Somerville’s Parks & Recreation Department is being called upon to explore possibilities for an ongoing middle school intramural girls’ hockey program.

By Harry Kane

A small parent group is working to grow girls’ ice hockey in Somerville.

An order was put forward by the City Council on January 23 for the Director of Somerville Parks & Recreation to discuss the introduction of an ongoing middle school intramural girls’ hockey program.

“We believe that a middle school intramural girls’ hockey program is an equity issue, an inclusivity issue and a sustainability issue,” said Annette McKee, former president of the Somerville Youth Hockey Association.

McKee says girls don’t have “real opportunity and access” in part due to the costs. And she says there are additional barriers.

“There is the persistent misconception and bias that hockey is a boys’ sport.”

Somerville Youth Hockey Association does not offer an all-girls’ hockey team at any level. “There is no girls’ hockey team at Somerville High School,” McKee added.

McKee argues that there is an “underinvestment” of girls’ hockey in the City of Somerville and by including intramural girls’ hockey in middle school, it would address the need.

Middle school sports focus on skill development over competition. “It can provide a supportive, developmental fun environment for girls,” McKee explained.

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, middle school girls drop out at twice the rate of boys in school sports by age 14.

“We believe that a city-wide intramural girls’ hockey program … partnering with a nonprofit community-based organization like Somerville Youth Hockey can provide the sustainable foundation for building girls’ hockey in Somerville,” McKee said.

A student at Somerville High School named Natalie Zielinski said that she started playing hockey in the 6th grade and is currently on the Medford High School Girls Varsity Ice Hockey team because Somerville doesn’t have a girls’ team.

Hockey can be learned in middle school, just like volleyball or soccer. “Girls have specific needs,” Zielinski explained. “For example, they need their own space without boys to develop skills and learn to play confidently with a team that represents and supports them.”

Zielinski says that hockey can “help cultivate a self-image that is athletic, healthy and overall positive for girls and teens in Somerville.”

Ward 6 City Councilor Lance L Davis said he was “over the moon” when he saw this item on the agenda. “I completely share the goal … that would be wonderful,” said Councilor Davis.

Girls’ hockey is a growing sport in the United States and many residents like the idea of intramural hockey for girls, Councilor Davis explained.

If the city moves forward with the new intramural hockey program for middle school girls, one suggestion was to begin with two Somerville teams.