Penguins Host All-Girls Little Penguins Golden Ticket Skate

On International Women's Day, the Penguins hosted an all-girls hockey clinic at PPG Paints Arena.
What made this session extra special is that it was for children enrolled in Little Penguins Learn to Play Hockey, which is supported by Sidney Crosby, the Penguins Foundation, DICK'S Sporting Goods and USA Hockey.

It's the first time the team has hosted a Little Penguins Golden Ticket skate exclusively for girls taking part in the introductory program, which inspires families to join the sport by providing first-time participants complementary head-to-toe equipment, 8-10 weeks of age appropriate on-ice instruction, and certified coaching.
"I think there's no better way to acknowledge the day, and really, a great way to bring our newest girls from the sport, from all the local rinks, to our home," said Shannon Webster, Penguins senior director of youth hockey.
"They're all Penguins fans, and to be on the ice where their heroes play is pretty cool," agreed Brianne McLaughlin.
McLaughlin, a retired goaltender who won Olympic silver at the 2010 and '14 Games, was part of the all-women coaching staff taking the girls, all ages 5-9, through a bunch of fun activities. Olympic gold medalist Amanda Kessel, who's competing for the U.S. women's national team while also working as an executive fellow for the Penguins, was out there as well.

"It's no coincidence that I think almost every single national team player has met some Olympian that came before us, and we got to see their medals and meet them," McLaughlin said. "That's when that dream starts, to do something like that. So these little girls are just so pumped, A, to be on this ice. But B, having Amanda out there and everything - there are so many smiles to be a part of this."
They were joined by women players from the Robert Morris University, Chatham University and the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Penguins 19U Elite programs. That was wonderful to see for Molly Schafer, there with her 8-year-old daughter Caroline (missing both of her front teeth, like a typical hockey player!)
"Where we are in Wheeling, it's really neat because we have one female coach that goes out with them - and Caroline always runs to her, at whatever station she is at. She always wants to be with her, and she's so good with the kids," Molly said. "It's fun for a girl to see girls, you know?
"To see them all together and to have her be out there with lots of girls at once, I think it's invigorating for her. You get tired playing against boys all the time. She even told me, next year, I just want to play with girls… so this is a very good preview of that, I feel."

Molly and her son AJ had on Sidney Crosby jerseys, just like Caroline and the rest of the Little Penguins on the ice. Seeing all of those little girls in the captain's No. 87 was a wonderful reminder of just how much youth hockey in the area has grown since the program first began in 2008.
"This is awesome," Kessel said. "I feel like when I was growing up, if you were to have a clinic, there was maybe a handful of girls. There was no way that you're filling up an ice sheet of 60-some girls. So it's awesome to see where the game's gone. Pittsburgh's obviously done a great job building it around here. I think it's one of the cities that's now known for hockey and women's hockey."
"Putting on stuff like this, it's a cool opportunity for the girls, but it also shows that the Penguins are committed to growing the sport and they're interested in girls hockey, and the girls are just as important," McLaughlin said.
The Penguins truly do wholeheartedly support women in hockey, from nights like this to hosting events like the
Rivalry Rematch
and the

. But if there's anything Webster wants girls who love the sport to take away, it's that there are role models everywhere.
"Your kids can grow in the sport and they can still love it later in life. There's a ton of opportunities for them," said Webster, who played D1 hockey at Boston College
before a knee injury set her onto her current path
. "I think that's what we're trying to showcase today. There's players all around you, there's players locally. Go support them, watch their games, get involved. I think really, just spread the word. Tell friends, everyone at school, sign up for Little Penguins. There's no better way to get started."