Summer on the Ice: Warrior Ice Arena and the Next Generation of Girls Hockey

Young girls and boys participating in the Warrior Youth Hockey Camp . Photo credit: Warrior Ice Arena

Written By Gina Anton

The sound of skates carving into fresh ice has long been part of New England summers. But today, something different is happening inside Warrior Ice Arena, the official practice facility of the Boston Bruins. More girls than ever are stepping onto the ice, attending camps, building confidence, and proving that hockey is no longer a sport where they are expected to simply watch from the stands.

Summer hockey has become a critical part of youth development, and facilities like Warrior Ice Arena are helping lead that growth. The arena offers year-round hockey and skating opportunities, including youth hockey camps that allow players to sharpen their skills, compete, and fall deeper in love with the game.

For young girls in particular, these summer programs represent much more than additional ice time. They are places where players can see a future for themselves in hockey. They get to skate in the same building where professional athletes train, walk the same hallways, and imagine their own path forward in the sport.

That sense of belonging matters.

Girls’ hockey has experienced remarkable growth over the last year, fueled by Team USA’s Olympic success, stronger youth programs, and the rise of professional women’s hockey. Yet keeping girls involved in sports through their teenage years remains one of the biggest challenges facing youth athletics.

The Professional Women's Hockey League has made that issue a major focus through its mentorship initiatives aimed at supporting young female athletes during the years when many leave sports behind. The league’s mentorship program is designed to connect girls with role models and reinforce that they belong in hockey spaces at every level.

“Girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys, and hockey is no exception, with age 14 being a key point when many stop playing,” said Mandy Gutmann, vice president of communications and external affairs for the PWHL. “That’s why we built the PWHL Mentorship Program to specifically target eighth- and ninth-grade girls. In partnership with Strong Girls United and with founding support from Kyndryl, the program is designed to give girls role models, support, and a sense of belonging that keeps them connected to hockey. We know that when girls continue to play hockey, the impact extends far beyond the rink.”

That final point is especially important. Hockey teaches leadership, resilience, teamwork, and confidence. The benefits do not disappear when the final buzzer sounds. Girls who stay in sports often carry those lessons into school, careers, and their communities.

Facilities like Warrior Ice Arena help reinforce that message every day during the summer months.

The visibility of women’s hockey has also changed what young players can imagine for themselves. With the success of the PWHL and the continued expansion of girls’ youth programs across the country, girls now have professional role models to look up to in ways previous generations did not. That visibility matters when a young player is deciding whether to stick with the sport through difficult years.

Summer camps can often be the difference between a player continuing in hockey or drifting away from it. The friendships formed, the mentorship from coaches, and the excitement of competing in a high-level environment create lasting connections to the game. At a place like Warrior Ice Arena, those experiences become even more powerful.

The growth of girls’ hockey is not simply about increasing participation numbers. It is about creating environments where girls feel welcomed, supported, and valued. It is about making sure they can see themselves not as outsiders in the sport, but as an essential part of its future.

This summer, as young players lace up their skates at Warrior Ice Arena, that future will be on full display. Every practice, every camp, and every moment on the ice reinforces the same message: girls belong here.