Now that the winter months are here, boys and girls around the country are gearing up for a new season of hockey. That’s right, girls too. Over the last 20 years, girls' hockey in the United States has become more and more popular. Hockey is no longer as male dominating as is was in the past, and there are now girl-only teams for all ages,  which includes high schools in the state of Connecticut. 

In Connecticut there are many girls youth hockey teams, but two prime examples are the Connecticut Polar Bears and the Connecticut Northern Lights. Bitter rivals, these teams often finish first and second in the season. At the youth level, it is not uncommon for girls to play faster-pace boys hockey. For instance, there are two girls playing for the Wethersfield High School hockey team, Jenn Vonick and Brianna Godlewski. Both of these girls have played for the Central Connecticut Capitals boys team prior to playing for Wethersfield High School. 

While girls' high school hockey in Connecticut is still fairly new, some local girls-only hockey teams have stepped up their game to show that girls can play hockey just as well as boys. West Hartford high schools Hall and Conard have merged together to create one hockey powerhouse cleverly named West Hartford. With multiple state championships under their belt, West Hartford has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the state of Connecticut. Another local team, the girls of Simsbury High School seems to be one of the only girls' teams in the state that can compete with West Hartford, which has made them rivals. While girls' hockey in Connecticut is becoming increasingly popular, other states have had girls' hockey teams for quite some time. For example, Massachusetts and Minnesota has had well established hockey teams for over 20 years. 

Overall, girls' hockey at all ages is becoming more and more popular with each season. From youth leagues to high school and college, girls' hockey in the United States is rapidly becoming as popular as its male counterpart. We may be seeing a WNHL sometime in the future.