Girls hockey is growing at a rapid pace all across the country, and that growth has never been more evident in San Diego and with the Jr. Gulls youth program.

Keely Moy, a local product who now plays NCAA Division I hockey at Harvard University, has helped with the boom in San Diego and along with fellow NCAA D-I women’s players and San Diego natives Tanner Gates (Colgate University freshman) and Samantha Smigliani (Colgate, 2019-20 season), helped with summer skates and girls events this summer for the Jr. Gulls.

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“I think it’s a monumental step in the right direction,” Moy said. “Getting more girls to play hockey, and other sports as well, is always awesome to hear, and especially awesome to see it happen right in front of you. I loved hearing about the start of the girls program at the Jr. Gulls, and wanted to be a part of it right away.”

“The Jr. Gulls making the decision to put effort into growing their girls program is awesome for San Diego and for girls hockey as a whole,” added Smigliani. “It’s truly exciting to watch the program I played for put so much energy into expanding the game of hockey to all kids.”

During her youth hockey days, Gates played boys hockey with the Jr. Gulls and is elated at the movement to promote girls hockey with the program.

“I think it’s incredible how girls hockey is growing in San Diego and how the Jr. Gulls are helping spread this amazing sport to other female athletes who can grow up knowing that there’s just as many options for them as there are for the male athletes,” Gates said.

— Matt Mackinder

(Sept. 18, 2018)