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Get to know Connecticut Northern Lights Girls Hockey…
The Connecticut Northern Lights currently fields multiple teams in the age brackets of:
í 8 and Under
í 10 and Under
í 12 and Under
í 14 and Under
í High School (2 full-season High School teams)
The Northern Lights also runs a learn-to-play program for girls between the ages of 5 and 10 with no previous ice hockey experience. For girls with a year of experience, Northern Lights offers the cross-ice Mini-Lights program. Mini-Lights allows girls another year of in house skill development and play prior to participation on a Northern Lights travel team.
Players with the Northern Lights come from Connecticut, Western Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Connecticut Northern Lights teams compete at the highest level in state, regional and national play as members of the New England Girls Hockey League and the Connecticut Hockey Conference. However, the Northern Lights also provide multiple opportunities for girls who are looking for a less serious or more recreational commitment to participate in the sport of ice hockey.
At the Northern Lights, while ice hockey provides the forum for the development of our participants, our mission is to develop the “whole person” and develop our girls into strong women. In order to develop our girls' into strong women for a lifetime, we aim to develop their self-confidence, self-esteem, scholarship, teamwork and leadership both on and off the ice. Northern Lights girls participate in the following programs to develop our girls as "whole people", not only as hockey players.
í Off-ice strength, conditioning & agility programs
í Off-ice shooting programs
í Developmental programs such as:
í Self defense training
í Lights Leadership Program
í Volunteer Opportunities within the Northern Lights Organization
í Nutrition and health programs
Northern Lights History
The Connecticut Northern Lights Girls Hockey program was founded in 2000 as part of the Avon-Canton-Farmington-Youth-Hockey organization. Connecticut Northern Lights Girls Hockey, then known as Avon Girls Hockey, had only one U-15 team in the 2000 - 2001 inaugural season. In the 2002 – 2003 season, Northern Lights also added an additional U-15 team and launched the Learn-to-Play and Learn-to-Skate (Foundation) program which was the first team called the Northern Lights.
Northern Lights became a standalone program in the 2003-2004 season. The program moved to the Newington Arena in Newington, CT for the 2003 – 2004 season and started a U-12 team and also a High School team. In the 2004 – 2005 season Northern Lights moved to the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury, CT, what the Northern Lights still calls home today. Northern Lights continues to grow and offer programs to girls all ages and abilities throughout the state of Connecticut. In the 2008-2009 season Northern Lights expands its programs to Newington Arena in Newington, CT and South Windsor Arena in South Windsor, CT where the Learn-to-Play and Learn-to-Skate program will be offered in addition to at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury, CT.
Northern Lights Girls Hockey Mission Statement
To be the leading provider of educational sporting opportunities for girls in Northern Connecticut. This will be accomplished by offering outstanding instruction by qualified coaches, presenting learning situations where personal growth can successfully take place, and by embracing a philosophy of developing the "whole person."
Our Goals Are To Help Girls Develop:
í Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem
Girls often lack self-confidence and self-esteem due to societal stereotypes and lack of development opportunities. Sports give them a chance to excel, achieve and succeed.
í Scholarship
Studies have shown that advanced education is paramount to long-term success. Encouraging females to excel in school and in areas not traditionally chosen by girls is critical.
í Teamwork
Being able to work together in a team setting toward the achievement of goals is essential for organizational development. Females traditionally excel in this area. Team sports reinforce this important trait.
í Leadership
In several years, women will comprise the majority of managers in this country. They need to be placed in situations where their leadership skills can be developed and tested in preparation for these roles.
“The Lights - Where Strong Girls Become Strong Women” SM
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