LOS ANGELES – It was a crowded morning at Toyota Sports Performance Center on July 25. Each of the rinks inside the building was buzzing with a game or practice. The walkways were full of parents, children, players, and coaches. Among them were the 22 participants for the 14U/12U camp hosted in part by the PWHL, the Minnesota Frost and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
The camp was one of six set up in part by the Frost as part of the PWHL’s Grassroots Hockey initiative. According to the league, the camps “focus on advancing individual skills, building game awareness, and developing confidence with a mix of on and off ice sessions and workshops.”
The camp, “designed to help players build confidence, sharpen fundamentals, and learn from the best,” ran from July 25th through the 26th. Participants arrived from different places including the city of Mammoth, CA which is six hours away, Coachella Valley, and even Las Vegas.
Over the course of the two days, the campers worked directly with players and staff. They worked on skating, shooting, and took part in a scrimmage. They took part in a panel discussion and an autograph session as well. While the camp was aimed at improving the on-ice and off-ice skills of the participants, the coaches were fascinated to see the continued growth of women’s hockey.
California Dreamin’
Walter Cup champion Dominique Petrie, who is returning from injury, took part in the camp as a coach. The California native was excited to help with the camp a year after bringing the Walter Cup to the southland.
“When the Frost approached me about coming out to California, I was pumped about it,” Petrie told The Ice Garden. “San Jose wasn’t actually announced at that point. For the girls to be able to get the exposure, and to know that the league exists and that they can play in it one day, too. It’s super cool for us to be able to expand that and show them what we are, who we are, what we stand for.”
Joining Petrie was former Seattle Torrent forward Marah Wagner and Blake Bolden. The former NWHL Isobel Cup champion currently serves as the Growth and Inclusion Specialist for the LA Kings.
Learning from the best
The three served as coaches. The three close friends beamed at the opportunity to work together during the weekend after being apart during the season.
The trio were joined by the Frost’s Director of Hockey and Game Operations Claire Bjerke. She led the way as the players began their final day of camp inside the Kings’ off-ice training center.
There the players went through a series of warmups before reviewing what they learned the day before, including which shots they practiced.The participants were taught specific moves they would do in-game. Wagner served as a visual example for the players. Wagner decided to help out with the camp only a week prior. She happened to be in California at the time. The camp also helped motivate her as she navigates the offseason. “It just gives me so much joy,” Wagner said. “It reignites that energy in me to get ready for the season and [it’s] so much fun.”
“It’s okay to feel awkward while learning a new skill.”
Watching the pros flawlessly demonstrate a move or shot was awe-inspiring as the campers looked on. The participants tried to replicate what they saw. Bjerke was quick to remind the players they were learning new skills and it wasn’t going to be a perfect process.
Petrie served as the hype woman for the group of players she joined. When one was struggling, Petrie and Bjerke both stepped in to work with her one-on-one and helped improve her shot almost instantly.
The ability to work closely with players and step in to support them is something Bolden loves about working with young players.
“When I see something that I’m trying to teach a young girl that clicks and they’re like, ‘oh, that really worked for me.’ I really enjoy that ‘aha’ moment,” Bolden described.
“That’s why a lot of people get into coaching, because you want to pour yourself and your knowledge into these young ladies, and when it works for them you see their eyes light up. That is the fuel that makes me want to keep coming back and doing more.”
The participants were able to learn from coaches instantly and leaned on them to ask questions as well. The players went through a few drills before finishing the off-ice training with a game of horse for the second day in a row. The players enjoyed calling their shots and shooting the puck as hard as they could. Even during the game, if they had questions, every coach was ready to help.
Bolden admitted the day prior one of the players had actually beat her at horse. She laughed while recalling that moment: “I think that it made their day to kick my butt.”
F is for fun…damentals
After off-ice training, the campers hit the ice in their Frost jerseys. There were more fundamentals the players would be working on again that day but the participants were also able to show off their skills in a scrimmage.
That’s when the goalies were able to join in. Two of the 22 campers were goaltenders. They were ready to hit the ice and face shots from players their own age and the coaches as well. The campers were paired up for drills that included puck handling, shoulder checking, and stick handling. This gave the players another chance to work closely with the coaches. Being up close and personal on the ice meant a lot to Wagner.
“Just seeing the joy on their faces and just seeing their dedication to the game and how much effort they put in, it was just so amazing,” Wagner said. “I always love doing these camps and seeing how much fun they have and how much intensity they give to all the drills and all the techniques.”
Now the fun begins
The on-ice portion of camp ended with a scrimmage. Players of all ages played together and tried to score on the goalies. The coaches stood on the blueline supporting all the participants. When one scored a goal or made a good save, the cheers and stick taps erupted from everyone. In the stands, parents sat with their phones recording as they watched their daughters play hockey in front of professional women’s hockey players from the past and present.
For Petrie, this camp was special for numerous reasons. Petrie’s hockey career actually began in San Jose. The forward was thrilled that the league added teams in the west this offseason. She’s excited to see the impact of hockey in San Jose and Las Vegas. Still, she appreciates the reach her own Minnesota team has in California.
“That’s one of the most special things and that these girls have been able to all wear these little Frost jerseys. It’s super cool because it’s the team that I represent and they’re supporting us,” Petrie said of the impact the Frost are able to have in southern California. “Whatever team it is, that they’re passionate about the game and wanting to be involved and watching the game, is a really cool and very special thing.”
The evident growth of women’s hockey
One thing that stood out about the game was that all 22 participants were girls. As the interest in hockey continues to grow especially after the USA women’s hockey team’s gold medal win at this year’s Winter Olympics, noticing that all the players were surrounded by campers their age and coaches who played in a professional women’s hockey league, it’s something that stood out to Petrie. Like many players in and around her age, she grew up playing with boys in this same building. It’s a huge moment for the participants and the sport of hockey.
“It’s one of the most important things. It creates an environment that is super fun, super welcoming,” Petrie said. “They don’t realize how special it is. But for us, that came before them. We’re a little jealous of them, right? They’re fortunate that they don’t know a world without it, but we’re able to just help provide that and give that to them. That’s what we want to be able to help do.”
Autograph, please!
The last event of camp was a signing with Wagner, Petrie, and Bolden. All the participants lined up eager to have their Frost jerseys, water bottles or any other items signed by the three coaches. Some of the players took photos with their parents watching on. One camper even gave Wagner a bag of her favorite gummy bears. It’s the connections like these; one-on-one meet and greets that will stick with the players and with the coaches as well. They chatted with everyone and were able to laugh with players they were already familiar with.
Bolden and the rest of the coaches know the campers will walk away with new insight on how to progress in their on-ice training. But she also hopes the participants walk away with much more than that. That they will see how important the hockey community is to their development too.
“It’s more than just being on the ice and going around cones because you can do that at home. But it’s the people that you share it with and the energy that’s received and given,” Bolden said. “Empowerment is probably one of the most important things that a young lady can gain from being around women that are in a position that they might want to be in. These ladies are very important to the future of our game. I’m sure everybody knows who Megan Keller is and everybody knows who Marie-Philip Poulin is or Sarah Nurse is.”
“Now we have people that we can really look up to.”
The PWHL, along with the Minnesota Frost and Anaheim Ducks, will be hosting an adult women’s camp this upcoming weekend. Stay tuned to The Ice Garden for coverage of that event.
