U.S. Women’s National Team hosts clinic at BELFOR Training Center

By @MichaelCaples –

During their stay in Plymouth for a winter training camp, members of the U.S. Women’s National Team came to the BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena to put on a girls’ hockey clinic for players across Michigan.

While Michigan native Megan Keller and some of her teammates fielded questions from one group of participants, Kendall Coyne, Maddie Rooney and others put the girls through an hour training session on the Detroit Red Wings’ practice ice.

They had a variety of coaches helping on the ice, but two were much closer in age than the rest. Little Caesars 19U standouts Courtney Hall and Natalie Ferenc served as guest coaches for both practices, and the two D1 college commits said they had a great time helping the next generation.

“I think it’s awesome to get with the national team and it’s awesome that they’re giving back to the game in the way that they are,” said Hall, who will be playing at St. Cloud State next season. “It’s awesome that these girls get to see them and know that they can do what they do.

“It’s a lot of fun, I’ve been doing it with my little sister for about four years now. I just love the game, so it’s awesome to give back to the game with them.”

Ferenc said she hoped to show the girls that there are plenty of opportunities in hockey if they work hard enough.

“It was a lot of fun,” said the Vermont commit. “I really enjoyed getting to come out here and skate with some of the national team players, it was really cool. It’s important because you can help these girls get to places. I’ve been fortunate to be able to play and commit to Vermont and have the opportunity to go to Worlds…I’m just trying to get kids work as hard as they can to maybe have some of the same opportunities someday.”

Photos from the day: