Winter weather can't dim spirits as puck drops at IIHF Women's World Championship

The IIHF Women's World Championship kicked off Wednesday morning, with a large crowd, despite less than stellar conditions outside.

The Adirondack Bank Center was booked with students from local schools. Despite slick conditions the weather didn’t put a damper on attendees.

In fact, Westmoreland Upper Elementary fourth grade teacher Rachelle Kent said the blustery mix didn’t phase the kids.

“They were jumping through puddles on their way in,” she laughed.

Other spectators filled the event center as well: players from the Utica Pioneers, volunteers, and hockey enthusiasts alike.

Spotlighting female athleticism

Carly Stefanini (MA), Cameron Evans (PA), Angelina Garganese (FL), and Sydney Mintz (CA) are freshmen this year on the Utica University women’s ice hockey team. They attended the opening game as a friend group.

“It’s cool because the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is starting to gear up to a bit more physical game so the athletes get to showcase their strength a bit more,” Stefanini underscored. “People don’t realize how much skill it takes to play this sport. My older brother played hockey at the college level and whenever we’d compete he’d just hit me off the puck. We can’t do that – it’s all about sheer technique.”

The group admitted to having played with some of the women on Team USA before, hence why they made a point to cheer extra loud.

“Growing up everyone looked up to Hilary Knight,” said Evans. “She's a classic name but even apart from Team USA there are so many talented female athletes on the ice. It’s great for us to not only watch the top of our (national) game but see other countries play at this level too.”

Volunteer POV

The event wouldn’t be possible without the 450 volunteers working the event, officials said.

Dianne and Michael Nassar, Utica residents, both volunteered to work opening day. They said they were happy to “witness the magic first-hand" selling USA Hockey merchandise and helping guide students toward food vendors.

The couple has been together for 43 years (and counting).

“Plus, we still volunteer to spend time together,” Dianne gleamed.

Their daughter, Alexis, works full-time as the Utica Comets Staff Accountant.

“I’m a certified public accountant,” said Dianne. “This event was so special to me that I put my 1040s aside to show up. It's so exciting to have a tournament of this scale here in the Mohawk Valley. I don’t think people truly understand the impact this will have on our region.”

Michael is a retired math teacher from Remsen public high school. He praised the local districts for coordinating for the kids to attend.

“I was just speaking to two students who said it was their first time at a hockey game,” he explained. “The excitement on their faces was priceless. As a former educator it’s a much better way to expose kids to different cultures as opposed to just reading about them. This will be an experience for the kids to hold onto.”

Having worked several Comets games Alexis confessed the championship atmosphere was completely different.

“It’s a lot more hectic and busy,” she said. "We even have the Sports Network (TSN) on site."

In 1980 Michael worked the ‘Miracle on Ice’ men’s hockey game – between the U.S. and the Soviet Union – during the winter Olympics in Lake Placid.

“There were four other women volunteering with me and one was from South Africa,” Michael said. “She ended up loving upstate New York so much she moved her whole family to Lake Placid. One of her daughters is a figure skater, the other plays hockey, and they’re coming down to see this tournament.”

A break before state tests

Kent said the students have been preparing for the event for weeks. The Utica Pioneers team recently visited Westmoreland and since then the kids have been hooked, she said.

“In my class we’ve learned all about Denmark and Sweden,” Kent added. “We’ve watched former game footage and the kids have learned all about hockey as a sport – and the vocabulary that goes along with it. Having this experience in our backyard is great for the students from a cultural standpoint too; to feel part of a global community.”

Jefferson Elementary sixth grade teacher Kristen Sayles pointed out that with the New York State tests lined up for next week this trip was a nice diversion for the kids to “blow off some steam.”

“Teamwork, supporting one another, cheering for our nation … there are takeaways that you can't put into a curriculum,” emphasized Sayles. “To play and have fun can be equally as important as focusing in the classroom.”

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Women's hockey: IIHF Women's World Championship gets underway