Photo by Stefan Kubus/MiHockey

U.S. Women’s National Team players lend helping hands during girls open skate in Detroit

By @StefanKubus – 

DETROIT – Ahead of their Rivalry Series game against Canada on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena as part of Hockey Day in America, members of the U.S. Women’s National Team took time after Saturday’s practice to help the next generation.

Gigi Marvin, Kacey Bellamy, Brianna Decker and Lee Stecklein were among the players present to help more than 100 girls take to the ice for an open skate girls’ hockey party at the BELFOR Training Center inside LCA.

Team members also spoke to parents and youth players after the party in a panel discussion-like setup.

Check out MiHockey’s photos from the day, as well as video interviews with Stecklein, USA Hockey’s Kevin Erlenbach and Matt Herr, former University of Michigan forward and USAH American Development Model regional manager.


Lee Stecklein talks about inspiring the next generation and growing girls hockey:

Former Michigan Wolverines and NHL forward Matt Herr serves as the NHL senior director of youth hockey and industry growth fund.

Herr speaks about the girls hockey party and growing the sport at the grassroots level:

Kevin Erlenbach, USA Hockey’s director of membership development, talks about the event and growing youth hockey: