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PHOTOS COURTESY Houston Girls Hockey Association; Carolina Amateur Hockey Association 10 // SEPTEMBER 2023 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM O F F T HE D R AW F i f t y c a m p e r s c o n v e r g e d i n North Carolina for the three- d ay Ho c ke y P l ay e r s o f C o l o r Movement Summer Camp, hosted by the Carolina Hurricanes and Carolina A m a t e u r H o c k e y A s s o c i a t i o n i n R a l e i g h , N. C. , Ju l y 2 8 - 3 0. W i t h 2 6 o f t h e c a m p e r s c o m i n g f r o m t h e Carolinas, the camp additionally wel- comed athletes from Massachusetts, N e w Yo r k , Pe n n sy l v a n i a , V i r g i n i a , a n d m o r e . N e s t l e d i n t h e h e a r t o f t h e s o u t h , t h e c a m p 's m i s s i o n w a s celebrating diversity within hockey and to provide an experience for players of color to meet others and have the chance to play with one another. The camp featured Raleigh native Kenny Gillespie, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 16U AAA head coach, who spoke to the players about his experience growing up playing hockey in the south. Gillespie would then g o on to play hockey at Shattuck- St. Mary 's and collegiately at RPI. The weekend camp consisted of on- and off-ice training, allowing participants to acquire skills to enhance their game and find camaraderie with other players of color on the ice. The campers even had a special guest join them on the ice for some fun — Carolina Hurricanes defense- man Jalen Chatfield. The weekend culminated in a pond hockey tournament, a street hockey festival hosted by the Hurricanes and a screening of the movie "Soul on Ice" with director Kwame Mason. "CAHA believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion and we want to take active steps to diversify our sport," said Brad Hoffman, CAHA co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. "For those of us who attended, we were able to see and feel the joy that this event brought the play- ers and families. We were also given the oppor- tunity to interact with hockey families who we may not have much exposure to every day. This is a great educational experience and reinforces why our diversity and inclusion efforts in our sport are so important." P THE HOUSTON GIRLS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION, in conjunction with the Texas Amateur Hockey Association, teamed up this summer to bring together 101 girls and their families for the 2nd annual Girls Hockey Weekend in Houston. The three-day event featured various on-and-off-ice activities at the Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex, including a free skate party session, an outdoor carnival, a skills competition and a 3v3 tournament that mixed and matched girls with new friends and old. The weekend also included guest speakers, such as Amanda Pelkey. Pelkey, who won a gold medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, recorded a personalized video message for the girls. "I am absolutely amazed at the amount of girls that are participating and am not shocked at all," Pelkey said. "My camp in Houston was super fun and the talent just keeps getting better. Women's hockey just keeps growing. I want you girls to know that the sky is the limit in this sport now moving forward. I would love to see one of you girls wear a professional jersey one day or a national team jersey. Keep pushing the pace. Enjoy yourself, but most importantly, make sure that you are one of the best teammates you can be day in and day out. People are always going to remember you with how you treat other people and being an athlete comes second. "If you want to get there, and you put the work in, it is possible." Eric Kimmel, president of the Houston Girls Hockey Association and Houston Storm, was happy to see so many new friendships formed during the weekend and is looking forward to the growth of girls and women's hockey in the state of Texas. "The Houston Storm was proud to bring 100 girls together from across Texas for a fun and competitive weekend on and off the ice," Kimmel said. "Amazing friendships and memories were made, and we are excited to be working closely with our partners in Dallas, Austin, and beyond to grow the sport for girls. There is tremendous momentum with girls' and women's hockey, and the Texas community is united in this mission." GIRLS HOCKEY COMMUNITY HPOC Movement Summer Camp Unifies Youth in Carolinas Houston, We Have Lift Off 101 girls participated in the 2nd annual Girls Hockey Weekend in Houston