Jamie Buss recalls what a tremendous experience her son, Tyler, had when he competed in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association boys hockey championships in 2022 with Webster Thomas, a team from Section V in Rochester.
While she was very happy for her son, she kept thinking, “Why does my daughter, Ella, not have the same opportunity?” That is because Section V does not offer girls hockey as a varsity sport. Buss has no idea why this is because the numbers support it.
“I don’t know,” she said. “It can happen. Section V just started a girls flag football program that spread like wildfire. I realize it’s not the same because you can’t just put girls on ice skates and they’re hockey players. There is a lot more skill development that needs to happen with hockey, but there have been a lot of opportunities and ways to engage these girls, and it hasn’t been done yet.”
So instead of waiting for the schools to take advantage of that opportunity, Buss took it upon herself to get the ball rolling by organizing a Greater Rochester Girls Hockey Spring Showcase event on April 30 at Rochester Ice Center in Fairport. Approximately 135 high school eligible players — girls entering seventh grade to 12th grade for this coming year — showcased their skills.