Eastside Catholic Forming Girl's Ice Hockey Team

Interested in creating more opportunities for girls to play sports, is creating a girl’s ice hockey team that will begin playing next year.

Eastside Catholic Athletic Director Scott Garvis said that the idea originated with school president Sister Mary E. Tracy. Garvis said that he began working on the project last year and already has several girls interested in playing.

“It’s been a great experience,” Garvis said.

The team will be the first of its kind in the region. “It will be very unique to this area,” Garvis said.

Since no other high schools in the area field girl’s ice hockey teams, Eastside Catholic’s team will be playing in the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association, a club league based in British Columbia.

In order to cut down on travel time and costs, the team will play two Saturday games against other club teams during the 2011-2012 season, which will run from October to March.

Garvis hopes that other schools eventually catch on to the idea and give Eastside Catholic some local competition.

“If it does really well for us I’m sure it’s something other people will look at,” Garvis said.

Now that the groundwork has been laid, Garvis is looking for approximately 14 girls to fill out the roster and a head coach.

Garvis said that creating the team has been a rewarding experience so far and he’s really looking forward to seeing the girls compete and represent Eastside Catholic School.

“There’s something special about playing for your school,” Garvis said.