FEATURE: Showtime Summer Classic a Hit for Girls Hockey

As Jillian Limb walked into Fifth Third Arena, hockey bag slung over her shoulder, her breath caught in her throat. After checking in and receiving a gift bag, Limb posed for a headshot and was escorted to a locker room emblazoned with her team's name: Northshore Warhawks. Everything started to feel real.
The Warhawks, along with three other teams, participated in the inaugural Showtime Summer Classic last weekend at Fifth Third Arena, the first of several amateur hockey tournaments hosted by the Blackhawks taking place this summer. Along with official headshots, team photos, and special locker room setups, the four 12-and-under teams in attendance got a taste of the full NHL experience, complete with starting lineup introductions and the pregame National Anthem on the same ice where Blackhawks past and present have honed their craft.

There was one other crowd favorite as well.
"I think it's special because I think my team was pretty excited to see the Blackhawks' mascot [Tommy Hawk] out there," Limb said. "I think it's a pretty big deal because we don't play that many tournaments, so I think it's a good learning experience for all of us."
The Showtime Summer Classic is just one part of the Blackhawks' efforts to grow the sport of hockey for girls of any age interested. In just a couple weeks, another tournament, Breaking Barriers, will spotlight women's 21-and-up teams of various skill levels just days after the 50th anniversary of Title IX. There are also ongoing girls' hockey initiatives in partnership with three-time Olympic medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield including the Golden Coynes all-girls development program and a Dream Big Summer Camp. Schofield, along with fellow Team USA member Abbey Murphy, also stopped by the Classic on Sunday to sign autographs for the players.
"We're thrilled that the first Showtime Summer Classic was a success for our participants and their families," Blackhawks' Sr. Director of Youth Hockey Annie Camins said. "We hope that as our Blackhawks Tournaments series continues to grow, these first events lay the groundwork for girls, boys and adults of all skill levels in the future."
Simply put, the smile that beamed across Limb's face as she described her experience wasn't just because of her tournament-leading eight goals and 10 points. Getting a small taste of the NHL experience, using high-quality facilities, and enjoying the game alongside other girls with a shared passion is something she'll remember for a long, long time. And for the Blackhawks, that's exactly the point; but meeting Tommy Hawk is also a guaranteed bonus.