WNY Girls Federation adding an eighth team for the 2018-2019 season

Amanda Jackson has a simple goal. She just wants to suit up for a varsity ice hockey game with her older sister, Sarah.

It looks like Amanda, and countless other girls, will get that varsity hockey wish.

After months of hard work and hope, it appears that the WNY Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Federation, located in Section VI, officially will be expanding to an eighth team for the 2018-19 season.

“Playing with my older sister would mean everything to me,” said Amanda Jackson, who will be entering her sophomore year at Niagara-Wheatfield High School. “I’ve always looked up to her. We both have a strong passion for the game and would love to play for our school.”

The Starpoint, Niagara-Wheatfield and North Tonawanda districts, all located in Niagara County, have an agreement in principle to form a merged team.

It’s just a matter of the school superintendents from each district formally putting pen to paper.

This will be a huge step forward, for multiple reasons, for the WNY Girls Fed, which began in 2010-11. The obvious reason is this with eight teams, the league will now have a more balanced schedule. But it goes deeper than just making it easier on the schedule makers. Until now all of the Girls Fed teams were located in Erie County. This marks the first time a team will be located in neighboring Niagara County, which lies to the north of Erie County.

It’s also the first true expansion team that started from scratch and not a case of a new school joining an existing team upon entering the league.

“This is the first addition of a public school team we’ve had since the league was founded nine years ago,” said Williamsville head coach Rick Hopkins. “All the teams that have joined since its inception have joined existing teams, which is great for the growth and stability of the league. But this is our first expansion where we’ve added our seventh public school team, which is huge. Niagara County was kind of the missing piece of the puzzle.”

Hopkins credited Bill Pavone, who was part of the parents group that campaigned to get the league started, as being very instrumental in this process. It was Pavone who circulated a survey in Niagara County to gauge interest in a Girls Fed team.

Initially it was Starpoint and Wheatfield that got the ball rolling. Parents and their daughters, who were decked out in their travel team jerseys, attended board of education meetings and made passionate appeals for a team. They wanted their chance to wear their school colors on the ice, just like boys had, and they weren’t going to go away quietly. They wanted their fair chance to wear their schools colors.

“Having a the opportunity to play for my school would be amazing,” said Sarah Jackson, who is entering her senior year at Niagara-Wheatfield. “Ever since I found out there was a hockey team for the boys, I’ve always dreamed of there being a girls team. I’m looking forward to being able to represent my school.”

Early on, North Tonawanda was thought to be a longshot, as its athletic director, Jeff Alger, didn’t think there would be enough interest. But when nearly two dozen girls put their name on the sign-up sheet outside his office, the message was clear: NT girls want to play hockey.

“I remember when it was first announced,” said NT rising senior Lauren Painter. “I got a text while I was in study hall saying let’s join girls hockey. And I was like, ‘No way.’ Then I went downstairs to the athletic office and saw a sign that said girls hockey. I was like, ‘Oh, my god!’”

Painter and close friends Bella Finley and Katie Cipolla canvassed the school looking for players.

In the eyes of the WNY Girls Fed, Niagara County is a prime untapped hockey market. There is a strong pool of travel hockey talent and the region has four venues that could serve as a home rink.

The main issue left to discuss is how the estimated $24,000 price tag for the team will be divided between the three districts. Will it be divided evenly, or by percentage based on the number of players each school will have on the team?

With puck drop inching closer, this whole experience has taught every girl a lesson.

“It really did show us that if you really do want something, fight for it.” said Natalie O’Brien of Starpoint High School. “Just go for it. Don’t wait. Just go.”