Girls hockey Jamboree

The Glacier Hockey Association hosted the second ever Montana Amateur Hockey Association 10/12U Jamboree this weekend at the Stumptown Ice Den. 

The all-girl event included some players as young as seven and eight years old. Saturday, two teams from Havre and two from the Glacier Hockey Association played in a round robin. The format was 4 on 4 on half ice. Sunday, the teams combined to play a full ice, 5 on 5 game, which gave the girls an opportunity to get to know one another by being teammates. 

Lini Reading and Aly Wells coached the Glacier Hockey Association teams. 

“There has been a lot of work in the last couple seasons to grow girls hockey from the youngest ages up and these events sponsored by Montana Amateur Hockey Association, our governing body, are designed to kickstart and build on this,” said Reading. 

Until just last year, there had not been an opportunity for all girls at very young ages to play together. 

”Most of these youngsters play on coed teams, which is great to begin their skill development and gain competitiveness and because that was the only option for young girls,” Reading said.  

The Glacier Hockey Association’s 19U girls team will play Havre on Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Missoula twice on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Stumptown Ice Den.  

    Four teams battled it out on the ice and forged friendships during downtime at the 10/12U Jamboree at the Stumptown Ice Den last weekend. (Amanda Hayes photo)