The PIHL girls division wrapped up its fifth season of play Monday night when Team West knocked off Team North, 3-2, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.
Everyone involved seemed happy with the level of play and direction of the division.
There is a hope that there will be more opportunities to build on that foundation. Team West became the first team to repeat as league champions.
Each team is composed of clusters of players based on geography as much as possible. There are eight teams that all play an 11-game schedule with the top four making the postseason.
“It’s grown a lot,” West coach Ed Schultz said. “I wish there was more and the season was longer, but it’s come a long way.”
Team North finished as the top team in the regular season. Tom Dimond, who coaches his daughter Lexi on Team North, said he is hoping the league will continue to grow.
“I think it’s wonderful for the girls game,” said Dimond, who has participated in the league for three seasons. “My daughter has been a part of it. I look forward to when all schools can have pure girls teams only. I think it has done a lot to give them a higher level of competition.”
Tom Dimond said he wishes the schools would do more to honor the players’ achievements. Boys hockey is a club sport for many high schools around Western Pennsylvania. Each school allows the programs to license the use of the logo and school colors for the boys teams.
Since the girls teams feature players from several districts, the branding is different altogether.
“I wish athletic directors would all consider these girls to have had letters when they complete their varsity season,” Dimond said.
Team West defenseman Ella Schultz, who attends South Fayette, said she is glad the league is an option for players.
“I think it gives girls an opportunity to play in high school who can’t play on their (boys) teams,” Ella said. “It boosts confidence.”
Caroleena Genco, a Moon student, led Team West with 22 goals this season.
She feels like the level of the play has increased across the board since the league started up. There weren’t many easy contests. Team North took the regular season top spot, followed by Team South.
Six of the eight teams in the league finished with 15 points or more.
“I remember my first couple years it was rocky,” Genco said. “Last year, our team was uneven compared to the other teams. This year, the division was so close. There were so many contenders for first. Even the team that came in last wasn’t bad. Everyone was even.”
There has been plenty of momentum for opportunities with girls sports over the past few years. With the PIHL girls division finding legs, Ed Schultz believes it can continue on as a healthy league.
“I think a lot of the role models with the Professional Women’s Hockey League that these girls know they could possibly go somewhere if they wanted to,” Ed said. “It gives them something to work toward. It’s fun to work with them.”