Little Caesars AAA Hockey 19U Girls eyeing national title

The Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club's 19U Girls team is ready to compete on the national stage.
Less than a month removed from its 9-1 win over the HoneyBaked Girls Hockey Club in the 2022 19U Tier 1 State Championship Game, the players are focused on achieving a goal that's never been done in the history of the Little Caesars 19U team.

"For many of them, it was another state championship under their belts," said Grace Markey, assistant coach for the Little Caesars AAA 19U team. "I would say happy, but not satisfied, because they've been aiming for the national championship."
This weekend, the young women will attempt to accomplish that objective, opening tournament play for the 2022 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier I 19U National Championship in Pittsburgh, with a matchup against the Alaska All-Stars on Thursday afternoon.
According to Markey, being part of the players' journey this season has been special.
"The amount of investment in these girls' time, the passion they all have, it's incredible," Markey said. "Every single day, they've been at the rink, trying to get better. It's great to see the players all so eager and to be at the rink every day wanting more from us coaches."
The players' commitment is impressive, especially as they juggle academics and additional sports outside the program.
"It's something that I have great respect for," Markey said. "They all do it with such poise and ease. Yes, a lot of the girls have stress away from the rink, but I think they find a way to rally and then come to the rink and use hockey as a catharsis."
Aside from their Michigan Girls Hockey League games, the Little Caesars 19U Girls team competes in several tournaments, showcases and other events throughout the year. It's a busy schedule, which brings the girls closer together.
"Our season hasn't been a straight line, as there's been plenty of ups and downs to get to this point," Markey said. "But these girls have rallied together to celebrate certain successes, even during practice, which has been neat.
"For example, at the end of every practice, we stop for a breakdown and three girls will give a compliment about their teammates based on that practice. That's the team camaraderie we have."
Markey, a 2017 graduate of the Little Caesars Girls Program, is frequently reminded of the impact the organization has on young skaters.
"Everybody is rooting for each other because we are all rooting for our success," Markey said. "I've seen girls hockey grow so much, especially here because every coach stresses skill development."
Players who work hard and take full advantage of the guidance they receive from their coaches are often rewarded. In this year's graduating class, the Little Caesars 19U Girls will see seven skaters playing NCAA Division I hockey next fall.
"Most of that group started their hockey journey here," Markey said. "Their entire development since 12U has been at Little Caesars. As a coach, you see the girls buy into this system which then shows how successful it can be."

As important as success is for the players, Markey said it's important for the girls to have fun on the ice, too.
"The challenge is getting the girls to buy in and be prepared because we've handled Michigan competition pretty well throughout the year," Markey said. "Also, having fun with it. In the state tournament, they all arrived dressed up for the championship game and made it feel like an ESPN College Gameday, which I thought was super cool."
While Markey believes girls hockey is as fun as it is rewarding, she knows it can be intimidating for young players to try the sport for the first time. Fortunately, she said all it takes to get started is a commitment to doing one's best.
"Everybody has to have a starting point," Markey said. "You're going to fall in love with the sport. If it's meant for you, you're going to fall in love the first time you step out on the ice. From there, the only hurdle you'll face is if and how you can make it work."
After Thursday's game, the Little Caesars 19U Girls will face the Minnesota Elite Vegas club on Friday morning, then will play the Connecticut Polar Bears team on Saturday night. Based on seeding, qualifying teams will play in Sunday's quarterfinals and two clubs will advance to the National Championship Game on Monday.
To learn more about the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, visit
LittleCaesarsHockey.com
.