Madeline Stoklosa has skated to championships with Monsignor Martin’s Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League. Now she is working on the top award in Girl Scouts and using hockey to do it.
Stoklosa is hosting a Try Hockey for Free: Girls Hockey Clinic on Saturday, Aprl 12 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is given to those Scouts who have shown their leadership ability and provided a service project that benefits the community. Requirements include identifying an issue, researching it, developing a plan to address the issue and implementing and evaluating it.
“I want to grow girl’s hockey,” said Stoklosa of her project. “I want this day to have a lasting effect on hockey and on the girl’s who come to try out. I’m hoping they will play hockey!”
Stokolosa has had the ice time donated and will have access to one of the hockey equipment trailers that are owned by the New York State Amateur Hockey Association.
“We can take 40 skaters, with or without experience,” she continued. “We will break them into groups by their ability.
“Anyone with equipment should bring their own,” she says.
“In addition we will have an off-ice session and explain the sport of hockey, its levels and the differences between boys and girls hockey,” she explained.
Stoklosa is setting up different levels and then stations where the participants will take part in skating, shooting passing and stick handling.
The Beginners Clinic will be run by former D1 (Niagara University) player and current head coach for the Monsignor Martin Team, Linda Mroz and the Buffalo Stars Girl’s Director and Buffalo Stars 16U and 19U Coach Dawn Robinson.
Following the ice session there will be a reception with light refreshments and an off-ice presentation about girl’s hockey in Western New York. They will discuss where to go from here, various organizations and differences between house and travel and what’s for girl’s beyond those levels.
Stoklosa began her ice hockey career with the Buffalo Regals House team when she was 11 years old.
“My Dad thinks I started late,” said Stoklosa.
She then moved to West Seneca’s Travel for two years and then to the Buffalo Stars where she played with the 16U team and currently plays for the 19U team.
The Mt. Mercy Academy Junior will have a chance at a National Championship when the Buffalo Stars 19U team makes an appearance at the USA Nationals in Amherst the first weekend in April.
She also plays Varsity Soccer for her high school and is involved with student government, volunteers for the Relay for Life and is a member of the Buffalo Ski Club.
“I find hockey thrilling,” said Stoklosa. “I meet new people and my family plays hockey.”
One of her most thrilling moments was scoring a goal in the semi-finals against Orchard Park/Frontier Varsity Girls and going 20-0 on the season.
“It was unbelieveable,” said Stoklosa. “I’ve had great coaches.”
The event is sponsored by Holiday Twin Rinks and Girl Scouts of WNY. For information contact Stoklosa at [email protected] or call (716) 253-4457.
