high school hockey while promoting a culture of respect and equality,” he said.
Michael Cioffi said the NISHL supports athletes on and off the ice, and the league's goals reflect Cioffi's belief that sports have the power to build character and create lifelong bonds.
“We look forward to working with community stakeholders to ensure a successful season for all,” he said. “Our vision is to open doors, inspire dreams and unite the community through the love of hockey.”
“We are excited to embark on this journey with the launch of the NISHL,” added Denise Franczak, CEO of Bright Matter Sports and co-founder of the league. “Women's hockey has seen tremendous growth and interest in recent years, and the NISHL will be a platform to capitalize on that potential and showcase the incredible talent in the region. We invite all young female hockey players to join us as we embark on this exciting new chapter.”
The NISHL will be announcing more details as the first game date approaches. For more information, to register as a player or to apply as a coach, please visit the league's website at https://www.nishl.com/. Those interested in joining the league should fill out the survey on the homepage.
