Storyline: The NWHL is fresh off its inaugural season. Here’s an interview with Morgan Fitz-Ward of the New York Riveters.
The National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), founded in March 2015, includes four teams: the Buffalo Beauts, Boston Pride, New York Riveters and Connecticut Whale.
Courtesy: stanleycupofchowder.com
Recently I had an opportunity to interview Morgan Fritz-Ward, alternate captain on the New York Riveters, about the League’s inaugural season.
Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself, your background, etc.
I’m from Mason City, Iowa, where I started playing hockey with my twin brother at the age of 10. We started off learning to skate and I quickly moved to Squirt and all the way up to boy’s Bantams while I was also playing AAA hockey with girls in Minnesota. My grandparents would drive me up to Minnesota right after school three times a week, and I would do my homework in the car and come back late at night.
Then, after my freshman year of high school, my family allowed me to move with my grandparents to Lakeville, MN. I ended up playing high school hockey with the Lakeville South Cougars and also playing travel hockey with the Minnesota Ice Cats, where we traveled to Boston and Vermont for two huge tournaments.
Courtesy: titleixhockey.wordpress.com
At those tournaments I was recruited and went on a weeklong visit of schools along the East Coast. I eventually decided to go to Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, where I played for four years. After that, I played with the NY Riveters in Brooklyn last season in the first-ever women’s professional league. It was just an absolute amazing experience. I can’t wait to return!
Q: What made you want to play ice hockey instead of other sports, and if you did play other organized sports, what were they?
Growing up with a twin brother I always wanted to do what he wanted to do. We started out with tennis lessons when we were about 5 or 6. From there, we went on to track and field through my freshman year of high school; flag football and baseball in elementary and middle school; and lacrosse, cross country, softball, and hockey, all in high school.
I was only able to play hockey because of my brother. My mom was against it. She told me that I always did every sport that my brother did, and it was time for him to have ‘his own thing,’ which was hockey. But my brother begged my mom to let me do it. It it hadn’t been for him or my mom, I would have never even started!
Q: What does the new National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) do for women’s sports, and younger girls wanting to get more involved?
The NWHL gives girls, women, and anyone in general, a chance to see that dreams really do come true–with hard work, determination, dedication, and consistency. The NWHL has done a phenomenal job promoting and interacting with our fan base to not only show people that hockey is just awesome, but that it’s possible to do things you never thought you could.
Morgan Fitz-Ward of the NY Riveters (photo, zimbio.com)
Q: How has the fan reaction been at the games, and do you see an increase in the number of fans coming to watch you play, and getting more interested in women’s hockey?
Oh, my gosh, yes! The fans are amazing and they are my favorite part of what I do. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be here! It’s so cool to see the inspirations and the effect this league has had already. You better believe it is continuing to grow and gain more fans!
Q: Do you see expansion of the league to other parts of the country? Canada? Europe?
I definitely believe there will be expansion. But all great things take time.
Q: Most of the players have other jobs, families, etc. How are you able to balance all of that, and still make time to play in a professional sports league?
We got practice balancing things in college. In college you had to be great at time management in order to get your work done, study, travel, etc. while practicing and training.
Q: How can this new league compete with other sports, since hockey, as we know, is not the number one spectator sports by fans, even with the men?
I think that we’re holding our own as far as competition is concerned. I know the league does a great job of promoting the league. And again, like I said, all great things take time. Promotion is huge in order to grow women’s hockey.
Q: How does the NHL fit in, if at all, and have they expressed a willingness to assist in promoting your sport?
I definitely believe the NHL is willing to help, and I think that the women’s outdoor game this season was a huge first step in growing our game. Furthermore, our safety board and its rules are drawn directly from the NHL. The rules are reviewed with Patrick Burke, who represents the NHL safety board.
