Central STL News

The St. Louis Blues hosted the first 12U Tier 1 Ice Breaker Invitational at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri, over the weekend. The event is part of the organization's ongoing efforts to expand its Girls Hockey Development Program, which began in 2020 as an NHL All-Star Legacy initiative.

Brittany Koch, who serves as both senior coordinator for community hockey and on-ice instructor for the Blues, coordinated the tournament. Koch has experience playing hockey at both high school and college levels.

"This is really important because I grew up playing hockey," Koch said. "I've been to plenty of youth tournaments, so I've kind of seen what's been done, and I haven't really seen anything like this. We're just really focusing on the off-ice portion. I've went to games and either I made it to the championship game, or I left, but I never got to learn what to do off ice. We didn't have anything. The tournaments were fun, don't get me wrong, but there was nothing to do between games, but to do this and have something for the girls to keep them going and not have them sit in their hotel rooms, was really important.

"Games are great, but think we also need to focus on the off-ice aspect as well."

Five top Tier 1 girls hockey programs from across the country participated: St. Louis AAA Lady Blues, Carolina Jr. Canes, San Jose Jr. Sharks, Arizona Kachinas and Milwaukee Jr. Admirals. The teams played a round-robin format with a minimum of four games each and a championship game.

In addition to competition on the ice, players attended sessions focused on nutrition and leadership provided by 1st Phorm. There was also a Women in Sports Panel and Festival along with a skills competition.

Two-time Olympic medalist Alex Cavallini served as an on-ice instructor and youth hockey ambassador for the Blues during the event. Cavallini won gold with Team USA at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and silver at Beijing in 2022.

"It's such a special event," Cavallini said. "When I first spoke to the Blues about it when they came to me, I was so ecstatic for it. It's something that I've been personally looking forward to just bring in teams here to St. Louis to see how great the Blues organization is because I just know how important girls hockey is to the St. Louis Blues and how much they want to grow the game. This is just a testament to what they are out here trying to do every day in St. Louis."

Cavallini was joined by Olympic teammates Hannah Brandt, Megan Ferguson, Abby Roque and Jincy Roese as ambassadors throughout the weekend; Brandt plays professionally for Boston Fleet in PWHL while Roque represents Montreal Victoire and Roese plays for New York Sirens.

Roese hails from O'Fallon, Missouri—nearby—and played her first professional women's game in St. Louis earlier this year during a PWHL Takeover Tour match between Ottawa Charge and Boston Fleet.

"It's the best event that needs to happen," Roese said. "I was around the girls all day (Saturday) and they're so excited. That's amazing that they get to have that opportunity and experience that. Way to go Blues on that one, but the girls have asked questions and what it's like to play in the PWHL, and I get to interact with them as well. It was really sweet.

"We went into the Blues' locker room today and they made me a sign, and they had most of the St. Louis girls in the area sign it for me, so that was very, very special."

Since launching five years ago with just over 100 participants its first season—the Girls Hockey Development Program has grown significantly—now approaching nearly 500 players last season.

St. Louis supports several all-girls associations including Affton Lady Liberty, Chesterfield Lady Falcons,and St.Louis Lady Cyclones.The organization plans for this new tournament become an annual tradition,and hopes participation will continue increasing each year.

"What we want to see is awareness about it," Koch said."This is our first oneand obviously we want itto go well.We wantthis tohappen next year,the following year,but wewanttogrowit.We'vegotfiveteams now,but later downtheroad,we mightwant12,we mightwant15teams.Wewant toreallykeepgrowingit,butalsolet everyoneknowthat we'reheretogivesomethingtothese12-year-oldgirls,givethese12Uteams,speciallyatthislevel.

"A lotof times teamsarebeingmade,o rthey'realreadyformed,buttheydon'thaveanythingtodoaroundthistimeframe,sowereallywanthave somethingtobuildthemtogether,reallyhavethatbondingandalsogetreadyfortheirseason."

Cavallini emphasized her message for young athletes: "isjustdreambig.Setyourgoals,havethosegoalsthatyouwanttoworktoward.For me,itwasalwayswantingtoreachtheOlympics.Thatwasmyendgoal.Ialwayshadtolittlegoalstokindoffindmywaytomakeittothatnextlevel.Workhardandhavefun.Ithinkthat'ssomethingItruly,trulylookby,speciallyasIgotolder."