Those Hockey Girls Are at It Again with Clinic & Tournament

Mother-daughter duos Heather and Lilly Walter, left, and Kate and Natalie Van Druff, right, pose with ref and coach Tim Shaffer in the magical first game during the grand opening of The Rink at Community Park in New Hanover Township on August 12, 2024. This experience was extra special considering the rink was almost turned into pickleball courts until the young girls stood up at a township recreation meeting to campaign for their battle-worn hockey rink to stay. That sparked a whole journey that culminated in a $200,000 grant from Flyers Charities to fully rebuild the rink. Photo courtesy of Kate Van Druff

by Kate Van Druff

Two local youth female hockey players, Natalie Van Druff, 12, and Lilly Walter, 11, are excited to announce a special day of hockey at the new rink in Gilbertsville that they saved and rebuilt with the Flyers Charities.

First is a Free Kids’ Ball Hockey Clinic hosted by Boyertown Ice Hockey Club in partnership with Pick Up Sticks Hockey.

Next is the first-ever Women’s and Girls’ Ball Hockey Tournament, featuring a girls 14U division and a women’s 12+ division.

Both events will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 (8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively) at The Rink at Community Park at New Hanover Community Park, 2798 Gail Drive, Gilbertsville, PA 19525.

Contact: Kate Van Druff, Heather Walter, Natalie Van Druff, Lilly Walter; PickUpSticksHockey.com
Phone: 267-733-2047 | pickupstickshockey@gmail.com

Justin Remick, President, Boyertown Ice Hockey Club;
Phone: 215-239-5290 | president@boyertownhockey.com

GILBERTSVILLE, PA – Gilbertsville middle schoolers Natalie Van Druff and Lilly Walter may be in back-to-school mode, but hockey mode is still going strong. After saving their crumbling dek hockey rink and rebuilding it with the help of Flyers Charities, New Hanover Township, and the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, the girls are already onto their next projects - a Free Kids’ Ball Hockey Clinic and their first-ever Women’s and Girls’ Ball Hockey Tournament, both on October 5, 2024.

“We loved working with the Flyers Charities and all the great people we encountered on our journey,” said Natalie Van Druff, 12. “It’s been a dream come true! We can’t wait for all the amazing things to come with this rink. We are so excited to get sticks in hands and grow the game!”

Natalie Van Druff races along the boards after the ball and pinches in, holding her own against another player. Photo by Steve Caplan

The Free Kids’ Ball Hockey Clinic, hosted by Boyertown Ice Hockey Club in partnership with Pick Up Sticks Hockey, takes place at The Rink at New Hanover Community Park (2798 Gail Drive, Gilbertsville, PA 19525) on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. No skating is required - kids can simply wear their sneakers and Pre-Registration is encouraged. Hockey sticks are available to borrow. Preschool, elementary, and middle school aged boys and girls are all invited to come out and see how they like hockey!

This is an introductory ball hockey clinic designed to introduce players to the fundamentals of hockey. Even if they’ve never held a hockey stick, kids can come try hockey in a fun and supportive, no-pressure setting.

Referee Ian Lawrence drops the ball for Lilly Walter, left, and Natalie Van Druff, right, during a face off at The Rink at Community Park in Gilbertsville, PA at the first game played at the grand opening on August 12, 2024. Photo by Steve Caplan

“Natalie and Lilly are both members of the Boyertown Ice Hockey Family and we are so very proud of the hard work, dedication and leadership they have displayed right here within our community,” said Justin Remick, President of Boyertown Ice Hockey. “It is our mission to make hockey more accessible and affordable to children of all ages and together with Pick Up Sticks Hockey we are excited to offer the first of many opportunities for young athletes to fall in love with this great sport.”

Next, the Women’s and Girls’ Ball Hockey Tournament faces off at 10 a.m. at The Rink at Community Park on October 5, 2024, following the hockey clinic. This event anticipates a girls 14U division and a women’s 12+ division (with discretion for experienced young players age 12+). Registration is required and closes on October 1. The ball hockey tournament registration is $30 per player and $25 per New Hanover resident player, with a discount given the rink’s location in New Hanover Township. Proceeds benefit efforts to directly grow the game for this community.

Girls and women are encouraged to sign up for the tournament, even if they are brand new to the game.

Lilly Walter focuses on clearing the ball, supporting her goalie Shailynn Coccia. Photo by Steve Caplan

“Right now, we have mostly hockey moms, like me, who started playing because of their kids,” says Kate Van Druff, Natalie’s mom, who started playing ball hockey in 2023 after organizing pick up games for her daughter’s teams. “This is a great tournament for former field hockey players, ice hockey players, and any girls or women who just love hockey. We also have a few supportive, talented players who generously share their experience in the most positive and welcoming way.”

“The joy our family found in hockey and the camaraderie of our group is something I never knew I needed in my life, but once I found it, I knew other women could benefit from this amazing hockey energy as well! We are so excited to partner with Boyertown Ice Hockey in our shared vision to grow the game – not only for girls and women, but for everyone!”

From left, Heather and Lilly Walter smile at the red line with referee Tim Shaffer and Kate and Natalie Van Druff before the face off at the grand opening of the new hockey rink in Gilbertsville. The moms and girls are all excited for the first-ever women’s and girls’ ball hockey tournament and kids’ clinic coming up on Saturday, October 5. Photo by Steve Caplan

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event, with needs for giveaways and player awards. Funds raised through the tournament benefit efforts to grow the game of hockey for the community, with a focus on attaining a shed for equipment storage, training equipment, and funding for future programming and instructional clinics to help break down barriers to hockey.

Through their nonprofit organization Pick Up Sticks Hockey, the girls are on a mission to grow the game of hockey. Lilly and Natalie want everyone to get a chance to experience the same joy they feel whenever they play their favorite sport.

“Even if you don’t feel totally ready, we have lots of ways to get involved,” Van Druff says. “We’d love for you to come watch the tournament, check out the kids’ clinic, and join our local community pick up hockey groups or ladies’ pick up group for friendly open hockey for all ages.”

Referee Ian Lawrence drops the ball for Lilly Walter, left, and Natalie Van Druff, right, during a face off at The Rink at Community Park in Gilbertsville, PA at the first game played at the grand opening on August 12, 2024.  Photo by Steve Caplan

Pick Up Sticks Hockey:
Pick Up Sticks Hockey is a grassroots hockey organization focused on growing the game. The group offers positive, supportive pick up hockey games and meetups, as well as instructional clinics, with a mission of breaking down barriers to get more sticks in hands. Pick Up Sticks Hockey is operating under the wing of a 501c3 organization, the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. For more information visit www.pickupstickshockey.com. Contact Kate Van Druff, Heather Walter, Natalie Van Druff, Lilly Walter.

About Boyertown Ice Hockey:
The Boyertown Ice Hockey Club is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization and is the scholastic hockey organization for the Boyertown Area School District in Boyertown, PA. Boyertown Ice Hockey offers programs for elementary, middle school, and high school varsity and junior varsity. For more information, visit http://www.boyertownhockey.com/.

Contact Kate Van Druff for more information or photos of Natalie and Lilly and hockey pictures. katevandruff@gmail.com, pickupstickshockey@gmail.com, or text / call 267-733-2047
Contact Justin Remick for more information or photos of Boyertown Ice Hockey. president@boyertownhockey.com or text / call 215-239-5290|

Free Ball Hockey Clinic Registration Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3cJrE8x6nmshOxTmRRplCF6nxCsC0PXUp5g6BBSGRnlNVGg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Boyertown Ice Hockey Club Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/boyertownhockey

Free Kids’ Ball Hockey Clinic Event link on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/1070086491385430/

Women’s and Girls’ Ball Hockey Tournament Event link on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/2783876328446699

Tournament Registration Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduew6yuMy8qXa04B0u3nNX1988flxZzApUTho2mTR92VtnxA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Pick Up Sticks Hockey Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/pickupstickshockey

Pick Up Sticks Hockey Coed Kids & Adults Pick Up Hockey https://www.facebook.com/groups/pickupstickshockey

Women’s Pick Up Hockey Montco Berks
www.facebook.com/groups/pickuphockeymontcoberks/

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