Courtesy of the Superior Icebreakers
Jersey Lassila, with puck, and the Superior Icebreakers have tryouts scheduled for April 12 in Escanaba.
By Samantha Meyer
Beacon Correspondent
Tryouts for the Superior Icebreakers girls hockey program are set for April 12 in Escanaba, offering another opportunity for athletes across the Upper Peninsula to join a developing program.
The session will be held at the HIT Complex (Wells Sports Complex) and will include tryouts for the 14U and 19U Tier 2 travel teams, along with an interest skate for the 12U and 16U house programs. The additional levels are part of ongoing efforts to expand the program and create more opportunities for players across the U.P.
The Superior Icebreakers, part of the Munising Hockey Association, is an all-girls hockey program that brings together players from communities across the U.P. The program provides a different experience from the co-ed teams, where girls often have to change in separate areas such as bathrooms rather than a designated locker room. Offering a girls-only environment, the Icebreakers create a space where athletes can compete, grow and build confidence alongside other female players.
“The key thing is that it’s a fairly new program,” said T.J. Lassila, a board member of the Munising Hockey Association. “This is the third tryout we’ve had, and it’s been continued growth.”
As participation in the program has increased, so has the level of programming offered to players. Lassila describes the program as evolving beyond a traditional local experience.
“So we’re taking it to another level where you’re not just showing up to play hockey,” Lassila said. “These girls are athletes, and they’re truly interested in pursuing the sport long term.”
For many of the athletes, the Icebreakers have created an opportunity to travel locally for games, which has decreased the need for extensive travel outside of the U.P. Andrew Grabowski, president of the Munising Hockey Association, described how the program was developed to address that need.
“We saw girls leaving not only the U.P., they were leaving the district, they were leaving the state, they were leaving the country to play,” Grabowski said. “So we were like, ‘Why are we allowing that to happen?’”
Bringing the competitive girls hockey team to the region has helped shift the dynamic, allowing players to train and compete closer to home while also reaching for higher levels of play.
“They come in and they’re like, ‘Yeah, this is our rink,’” Grabowski said. “We’re hanging banners up in here. We’re promoting it. We’re getting home games here.”
Piper Grabowski, a player with the Superior Icebreakers program, said the team has created a supportive environment for players.
“This will be my third year playing with the Icebreakers,” she said. “It’s just a different environment.”
The relationships that are built within the program are a major part of the experience.
“The girls are a great group of girls,” Grabowski said. “You don’t realize they’ll become your family by the end of the season.”
Grabowski encourages other girls who may be reluctant to take the opportunity to try out.
“I know the first time I actually tried out for a team, it was super scary, but it’s really not,” she said. “Do your best, try your best because that’s what matters at the end of the day.”
The program has already experienced success on the ice. One standout performance came from Morgan St. Amour, who recorded 17 points during a state tournament, including nine goals and eight assists in just four games, leading all players in points despite her team not advancing to the finals.
For more information about tryout times, registration details and costs, visit munisinghockey.org or email superioricebreakers@gmail.com.