Hosting the clinics is Lightning Made, the Lightning Community Hockey Department that is growing the game at all ages, genders, and levels. The NWHL will be represented at both clinics by a pair of players serving as guest coaches: Taylor Accursi, a member of the Buffalo Beauts who played collegiately at Mercyhurst; and Mallory Souliotis, a defender out of Yale who is entering her second season with the Boston Pride.
The street hockey clinic will begin at 6 pm and the on-ice session is set for 7:45 pm. Registration for both clinics can be found
here.
The street hockey clinic is free of charge and will be a great opportunity for girls who are newcomers to the game to learn from the pros. The NWHL coaches and Lightning Made staff will teach participants stickhandling, shooting, passing, and other basic hockey skills. The clinic will end with a scrimmage, and every girl will go home with their very own stick and ball and a ticket voucher to a Lightning hockey game. Equipment will be provided.
The later session will give girls' hockey players a chance to get on the ice with Accursi and Souliotis. The pros will impart their knowledge and experience through skill-based drills and games, promoting development and fun.
"I'm very proud and excited to bring a dose of NWHL hockey to the girls of the Tampa Bay community," said Souliotis. "The Lightning have done great work advancing our sport in their region. I can't wait to play some street and ice hockey with all the young players. It will be a lot of fun!"
The Lightning will continue its girls' hockey celebration with a full-day event on Saturday at the RDV Ice Den in Orlando. Accursi and Souliotis will also be present for Saturday's activities. For more information, please visit the
Lightning Made website
.
The NWHL's participation in these efforts to advance girls' and women's hockey in Tampa Bay are part of the Jr. NWHL Summer Clinic Series, a slate of youth hockey events coming to a number of cities across the U.S. this summer.
Friday, August 16 - Brandon Ice Sports Forum, Tampa, FL
6-7 pm: Street hockey clinic
7-7:45 pm: Registration for on-ice session
7:45-9:15 pm: On-ice session
