USA Hockey Adult Hockey

Susan Richardson didn’t lace up her skates until she was a 23-year-old grad student in Wisconsin.

“What else is there to do in Wisconsin?” Richardson joked.

From that moment on, she was hooked. Now in the Emerald City, Richardson found the Seattle Women’s Hockey Club. An adult league with a mix of beginners, intermediates and advanced players on the same team, SWHC attracts players of all levels. Offering Give-Hockey-a-Try clinics with the help of USA Hockey, SWHC is proof that hockey really is for everyone – no matter your age or experience level.

USA Hockey: What is it about hockey that attracted you?

Susan Richardson: I just totally became enamored with it, not only for the challenge and trying something new, but the women that played were so awesome. I like to hang out and talk with them while also competing against them. I had a lot of fun and have been playing ever since.

USA Hockey: What makes SWHC so unique?

Richardson: Seattle’s great. I’ve played in Wisconsin and St. Louis and then I moved to Seattle three years ago, so I’ve seen a lot of different clubs and the way they organize things. I really like the way Seattle does it. Anybody can play at any level. Every person in the Seattle Women’s Hockey Club is on two teams. One is your club team and the other is your tier team. The tier team is the one you go to tournaments with, and it’s the team where you play with players on your level. The club team has a variety of levels all playing on one team. If you’re new, on the club team you have others with more skills to share and more knowledge. If you’re advanced the club team gives you the chance to mentor players. It’s just a really neat way of doing things.

USA Hockey: Does the mix of players ever intimidate any of the newer women to the game?

Richardson: I think it’s great how people comfort one another in those situations. The negative about it could be that, if you’re a beginner on the club team, you might not get the puck as much, but that’s why you have your tiered games with a bunch of beginners playing together. I think it brings a little something for everyone on both levels. It keeps it competitive and fun all at the same time. If a woman has ever been nervous or intimated, it doesn’t last too long before she’s smiling through it all out there.

USA Hockey: SWHC’s Give-Hockey-a-Try event must bring in plenty of new players to the league.

Richardson: We see quite a few women coming to those events. The ice time is paid for, so you can come out and play for free. It’s a great deal. Plus the equipment is donated, so players are set up with all they need. Coaches and current players come and help out, too. They help tell you what equipment goes on first and explain the skills and techniques on the ice.

USA Hockey: How many ladies get out and give hockey a try each session?

Richardson: It really varies. The most recent one, we had 15-17 women. Typically that’s the number we get and we usually end up keeping maybe half of those players in the league.

USA Hockey: How helpful has it been to be a part of USA Hockey on top of it all?

Richardson: The additional coverage that is provided through USA Hockey lends a peace of mind to anyone who might be concerned about injury. And, personally, I like receiving the magazine – especially during the last Olympics – and hearing about sled teams, women’s leagues and other hockey that might not be on prime time news.

USA Hockey: What would you say to adults on the fence about joining a league as a first-time player?

Richardson: I’d say ‘go for it.’ The women I play with are just so awesome. A lot of them have kids who come out and watch them from the stands. For any parent to come out, that’s very inspiring that they have this drive to be competitive. Despite all the mom duties, they have an hour a day to come out and be with everyone else. I really like that. It’s a mix of social and competitiveness. Not to mention you’re trying something new, which, at any age, is a lot of fun. The first time I put on skates, I couldn’t skate and now I’m on the advanced team. That learning process is great. You’re challenging yourself, and to me that’s fun. For me, it’s pure joy to play hockey.