Ice Hockey Merchandise Has A Presence

Equally frustrated by the lack of women's ice hockey apparel, that didn't resemble oversized menswear, was the catalyst for two sister-in-laws, Cindy and Lori Nickerson, to introduce She Plays Hockey, a clothing line devoted to women and girls who play hockey. "Girls that play hockey are girls, not boys and we have our own attitude toward it" says Cindy Nickerson.

According to hockeycanada.ca, females are embracing the sport with increased participation and unparalleled growth. Likewise in the states, NCAA women's ice hockey teams have steadily risen year after year. It being a Winter Olympics year, the excitement of the games is sure to peak interest with fans across the world and translate into new fans of women's hockey apparel.

She Plays Hockey has created an alternative to male dominated clothing. Pink and baby blue hues are offered, as well as traditional colors and their gear ranges from adult and youth apparel and headwear to undergarments and accessories. Frankly, there is just too much to list here. A trip to the website will give you a firsthand look at the merchandise possibilities and some of their catchy female inspired hockey phrases such as, "Sugar and Spice, but not on the ice" or their more passionate expressions "Peace Love Hockey" or "Spirited Gutsy Authentic". You'll find a full array of casual hockey items perfect for outside the rink.

The website is easy to navigate and extremely user friendly. Although located in Canada, the purchasing process features simple and pain free order placement to the United States. She Plays Hockey encompasses an intimate feel. They welcome your thoughts and ideas and invite your feedback on new products. Be sure to take a look, it's worth your time.

Look for these and other apparel items at www.sheplayshockey.com

Tickled Pink

Pink dresses,...pink ties,...shirts, wristbands even whistles. No, it's not a Mary Kay convention, it's the WBCA Pink Zone. Teams all over the country will change out their traditional school colors for pink jerseys in support of the WBCA's initiative which is a global, unified effort for the WBCA's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The week set aside for this years initiative is February 12-21 which coincides with ESPN's February Frenzy/Rivalry Week.

The WBCA began the WBCA Pink Zone, formerly known as "Think Pink" in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and communities. The late Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, served as the catalyst for the initiative after her third recurrence of breast cancer in 2006.

On Valentine's Day, February 14th, I attended the Georgia vs. Alabama women's basketball game and witnessed the spectacle of pink first hand. You can add to your collection of gear from the WBCA Pink Zone Concept Shop. Basketballs, signage, mouthpieces and many products in between are offered to build an individuals own personal stash or an organization wanting to make a Pink Zone event successful. You can also check out merchandise offered for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund concept shop. Included in this shop is the Nike Kay Yow collection offering footwear, apparel and equipment. In addition, books, jewelry, throws and the "When Life Kicks You" Collection from the late Kay Yow, round out a host of products available. A portion of all sales benefit the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund.

Breast cancer and the color pink is not new. We are all familiar with the month of October being recognized as breast health awareness. We are also familiar with organizations like the NFL and some of it's high profile players wearing pink cleats, shoelaces or wristbands to draw attention to the cause. But nothing quite draws attention like some of these collegiate programs taking it a step further and completely cladding themselves head to toe with pink for a day. It's a marvelous sight!

Being a woman and an athlete it's especially satisfying. Almost all of us know personally or indirectly someone diagnosed,...fighting the disease,...recovering or someone who has lost the battle of breast cancer. It would be nice to see the WBCA Pink Zone initiative continue and crossover into other venues. How about volleyball players using a pink net? Soccer athletes playing with a pink ball? Softball outfitting themselves with pink bats and visors, pink lacrosse and field hockey sticks? How about gymnastic equipment pink for a day? Pink pucks? Pink hurdles? The possibilities are endless. It can be pink overload but if it's done over a two week period, a week in October and one in February, it just might help ease the overwhelming and possibly annoying pink overkill. I'm in! I welcome a break from the norm. I believe athletic endeavors should be tailored to the fans as well as the participants why stick completely to the same blueprints everybody else is doing. Add originality! Make the games relevant to the audience, perhaps it will gain new fans as well.

The WBCA Pink Zone initiative runs through February 21, so there is still time to catch a game in your area. If you miss it this year be sure and don your pink in support of this cause for 2011.

Be sure and access the photo gallery below for more pictures of this fantastic day!
Photo Gallery: Women's Basketball vs. Alabama (2/14/10) - Official Athletics Site of the University of Georgia Bulldogs

Are You Holding On To Your Throwbacks

I love throwbacks! I love what throwbacks stand for,...the history,...the stories. Throwbacks are variations on a sports teams uniforms styled to resemble uniforms from that teams past. They were first promoted in the 1980's with baseball. They have proven popular in all major pro sports in the U.S. Mitchell and Ness is the premier provider of nostalgic apparel for the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and NCAA. They offer jerseys, jackets, tees, hats and hoodies. I never thought about it quite like this but my closet is full of throwbacks from a women's sports era gone by. Every piece of licensed apparel I own belongs to a team or league that is no longer active. Chances are you too have hanging in your closet or folded neatly on a shelf or placed in a drawer a throwback from a WNBA team moved or disbanded. Maybe you recall when Portland, Oregon held two basketball franchises, the ABL Portland Power and the WNBA Portland Fire. Are you into soccer? Perhaps you kept a Carolina Courage tee or cap. For you pro softball fans, did you hold on to anything from the WPSL? Volleyball fans, did they even offer merchandise for the short lived National Volleyball Association?

Even today we are hearing about the disbanding of not only the Los Angeles Sol soccer team of the WPS, but also a staple in the WNBA's historical database has closed it's doors. No longer will there be a Sacramento Monarchs franchise. (I officially took my Monarchs sweatshirt out of circulation). No more free advertising for the Charlotte Sting (I have a lot of apparel, I was once a season ticket holder). No ABL, no WPSL Akron Racers and heaven forbid, the first 4 championships ever won in the WNBA by the Houston Comets is forever just a memory. All my gear is officially retired and put into limited or suspended wearing rotation. There is not a replacement for these articles, once they are worn out they are gone forever. I just can't take a chance of losing history altogether.

I'll tell you what my dream is,...
Mitchell and Ness (or someone else) would understand the importance of women's sports teams and leagues of the past and begins to offer authentic throwbacks of the various sports and era's. I would personally like to have a throwback of Nancy Lieberman's, Dallas Diamond jersey or a Cheryl Miller USC jersey. Unfortunately I never purchased a Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets jersey or a Mia Hamm jersey,...I'd like to add that to my collection. I could go on, there are more I would like to own but it just makes me sad to know I may never get the opportunity.

I'll cherish the apparel I do have and work on my collection for the future. There is Cat Osterman and Jennie Finch jerseys to explore as well as the new faces of soccer. You never know when the next team or league will dismantle. If it does at least you'll have your piece of women's history.

Atlanta Xplosion on Facebook

The Atlanta Xplosion need your help. They need your support to grow the Atlanta Xplosion Women's Football Team Fan Page!

Here is what you need to do:
#1 Login to FaceBook.
#2 Search for: Atlanta Xplosion Women's Football and you will see the Fan page.
#3 Become a Fan and suggest their FAN page to all of your friends!
#4 Visit the Photo Gallery that is organized by years and add any photos that you have!

The page will be used to promote games, have open forum discussions and communicate the happenings of the Atlanta Xplosion Women's Football Team to their fans!

Help them get 10K fans by the first game in April!

Thanks for your support of the Xplosion and women's athletics in general!