December 12, 2025 • 39 mins
The Northeast Intercounty Scholastic Girls Hockey League (NISHL) is a newly established non-profit women's high school hockey league in New England that focuses on skill development, sportsmanship, and inclusiveness. The league was largely created to provide a space and league for all high school girls to play hockey, especially for those girls whose own high school might not provide a women's varsity or even junior varsity team. Founder Jenelle Cioffi joined us to discuss the league and what it means for girls across New England.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All Right, welcome back everyone. We are going to talk
about a subject this hour that I don't think we've
ever approached directly, and that is girls hockey. I think
that everyone in New England knows, and certainly for that matter,
now across America, that hockey is the very popular sport.
(00:30):
It is one of the four major sports. And unfortunately,
here in Massachusetts it appears that hockey is not tweated
as seriously for girls as it is for boys. However,
we're gonna speak with Janelle Chuffey, who has taken some
(00:55):
very dramatic steps to make a girls the girls high
school hockey or the equivalent of girls high school hockey
available to young girls from seventh to twelfth grade. This,
to me is a really important subject. I'm someone who
strongly believes in title nine. I have a son and
(01:19):
a daughter, both of whom played hockey. My daughter and
played softball. My son played baseball as well as football
in high school. But I wanted them both to play
hockey because I think it's a great sport. There are
carryover values to hockey and with us. Now is Janelle Chaffey, Janelle,
Welcome to Nightside. Thank you for doing this program tonight,
(01:41):
and thank you and your daughter for pushing this solution
to a problem that I really didn't understand existed as
broadly as it does. Welcome to Nightside.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Thank you so much for having me Dan. And I
don't mean to correct you right off about my husband's
involved to Michael. So it's really a family affair, all
three of us, as the.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Way as the way it should be. So what I
have learned from you is that Uh I played high
school hockey. Uh and uh way back in the dark ages.
Uh and uh girls have made tremendous strides in this sport.
We now have a professional women's hockey team uh here
(02:24):
in Boston. Uh, it doesn't it's not as big as
the Bruins, doesn't have the history of the Bruins, but
it's it's now here, the Boston Fleet. Uh and uh
there there are there are the high school boys hockey
is available broadly in Massachusetts. Uh. The the the m
(02:48):
i A A the ruling body for for athletics in
high schools broadly available, but not so for girls. Why
don't you break it down for us, Let's create the
problem that you're a organization is addressing.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
This is great and I really am grateful for the platform.
So what we've learned, and I think a lot of
people would be shocked to learn, is that the landscape
of hockey as a whole looks what it looks like
for girls in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts it's the MIAA is
comprised of four hundred and thirty members high schools, and
within those four hundred and thirty members high schools, each
(03:25):
school can decide what sports they have and what sports
they don't have, and MIA serves two hundred and twenty
thousand students across the state of that of what shocking
with those numbers is girls high school hockey has two divisions,
boys have four. Girls high school hockey has eighty five
(03:48):
total teams statewide, where boys have one hundred and seventy nine,
and it's not for lack of athletes, it's just for
lack of schools wanting to pick up the sport. Additionally, though,
of those teams, the schools that they represent are which
(04:09):
is even more shocking because girls, because you're allowed to
have co op in MIA, and what a co op
is is more than one school comes together. If they
don't have enough athletes at one school, they cambine the
schools for co ops. If you look at just the
schools that are served overall, we found that the boys
(04:30):
programs have three hundred and five member schools that participate,
which is pretty decent when you look at four hundred
and thirty member schools, and girls only have two hundred
and nine schools that participate because of the co op teams.
You have to remember the co op teams. So if
we're looking at everything fat for fat, you know, because
the opportunity is available. That being said, if you're a
(04:52):
co op team, you're not allowed to have a JV
program in your school, So that limits the girls for
developing and having a JV program in high school if
their teams are part of a co op and not
in their own school.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
The hard part, why why is it? Let me ask
you this question. The numbers are important, but it's but
numbers can overwhelm as well. I think I think you've
you've made the case factually. Why it sounds to me
as if girls in this particular sport are being looked
at as almost you know, second class citizens. I mean,
(05:29):
if you have a daughter, and she wants to play hockey.
There there are all sorts of college programs for women
playing hockey, and a lot of women go to great
prep schools. And your daughter, I believes in a prep school,
she very well might someday play at a Division I college.
And it's the path for student athletes. And why should
(05:52):
the path for boys be wider than it is for girls.
That's all you're you're essentially asking for, I think, is
the same path for girls as well as boys exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
And that so the reason why this has become more
prevalent now than it was even a few years ago.
In twenty twenty two, MIA made the rule change where
an unattached athlete, so if an athlete didn't have the
program at the school, they could play at another school.
So if for instance, Lowell didn't have hockey, they could
a girl could play on a Westford team as long
(06:26):
as the Westford team had the had the program within
their school. They did without that in twenty twenty two,
So now girls have no mechanism to play.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
So a program that that basically gave girls widened the
path for girls gave them, you know, another option was
taken away in twenty twenty two, so at a.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Time was exactly but they did it for all the sports.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Yeah, that should be expanding is contracting, and that is
not a good that's not a good development here in Massachusetts.
So would you have done? And I want to get
to what you have done? And I also want to
hear from people because a lot of the conversations that
we've heard about recently are you know, some boys wanting
to play girls sports. That's not what we're talking about. Well,
(07:14):
we're talking about girls being locked out of playing a
sport they have worked on because when they get to
their high school, maybe there's no varsity program. Even if
there is a varsity program, there's no junior varsity program.
So if you're a young girl in the say eighth
or ninth grade, in a junior high school, unless you
(07:36):
make the varsity team, if you're lucky enough to have
a varsity program, unless you make the varsity program, you're
locked out because there's no JV team. But there will
be a JV team for boys. So in a number
of ways, the path for girls is much narrower than
it is for boys. And that seems to me inherently unfair.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
I would agree with you, and so my husband and
I thought that this is an issue, but our daughter
was playing, so it wasn't an issue for us because
she was playing in public school and we had high
school hockey. Her friends did not have high school hockey.
And so when she decided to leave public school to
go to private school, she came to us and she said,
(08:18):
how can we fix this? What can we do to help?
You know, we had this. She had a friend that
was four foot eleven that was playing on a boys
team but never getting nice time, never playing because they
do allow girls to play on boys teams if they
would like, but it's unsafe. I mean, boys have checking
girls don't. You can make a bigger.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Body mask bring at a much faster rate of speed,
and no matter how much protective equipment you have on,
if you're a four foot eleven girl and you weigh
one hundred and five or one hundred and ten pounds
and you get it by a six foot one guy
that weighs one hundred and eighty, that's not fair.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
It's not fair at all. I mean, it's so she
came to us and she asked, and so initially when
we started the non so initial is a nonprofit, So
anybody that joins, we don't take a salary. Nobody, like
nobody in our house takes a salary. We pay our
coaches and our refs and everything else. But when it
comes right down to it, we're just giving back to
the community and hopefully in time we turn our league
(09:18):
over to a public board, not just us, because at
the end of the day, we shouldn't be controlling an
independent league. It should be a community based effort, right.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Okay, So the league is now in its second year
is brought to my attention totally independent of the MIAA.
It's the new England inter County Scholastic Hockey League. You
have six teams that are playing and we're going to
get to all of that. If there are young women
high school students who are looking to play hockey, we
(09:50):
can hopefully guide them. But I also think it's just
inherently unfair and I think the MIAA should should address this.
You have addressed it privately, uh if you'd like to
call and join the conversation and ask questions of my guests.
Jenelle Chaffi, who along with her husband and her daughter,
(10:14):
who is now a graduate of high school and playing
a year of going to a prep school in anticipation
of going off to college. Feel free to join join
the conversation. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. I am
a huge proponent of a title nine. For a long time,
(10:37):
women were really shut out of participating in sports, particularly
at high school and college level. It has certainly the
door has opened, but we need to open that door
a little wider so we can get more young women
involved in athletics. I assume that, look, girls are not
(10:58):
going to be playing football, I get bad. I assume
that there might be uh an equivalent in balance if
we looked at, let us say, high school baseball versus
high school softball. And we're not going to focus on
that tonight. But this is a broader it's a more
broad conversation than just hockey. But we're going to focus
(11:20):
on hockey because that's what you do, what you know,
and that's what you are doing something about and basically
enabling dozens of young women to continue playing hockey. Which
if your league, your alternate league didn't exist, they they
would they would not be able to participate, and that's
(11:42):
a shame. Six one seven two thirty six, one, seven, nine, three,
ten thirty back with my guest Jenelle Choffee. She is
doing something that I think is amazing with her husband
and her family. Uh, and they have formed this league
which now is in its second year and it is growing,
the New England Inter County Scholastic Hockey League for girls seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth,
(12:08):
eleventh and twelfth grade. And believe me, if you've gone
to girls hockey games, high school hockey games as I have,
they know how to play. Back on nightside right after this.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
My guess it's Janelle Chaffee. She and her family have
organized the New England Inter County Scholastic Hockey League for
young women women for girls seventh through twelfth grade who
were in schools that do not offer an ice hockey
program or in schools that do not offer a JV
program in case the young woman hasn't made the young
(12:48):
girl has made a varsity team. So let's talk Janelle,
how's the league doing? This is your second year, you're
well underway, and I'd love to know what how you
do it? And has the MIAA in any way either
helped you or tried to hinder you.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
So our second year is better than we could ever imagined.
Last year was amazing. We had forty three girls. We're
doubled that already. This year. We've added double the amount
of teams. So last year we only had three, actually
we had like two and three quarters and this year
we'll have six five yees, six definitely maybe seven if
the Cell Shore hopefully they're all listening and the girls
(13:29):
start signing up. Okay, if we had enough girls in
the Cell Shore, that would be great. That's the one
region we're missing. So overall, the girls have been the
girls coming inside and really sharing pieces of themselves with
each other and developing. Some girls last our program and
made their varsity teams this year, which is amazing. That's
(13:49):
what we want. Two schools added a program because of us,
that's what we want. They actually reached out to my
husband to see how many girls we had within the
two schools they were looking to co op enrolled in
our program last year, and based on those numbers, they
now have their own program, which is amazing. I mean
that's also a plus, right, Like we're bringing awareness. So
(14:13):
given all of it, go ahead, and then the p WHL.
The support that we've had from the PWHL when they
saw she saw one of our news articles when we
first launched was amazing. They have given opportunities to our
girls by being just role models for them. In addition
to that, they've they've allowed us to have tables at
(14:34):
their games to give exposure to our league so these
girls can join. They have given them on ice opportunities
and have sponsored games for them, which has allowed them
to go to games. They give them tickets to their games.
The Bruins because my daughter started the Delilah the one
that started the program with us, started skating through the
(14:55):
Little Bruins program. The Bruins Foundation, along with with Sabby Technologies,
under the league with a five thousand dollars gift at
Girls Hockey Day last year to bring more exposure. So,
because of the things that they're hearing and you know
that other people outside are really helping us bring exposure,
(15:16):
the girls in the of themselves walk into the rank happy.
They love their locker room because we have a rule
there's no bullying and it's a team environment, not second chances,
and that has really served us well. When we sent
out our reviews for the season for last year, we
really asked the girls that we wanted them to be
(15:36):
honest with us, because at the end of the day,
this is about them. We're trying to fix the hole
that we wish our daughter had the experience that we
wish all athletes would have a positive environment. Right, you
don't need to have negative coaching to have a good team.
So these girls, they actually said they felt safe for
the first time ever in the locker room. That's a
big deal.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Well, I remember when I was a dad, when Little
League time came around the town in which I was in,
they had like a summer team, a travel team, and
like any of the sort of those teams, there's a
little bit of politics involved. So there were some kids
that made the travel team and some kids that didn't
(16:20):
make the travel team. So what I decided to do
was kind of do what you did, and I ran
a program in the summer, separate and apart from the
little he called Summer Sandlot and practice with kids, and
then I found a league where they could play some
games in the summer. They played through the summer July
and then into it was fallball in September and October,
(16:44):
playing baseball and the next year a lot of the
kids that I worked with made that travel team.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
It's great.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
And what happens is that they make decisions as to
whether or not kids are able to play or not,
and they don't don't even give they don't have a chance.
And the idea is that kids should be kids should
be playing sports all through high school, no matter how
good or how poor they are. And I know that
you can't have unlimited teams, but you have opened up
(17:13):
an avenue the New England inter County Scholastic Hockey League.
First of all, we're going to take phone calls. We
get back right after the news and I the only
line that we have opened right now is one at
six one, seven, nine, three, one ten thirty. But what
is your website? In case there are young girls or
parents and other communities who are listening and want to
(17:35):
get in touch with you, you know, over the weekend,
what's your what's the website?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
The website is initial dot org. That's NISHL dot org
and or they can email. They can email me, And
I really find I'd really rather have a conversation with
anybody that would like to join, because I think that's
a personal touch is very important, especially you know, a
lot of these girls are in very vulnerable situations, especially
(18:00):
the girls calling us now they didn't make their high
school team and they're devastated. No girls should be devastated.
So my emails J Chaffee, J C I, O F
F I at initial.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Dot org and again, so again I want to give
that website as well. It's it's it's basically the initials
for New England inter County Scholastic Hockey League. So it's
N E I s h L.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Right, no, no n I, no E. There's no E
N we just I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Fair enough, that's okay, we're gonna get it right. N
I s h L which stands for Scholastic Hockey League
for into content into County Scholastic Hockey League, and N
stands for for an effect New England. But it's just
N I s h L s h L and your
J C I, O F F I at n U
(19:00):
I s h L. I think for a lot of
people slower, sometimes it's better. I know when I can
listen and I can write, but I want to hear
as well. We'll take a break. We've got the news
coming up. We get back, we'll continue our conversation with
Janelle Choffe. She is one of the founders, along with
her husband, of the New England inter County Scholastic Hockey League.
(19:22):
This is just for girls, So this is not an
opportunity for boys. They have enough opportunities through them i AA.
This is for underserved girls at this point who may
go on to play hockey. Who knows, maybe some of
your graduates someday will be playing for the Boston Fleet.
(19:43):
You just never know. We'll take a very quick break.
But coming right back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
We're talking with Janelle Chaffey. She along with her husband
and a daughter, have basically seen a problem and done
something about it. They have formed the New England inter
County Scholastic Hockey League n i SHL dot com. Correct.
Just want to make sure we get that correct, Janelle
(20:15):
dot org dot org. Well, thank you very much. To
make sure a kid said, okay, that's very important n
i SHL dot org to basically provide another avenue for
girls in high schools here in Massachusetts who want to
play hockey, maybe have played hockey for years and years
and years, but happen to be going to high school
there's no girls hockey program. There should be a girls
(20:38):
hockey program at every high school whre there's a boys
hockey program, in my mind, and there also should be.
Sometimes a girl can be going to a high school
where there is a girls hockey program, but they don't
make the varsity team, or they're in the eighth grade
of the ninth grade and they have nowhere else to play. Well,
this is another option for them, little less convenient. I
would think, maybe a little bit more card time, but
(20:59):
parents are well used to that. So let's go and
talk to some folks who have called in, Janelle. Let's
let's see what folks have to say. Let me go
first to Skyler, who's calling in from Lowell. Skyler, welcome
to Night's side.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
How are you this evening, Higan?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
Good in you.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
We're doing great. We're doing great. I think I can
tell by your voice that you might be a female
hockey player. Tell me about yourself.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
Yes, I am a female hockey player. I've been playing
hockey since iand around nine or not nine to five. Yeah,
and there are times where I haven't necessarily felt part
of a family on my team or in my organization,
and then me and my mom found out about an
I show and fell in love with it.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
So did you play? Did you play last year and
playing again this year?
Speaker 5 (21:53):
Yes, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Okay, Now at school? Do you have a girls hockey
program at school?
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Am I school? We actually don't have a hockey program
at all?
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Oh oh, boys or girls? So that's that's even worse.
And so what team you're You're in Lowell? Everybody knows
real Lowell is up in the northeast corner of the state.
Where is your team based?
Speaker 5 (22:22):
So for an HL, I play out of the Groton team,
which is also the Northeast Revolution. I had a lot
of fun on it last year and I'm excited to
play on it again this year.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Great. Uh, and do you do you play at the
Is your home rink the Groton rink? That's the that's
a that's a private school in Groton, Massachusetts.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
I assume you're referring to yes it is.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Well, that's great. And what sort of a difference does
it make in your life? If this league, the New
England inter County Scholastic Hockey League, didn't exist, what would
you doing with your time. I mean you, obviously you
spend a lot of time playing playing ice hockey. There's
a lot of time to get to the rink, get
the equipment on, get out, play the game or do
(23:09):
the practice, and then get the equipment off and get
back home. How much of wild would that leave in
your life.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
I would actually have a lot of time to kind
just do nothing. Yeah, I would most likely be training
for the next season coming out, even though I wouldn't
be on a team.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, it's awfully tough to train and improve your hockey
skills unless you're on a team. If you were a
member of a if you were a track if you
were a runner or a high jumper, or for that matter,
a swimmer, and you didn't have a team, you could
train individually. But it's tough when you want to play
(23:51):
a team sport not to have a team to play with.
Say hi to to Janelle. I assume you probably have
met Jee. Well, if you'd like to say anything to
the to the woman that put this program together, feel free.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Actually, jan I'm very thankful that you guys had put
this together. I'm thankful that you guys made the league
feel like a family. The first day. From the very beginning,
it was a family, which I know.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
It really was a lot of other girls.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
Who are now part of the league didn't have that
feeling of a family in hockey, and now we do.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
That is a recommendation go ahead.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
You know all summer I kept getting text from these girls,
can you out of practice? Can we play in a tournament?
We miss you guys. I want to see my friends
that I played hockey with. So it and these girls
have formed one group chat within the league. They include everybody,
no matter what team you're on, so each girl, so
there aren't cliques, and that was amazing. That's something these
(24:59):
girls to go over on their own. They really made
this league for themselves. They fit it into their lives
and we've responded in a way to make it so
we can help them as much as possible, but really
they're doing it for themselves, which is amazing. I mean
Skyler's then, she went from this quiet person to a
leader in our group, and that's been awesome to see
(25:22):
her grow in the last year.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Well that's what sports were all about, Skyler. I hope
you have a great season. Uh. And when you end
up playing for the Boston fleet. You've got to make
sure I get free tickets. Okay, thank you, I will, Thanks,
thanks very much. We're going to talk to two young
ladies who are sharing a phone in Bill Ricker. We
(25:44):
don't do this often, but we're going to make an
exception for Erin and Elise. Erin and Elise, welcome, Hi girls.
Oh guess what, I forgot to click the right button.
That's my fault. Erin and Aali welcome. How are you tonight?
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Oh we're good? How are you?
Speaker 2 (26:03):
We're going great? I was so intent on making sure
I gave you the proper introduction. I forgot to click
the right button and Rob didn't back me up. So
that's okay. That's that's our fault. It's kind of like
a turnover in the neutral zone, if you know what
I'm saying. How important is this experience? Is this program
to you? Ladies?
Speaker 6 (26:23):
This program is like really important to us. It's like
been awesome this past year. This is our first year
playing for this team, and we just started playing hockey
last year.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Now are you both from bill Ricca?
Speaker 5 (26:38):
Yes, we are, okay.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Now, with a name like Aaron and Eli's, oftentimes parents
name their their siblings with they will start with the
same letter. Are you siblings or are you just friends?
Speaker 7 (26:50):
We are sisters?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
You are sisters. Okay, how about that? I figured that
out and I didn't even have a propt on that.
So what school do you go to? And I assume
there's no hockey program, no girls hockey program at your school.
Speaker 7 (27:04):
Oh, we go to Baraka Memorial High School. We play
on the BC hockey team, so it's comes joined with
another town.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
So yeah, okay, but.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Then you play additionally, you play on this team as
well the New England into into County Scholastic Hockey League,
so you're playing on two teams.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Yes, so girls, let me introject for one second. So
they're a perfect example about why they schools with co
ops should have JV hockey because they just want to
play hockey. And so they're staying on their high school
team with the hopes that will develop them. This year.
They can still have the community with their local high school,
(27:48):
but also with us, and then next year they'll both
they'll both make Our goal is for them most to
make arsity next year. But so they're supplementing our high
school program with US.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Oh that's great. So what what year I'm going to
risk another question. Do you happen to be twins or
what are you both in the same same year in school?
Or what year are you in? What years are you in?
Speaker 7 (28:14):
So I am actually a junior in high school.
Speaker 6 (28:16):
I'm a freshman.
Speaker 7 (28:18):
We are two grades apart. But joining the high school
team has been difficult because with a co ed team,
we've had so like a two talents, there are so
many girls that it's hard to get playing time.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Right, Well, that's okay, So you get some extra playing
time here, there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot
of the Bruins who where they come up with the
Bruins that they're not getting as much playing time and
they go back down to Providence and they have a
good season in Providence and the next year they're playing
for the Bruins. Well, thank both of you for having
the coverage to do this and to call in, and
best of luck with your careers and as well, if
(28:54):
you end up playing for the Boston Fleet, you got
to get this poor old talk show hosts some tickets.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Okay, sound good?
Speaker 2 (29:01):
All right, Thanks Aaron, Thanks, thank you very much, Bye bye.
All right, You're very welcome. I'm sorry I cut you
off there just a little bit quickly. We have other calls.
I'm gonna I want to get to everyone, So we're
gonna we're gonna take a very quick break and I'll
be back with Janelle Chaffey. She is the along with
her family members, her husband and her daughter, the founders
(29:22):
of the New England inter County Scholastic Hockey League, which
provides more ice time, more opportunity for young girls to
play hockey, which is a tremendous sport. Uh. There's carryover
value to hockey. You you learn to skate. Uh, that's
obviously a complete necessity to play ice hockey. There's no
(29:45):
doubt about that. And you get stronger every year, every
every practice. And there are some schools that don't offer this.
This fills that void the New England inter County Scholastic
Hockey League. I'm thrilled to talking with Janelle Chaffey, and
I'm thrilled to be talking with some of these young women.
Back on Night Side, we'll get everybody in right after this.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
We're talking about hockey, and we're talking about girls' hockey specifically.
Let me go to Phoebe and Grafton. Phoebe, welcome. You're
next on Night Side with Jenelle Chaffey. Go ahead, Phoebe.
Speaker 8 (30:28):
I am a seventh grader and I've been playing hockey
for four years now, and it's been really hard finding
a team that I like, really get along with the players.
All the teams I've been on so far, the girls
haven't been the best, they haven't been the nicest, and
it's just really hard to find a team where I
(30:48):
can get good coaching and where I can be treated
in the right way. And when I found Initchell, I
felt like I really could, like I really belonged there.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
So played all last year. You're currently in the seventh grade. Yeah,
you're very well spoken for seventh grader, and you have
not had a lot of luck. Now does your You've
got to be in middle school. I assume your middle
school doesn't have a hockey team.
Speaker 8 (31:18):
No, it doesn't.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Does your high school?
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Uh?
Speaker 8 (31:23):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Okay, so you'll have to make a decision. Uh, you know,
when you get to high school whether or not you
play for your high school team or play for the
continue to play for this uh Inter County Scholastic Hockey League.
At this point, sounds to me like you like this
this program a lot better.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Except grat by then she's gonna want to play varsity.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Okay, right, well, Phoebe, thank you very much for calling
and uh and representing graft And what is your team? What?
Speaker 3 (31:56):
What?
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Which? Which team are you playing for this year?
Speaker 8 (31:59):
I had played for the Duke Sitters, which.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Okay, we talked over each other.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Spirit sorry yet because we haven't sent out her.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
Team announcement yet.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
We're waiting for all the registrations.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Okay, so you.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Know, because as girls are finding out, they're not making teams,
which is just this week, so it's really hard to
send out team like association you know what teams are
going to be on and then remove them from NAT.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Sounds great, sounds great, all right, Phoebe, congratulations, have a
great season okay, and always remember keep your heads up,
keep your head up when you when you you know,
stick handling. Thanks very much, Yeah, thanks much later. Let
me go next to John Johnny Is in Wyndham. John Is,
I understand you're a parent. How are you tonight?
Speaker 9 (32:52):
Thanks?
Speaker 2 (32:53):
On how we're doing? Just great? You are with Janelle Chophis.
What's your comment or question?
Speaker 9 (33:00):
So my daughter Cassie grew up playing hockey all the
way up until the year they started checking and then
decided to walk away, which rightfully, so she's a tiny
little thing. And then some of the boys, like you
mentioned earlier, six feet tall or one hundred and eighty pounds,
(33:21):
So for years she couldn't find a team to play
on until we came across Janelle's league and Cassie joined
last season, so this is our second season and has
had a wonderful experience. The camaraderie, the friendships, the positive environment,
(33:41):
and just the connection that the girls have is better
than I've ever seen in any of the sports She's played.
And she loves coming every week. She loves talking to
the girls and hanging out with her friends, and she
just I can't say enough about this league, and I
thank you Janelle for and Mike for setting it up
for us.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Oh thank you, Johnny. Can you tell them what your
connection to his hockey because that would matter in this
context with the pph O.
Speaker 9 (34:07):
Sure sure, so I own uh yeah, I own two
things in Adult Hockey League Power Play Hockey League here
in New England, and we have women's divisions, so as
we know, all roads lead to adult hockey. No matter
how good you are, you end up playing hockey when
you childer in the adult world. So so we provide
(34:27):
that here and we've had great luck with the women's divisions,
with our men's divisions. And I also run a charity,
Fallen Heroes Hockey Team that raises money for Fallen Heroes
families as well. So I'm definitely well versed in the
hockey community and I can appreciate what Janelle and Mike
are doing to the end degree with this program.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Well, it's great that your daughter is playing. That's what
That's what it comes down to. How how far away
did your daughter play last year?
Speaker 9 (34:58):
She did, So we're up in Wyndham, New Hampshire, so
we go up to Manchester to the New Hampshire Freedom
team to practice.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
That's not bad. Yeah, that's that's what thirty miles maybe,
I mean, that's that's that's not bad. A lot of
hockey parents end up drive a lot more than that,
that's for sure. Well, congratulations to your daughter, John, and
congratulations for what you do, and thank you for calling
and tonight. I appreciate it very much.
Speaker 9 (35:23):
Thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
You're welcome. Okay, we got one more caller here. Grace
is in New Hampshire. Grace, you were next on night Side.
Are you a hockey player?
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Yes, i am. I actually played with Mitchell last season
and was the captain of the Revolution team out of
Grotten Mass.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Uh huh okay, So so your situation. Are you in
high school at this point?
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Yes, I'm currently a sophomore high school.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Sophomore in high school. Is there a hockey program at
your school or no? For girls?
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Not at my school, but we co up with another
school for all the playing for a Keen High this
year as well as Mitchell.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
Oh okay, So do you think this playing last year
for the New England Inter County Scholastic Hockey League help
you continue to your development so much?
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Last year I was at the point where I was
considering not playing hockey anymore because I didn't have a
team to play for due to districting and where I
went to school at the time. And when I found Michel,
I was able to not only play with the girls
at so many different skill levels, but meet so many
new people and opened so many different opportunities. It was amazing.
I definitely improved as a player.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
Well, that's great. Again, I hope you sound very mature.
What what year are you in it? Did you say
you were sophomore? Yes, yeah, well you sound very well
spoken and very mature. And h hockey is a great
is a great sport for young men and young women,
boys and girls.
Speaker 5 (36:55):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
And I just hats off to all of you who
are making this program work, and I wish you the
best of lie. I have a great have a great year,
and keep us in contact. Okay, thanks Grace, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
Grace for calling in. And I'm so proud so Grace
on her team this year made first line varsity, which
is amazing. So congratulations to you, Grace.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Now we're talking. Thanks Grace. Enjoy the season. Keep your
heads up when you keep the heads up when we bucket. Okay, thanks,
all right, thank you. That's that's I know. That's what
the coaches always used to yell at the forwards when
I was true, I was a goaltender. I was supposed
to just stop the puck. That's a simple thing to do. Uh, Chanel,
(37:35):
let's one more time. Slowly give the website and we'll
also give your email the website. Please, Janell, go right ahead, slowly.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
N I s h l dot org.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Real, that's great, n I s h l dot org.
And if folks want to contact you directly, your last
name is not easy to spell, but you can spell
it for us.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
Go right ahead, Okay, the letter J and then Chaffey.
Do you like Charlie, I like ice cream, like oscar F,
like Frank F like Frank I at initial dot org.
That's n I s h l dot org.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Perfect, perfect, Thanks so much, Janelle. I hope this results
in a lot of parents and young girl hockey players,
female hockey players contacting you and keep in touch. I
wish you all the best of success. You were doing
this out of you and your husband Mike, and your
daughter Delilah are doing this out of the generosity of
(38:37):
spirit and generosity of your heart, and you're making a
difference in the lives of a lot of young women.
And congratulations and on behalf of everyone.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Thank you, Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Absolutely,
have a great.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Night you too. When we get back, we're going to
switch back to a topic that most of you are
more familiar with. It's going to talk about President Trump's
tariffs in the economy. Bad day on Wall Street today,
can't read too much into it, but you certainly have
to take note. And we'll talk about the tariffs, who
put the tariffs in I think a context that all
(39:11):
of you will really understand. And we will talk with
Professor Greg Staller of the Questron School of Business at
Boston University. He's been a great guest before, he'll be
a great guest tonight. Coming back after this
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All Right, welcome back everyone. We are going to talk
about a subject this hour that I don't think we've
ever approached directly, and that is girls hockey. I think
that everyone in New England knows, and certainly for that matter,
now across America, that hockey is the very popular sport.
(00:30):
It is one of the four major sports. And unfortunately,
here in Massachusetts it appears that hockey is not tweated
as seriously for girls as it is for boys. However,
we're gonna speak with Janelle Chuffey, who has taken some
(00:55):
very dramatic steps to make a girls the girls high
school hockey or the equivalent of girls high school hockey
available to young girls from seventh to twelfth grade. This,
to me is a really important subject. I'm someone who
strongly believes in title nine. I have a son and
(01:19):
a daughter, both of whom played hockey. My daughter and
played softball. My son played baseball as well as football
in high school. But I wanted them both to play
hockey because I think it's a great sport. There are
carryover values to hockey and with us. Now is Janelle Chaffey, Janelle,
Welcome to Nightside. Thank you for doing this program tonight,
(01:41):
and thank you and your daughter for pushing this solution
to a problem that I really didn't understand existed as
broadly as it does. Welcome to Nightside.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Thank you so much for having me Dan. And I
don't mean to correct you right off about my husband's
involved to Michael. So it's really a family affair, all
three of us, as the.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Way as the way it should be. So what I
have learned from you is that Uh I played high
school hockey. Uh and uh way back in the dark ages.
Uh and uh girls have made tremendous strides in this sport.
We now have a professional women's hockey team uh here
(02:24):
in Boston. Uh, it doesn't it's not as big as
the Bruins, doesn't have the history of the Bruins, but
it's it's now here, the Boston Fleet. Uh and uh
there there are there are the high school boys hockey
is available broadly in Massachusetts. Uh. The the the m
(02:48):
i A A the ruling body for for athletics in
high schools broadly available, but not so for girls. Why
don't you break it down for us, Let's create the
problem that you're a organization is addressing.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
This is great and I really am grateful for the platform.
So what we've learned, and I think a lot of
people would be shocked to learn, is that the landscape
of hockey as a whole looks what it looks like
for girls in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts it's the MIAA is
comprised of four hundred and thirty members high schools, and
within those four hundred and thirty members high schools, each
(03:25):
school can decide what sports they have and what sports
they don't have, and MIA serves two hundred and twenty
thousand students across the state of that of what shocking
with those numbers is girls high school hockey has two divisions,
boys have four. Girls high school hockey has eighty five
(03:48):
total teams statewide, where boys have one hundred and seventy nine,
and it's not for lack of athletes, it's just for
lack of schools wanting to pick up the sport. Additionally, though,
of those teams, the schools that they represent are which
(04:09):
is even more shocking because girls, because you're allowed to
have co op in MIA, and what a co op
is is more than one school comes together. If they
don't have enough athletes at one school, they cambine the
schools for co ops. If you look at just the
schools that are served overall, we found that the boys
(04:30):
programs have three hundred and five member schools that participate,
which is pretty decent when you look at four hundred
and thirty member schools, and girls only have two hundred
and nine schools that participate because of the co op teams.
You have to remember the co op teams. So if
we're looking at everything fat for fat, you know, because
the opportunity is available. That being said, if you're a
(04:52):
co op team, you're not allowed to have a JV
program in your school, So that limits the girls for
developing and having a JV program in high school if
their teams are part of a co op and not
in their own school.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
The hard part, why why is it? Let me ask
you this question. The numbers are important, but it's but
numbers can overwhelm as well. I think I think you've
you've made the case factually. Why it sounds to me
as if girls in this particular sport are being looked
at as almost you know, second class citizens. I mean,
(05:29):
if you have a daughter, and she wants to play hockey.
There there are all sorts of college programs for women
playing hockey, and a lot of women go to great
prep schools. And your daughter, I believes in a prep school,
she very well might someday play at a Division I college.
And it's the path for student athletes. And why should
(05:52):
the path for boys be wider than it is for girls.
That's all you're you're essentially asking for, I think, is
the same path for girls as well as boys exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
And that so the reason why this has become more
prevalent now than it was even a few years ago.
In twenty twenty two, MIA made the rule change where
an unattached athlete, so if an athlete didn't have the
program at the school, they could play at another school.
So if for instance, Lowell didn't have hockey, they could
a girl could play on a Westford team as long
(06:26):
as the Westford team had the had the program within
their school. They did without that in twenty twenty two,
So now girls have no mechanism to play.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
So a program that that basically gave girls widened the
path for girls gave them, you know, another option was
taken away in twenty twenty two, so at a.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Time was exactly but they did it for all the sports.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Yeah, that should be expanding is contracting, and that is
not a good that's not a good development here in Massachusetts.
So would you have done? And I want to get
to what you have done? And I also want to
hear from people because a lot of the conversations that
we've heard about recently are you know, some boys wanting
to play girls sports. That's not what we're talking about. Well,
(07:14):
we're talking about girls being locked out of playing a
sport they have worked on because when they get to
their high school, maybe there's no varsity program. Even if
there is a varsity program, there's no junior varsity program.
So if you're a young girl in the say eighth
or ninth grade, in a junior high school, unless you
(07:36):
make the varsity team, if you're lucky enough to have
a varsity program, unless you make the varsity program, you're
locked out because there's no JV team. But there will
be a JV team for boys. So in a number
of ways, the path for girls is much narrower than
it is for boys. And that seems to me inherently unfair.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
I would agree with you, and so my husband and
I thought that this is an issue, but our daughter
was playing, so it wasn't an issue for us because
she was playing in public school and we had high
school hockey. Her friends did not have high school hockey.
And so when she decided to leave public school to
go to private school, she came to us and she said,
(08:18):
how can we fix this? What can we do to help?
You know, we had this. She had a friend that
was four foot eleven that was playing on a boys
team but never getting nice time, never playing because they
do allow girls to play on boys teams if they
would like, but it's unsafe. I mean, boys have checking
girls don't. You can make a bigger.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Body mask bring at a much faster rate of speed,
and no matter how much protective equipment you have on,
if you're a four foot eleven girl and you weigh
one hundred and five or one hundred and ten pounds
and you get it by a six foot one guy
that weighs one hundred and eighty, that's not fair.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
It's not fair at all. I mean, it's so she
came to us and she asked, and so initially when
we started the non so initial is a nonprofit, So
anybody that joins, we don't take a salary. Nobody, like
nobody in our house takes a salary. We pay our
coaches and our refs and everything else. But when it
comes right down to it, we're just giving back to
the community and hopefully in time we turn our league
(09:18):
over to a public board, not just us, because at
the end of the day, we shouldn't be controlling an
independent league. It should be a community based effort, right.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Okay, So the league is now in its second year
is brought to my attention totally independent of the MIAA.
It's the new England inter County Scholastic Hockey League. You
have six teams that are playing and we're going to
get to all of that. If there are young women
high school students who are looking to play hockey, we
(09:50):
can hopefully guide them. But I also think it's just
inherently unfair and I think the MIAA should should address this.
You have addressed it privately, uh if you'd like to
call and join the conversation and ask questions of my guests.
Jenelle Chaffi, who along with her husband and her daughter,
(10:14):
who is now a graduate of high school and playing
a year of going to a prep school in anticipation
of going off to college. Feel free to join join
the conversation. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. I am
a huge proponent of a title nine. For a long time,
(10:37):
women were really shut out of participating in sports, particularly
at high school and college level. It has certainly the
door has opened, but we need to open that door
a little wider so we can get more young women
involved in athletics. I assume that, look, girls are not
(10:58):
going to be playing football, I get bad. I assume
that there might be uh an equivalent in balance if
we looked at, let us say, high school baseball versus
high school softball. And we're not going to focus on
that tonight. But this is a broader it's a more
broad conversation than just hockey. But we're going to focus
(11:20):
on hockey because that's what you do, what you know,
and that's what you are doing something about and basically
enabling dozens of young women to continue playing hockey. Which
if your league, your alternate league didn't exist, they they
would they would not be able to participate, and that's
(11:42):
a shame. Six one seven two thirty six, one, seven, nine, three,
ten thirty back with my guest Jenelle Choffee. She is
doing something that I think is amazing with her husband
and her family. Uh, and they have formed this league
which now is in its second year and it is growing,
the New England Inter County Scholastic Hockey League for girls seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth,
(12:08):
eleventh and twelfth grade. And believe me, if you've gone
to girls hockey games, high school hockey games as I have,
they know how to play. Back on nightside right after this.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
My guess it's Janelle Chaffee. She and her family have
organized the New England Inter County Scholastic Hockey League for
young women women for girls seventh through twelfth grade who
were in schools that do not offer an ice hockey
program or in schools that do not offer a JV
program in case the young woman hasn't made the young
(12:48):
girl has made a varsity team. So let's talk Janelle,
how's the league doing? This is your second year, you're
well underway, and I'd love to know what how you
do it? And has the MIAA in any way either
helped you or tried to hinder you.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
So our second year is better than we could ever imagined.
Last year was amazing. We had forty three girls. We're
doubled that already. This year. We've added double the amount
of teams. So last year we only had three, actually
we had like two and three quarters and this year
we'll have six five yees, six definitely maybe seven if
the Cell Shore hopefully they're all listening and the girls
(13:29):
start signing up. Okay, if we had enough girls in
the Cell Shore, that would be great. That's the one
region we're missing. So overall, the girls have been the
girls coming inside and really sharing pieces of themselves with
each other and developing. Some girls last our program and
made their varsity teams this year, which is amazing. That's
(13:49):
what we want. Two schools added a program because of us,
that's what we want. They actually reached out to my
husband to see how many girls we had within the
two schools they were looking to co op enrolled in
our program last year, and based on those numbers, they
now have their own program, which is amazing. I mean
that's also a plus, right, Like we're bringing awareness. So
(14:13):
given all of it, go ahead, and then the p WHL.
The support that we've had from the PWHL when they
saw she saw one of our news articles when we
first launched was amazing. They have given opportunities to our
girls by being just role models for them. In addition
to that, they've they've allowed us to have tables at
(14:34):
their games to give exposure to our league so these
girls can join. They have given them on ice opportunities
and have sponsored games for them, which has allowed them
to go to games. They give them tickets to their games.
The Bruins because my daughter started the Delilah the one
that started the program with us, started skating through the
(14:55):
Little Bruins program. The Bruins Foundation, along with with Sabby Technologies,
under the league with a five thousand dollars gift at
Girls Hockey Day last year to bring more exposure. So,
because of the things that they're hearing and you know
that other people outside are really helping us bring exposure,
(15:16):
the girls in the of themselves walk into the rank happy.
They love their locker room because we have a rule
there's no bullying and it's a team environment, not second chances,
and that has really served us well. When we sent
out our reviews for the season for last year, we
really asked the girls that we wanted them to be
(15:36):
honest with us, because at the end of the day,
this is about them. We're trying to fix the hole
that we wish our daughter had the experience that we
wish all athletes would have a positive environment. Right, you
don't need to have negative coaching to have a good team.
So these girls, they actually said they felt safe for
the first time ever in the locker room. That's a
big deal.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Well, I remember when I was a dad, when Little
League time came around the town in which I was in,
they had like a summer team, a travel team, and
like any of the sort of those teams, there's a
little bit of politics involved. So there were some kids
that made the travel team and some kids that didn't
(16:20):
make the travel team. So what I decided to do
was kind of do what you did, and I ran
a program in the summer, separate and apart from the
little he called Summer Sandlot and practice with kids, and
then I found a league where they could play some
games in the summer. They played through the summer July
and then into it was fallball in September and October,
(16:44):
playing baseball and the next year a lot of the
kids that I worked with made that travel team.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
It's great.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
And what happens is that they make decisions as to
whether or not kids are able to play or not,
and they don't don't even give they don't have a chance.
And the idea is that kids should be kids should
be playing sports all through high school, no matter how
good or how poor they are. And I know that
you can't have unlimited teams, but you have opened up
(17:13):
an avenue the New England inter County Scholastic Hockey League.
First of all, we're going to take phone calls. We
get back right after the news and I the only
line that we have opened right now is one at
six one, seven, nine, three, one ten thirty. But what
is your website? In case there are young girls or
parents and other communities who are listening and want to
(17:35):
get in touch with you, you know, over the weekend,
what's your what's the website?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
The website is initial dot org. That's NISHL dot org
and or they can email. They can email me, And
I really find I'd really rather have a conversation with
anybody that would like to join, because I think that's
a personal touch is very important, especially you know, a
lot of these girls are in very vulnerable situations, especially
(18:00):
the girls calling us now they didn't make their high
school team and they're devastated. No girls should be devastated.
So my emails J Chaffee, J C I, O F
F I at initial.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Dot org and again, so again I want to give
that website as well. It's it's it's basically the initials
for New England inter County Scholastic Hockey League. So it's
N E I s h L.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Right, no, no n I, no E. There's no E
N we just I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Fair enough, that's okay, we're gonna get it right. N
I s h L which stands for Scholastic Hockey League
for into content into County Scholastic Hockey League, and N
stands for for an effect New England. But it's just
N I s h L s h L and your
J C I, O F F I at n U
(19:00):
I s h L. I think for a lot of
people slower, sometimes it's better. I know when I can
listen and I can write, but I want to hear
as well. We'll take a break. We've got the news
coming up. We get back, we'll continue our conversation with
Janelle Choffe. She is one of the founders, along with
her husband, of the New England inter County Scholastic Hockey League.
(19:22):
This is just for girls, So this is not an
opportunity for boys. They have enough opportunities through them i AA.
This is for underserved girls at this point who may
go on to play hockey. Who knows, maybe some of
your graduates someday will be playing for the Boston Fleet.
(19:43):
You just never know. We'll take a very quick break.
But coming right back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
We're talking with Janelle Chaffey. She along with her husband
and a daughter, have basically seen a problem and done
something about it. They have formed the New England inter
County Scholastic Hockey League n i SHL dot com. Correct.
Just want to make sure we get that correct, Janelle
(20:15):
dot org dot org. Well, thank you very much. To
make sure a kid said, okay, that's very important n
i SHL dot org to basically provide another avenue for
girls in high schools here in Massachusetts who want to
play hockey, maybe have played hockey for years and years
and years, but happen to be going to high school
there's no girls hockey program. There should be a girls
(20:38):
hockey program at every high school whre there's a boys
hockey program, in my mind, and there also should be.
Sometimes a girl can be going to a high school
where there is a girls hockey program, but they don't
make the varsity team, or they're in the eighth grade
of the ninth grade and they have nowhere else to play. Well,
this is another option for them, little less convenient. I
would think, maybe a little bit more card time, but
(20:59):
parents are well used to that. So let's go and
talk to some folks who have called in, Janelle. Let's
let's see what folks have to say. Let me go
first to Skyler, who's calling in from Lowell. Skyler, welcome
to Night's side.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
How are you this evening, Higan?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
Good in you.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
We're doing great. We're doing great. I think I can
tell by your voice that you might be a female
hockey player. Tell me about yourself.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
Yes, I am a female hockey player. I've been playing
hockey since iand around nine or not nine to five. Yeah,
and there are times where I haven't necessarily felt part
of a family on my team or in my organization,
and then me and my mom found out about an
I show and fell in love with it.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
So did you play? Did you play last year and
playing again this year?
Speaker 5 (21:53):
Yes, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Okay, Now at school? Do you have a girls hockey
program at school?
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Am I school? We actually don't have a hockey program
at all?
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Oh oh, boys or girls? So that's that's even worse.
And so what team you're You're in Lowell? Everybody knows
real Lowell is up in the northeast corner of the state.
Where is your team based?
Speaker 5 (22:22):
So for an HL, I play out of the Groton team,
which is also the Northeast Revolution. I had a lot
of fun on it last year and I'm excited to
play on it again this year.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Great. Uh, and do you do you play at the
Is your home rink the Groton rink? That's the that's
a that's a private school in Groton, Massachusetts.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
I assume you're referring to yes it is.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Well, that's great. And what sort of a difference does
it make in your life? If this league, the New
England inter County Scholastic Hockey League, didn't exist, what would
you doing with your time. I mean you, obviously you
spend a lot of time playing playing ice hockey. There's
a lot of time to get to the rink, get
the equipment on, get out, play the game or do
(23:09):
the practice, and then get the equipment off and get
back home. How much of wild would that leave in
your life.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
I would actually have a lot of time to kind
just do nothing. Yeah, I would most likely be training
for the next season coming out, even though I wouldn't
be on a team.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, it's awfully tough to train and improve your hockey
skills unless you're on a team. If you were a
member of a if you were a track if you
were a runner or a high jumper, or for that matter,
a swimmer, and you didn't have a team, you could
train individually. But it's tough when you want to play
(23:51):
a team sport not to have a team to play with.
Say hi to to Janelle. I assume you probably have
met Jee. Well, if you'd like to say anything to
the to the woman that put this program together, feel free.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Actually, jan I'm very thankful that you guys had put
this together. I'm thankful that you guys made the league
feel like a family. The first day. From the very beginning,
it was a family, which I know.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
It really was a lot of other girls.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
Who are now part of the league didn't have that
feeling of a family in hockey, and now we do.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
That is a recommendation go ahead.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
You know all summer I kept getting text from these girls,
can you out of practice? Can we play in a tournament?
We miss you guys. I want to see my friends
that I played hockey with. So it and these girls
have formed one group chat within the league. They include everybody,
no matter what team you're on, so each girl, so
there aren't cliques, and that was amazing. That's something these
(24:59):
girls to go over on their own. They really made
this league for themselves. They fit it into their lives
and we've responded in a way to make it so
we can help them as much as possible, but really
they're doing it for themselves, which is amazing. I mean
Skyler's then, she went from this quiet person to a
leader in our group, and that's been awesome to see
(25:22):
her grow in the last year.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Well that's what sports were all about, Skyler. I hope
you have a great season. Uh. And when you end
up playing for the Boston fleet. You've got to make
sure I get free tickets. Okay, thank you, I will, Thanks,
thanks very much. We're going to talk to two young
ladies who are sharing a phone in Bill Ricker. We
(25:44):
don't do this often, but we're going to make an
exception for Erin and Elise. Erin and Elise, welcome, Hi girls.
Oh guess what, I forgot to click the right button.
That's my fault. Erin and Aali welcome. How are you tonight?
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Oh we're good? How are you?
Speaker 2 (26:03):
We're going great? I was so intent on making sure
I gave you the proper introduction. I forgot to click
the right button and Rob didn't back me up. So
that's okay. That's that's our fault. It's kind of like
a turnover in the neutral zone, if you know what
I'm saying. How important is this experience? Is this program
to you? Ladies?
Speaker 6 (26:23):
This program is like really important to us. It's like
been awesome this past year. This is our first year
playing for this team, and we just started playing hockey
last year.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Now are you both from bill Ricca?
Speaker 5 (26:38):
Yes, we are, okay.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Now, with a name like Aaron and Eli's, oftentimes parents
name their their siblings with they will start with the
same letter. Are you siblings or are you just friends?
Speaker 7 (26:50):
We are sisters?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
You are sisters. Okay, how about that? I figured that
out and I didn't even have a propt on that.
So what school do you go to? And I assume
there's no hockey program, no girls hockey program at your school.
Speaker 7 (27:04):
Oh, we go to Baraka Memorial High School. We play
on the BC hockey team, so it's comes joined with
another town.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
So yeah, okay, but.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Then you play additionally, you play on this team as
well the New England into into County Scholastic Hockey League,
so you're playing on two teams.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Yes, so girls, let me introject for one second. So
they're a perfect example about why they schools with co
ops should have JV hockey because they just want to
play hockey. And so they're staying on their high school
team with the hopes that will develop them. This year.
They can still have the community with their local high school,
(27:48):
but also with us, and then next year they'll both
they'll both make Our goal is for them most to
make arsity next year. But so they're supplementing our high
school program with US.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Oh that's great. So what what year I'm going to
risk another question. Do you happen to be twins or
what are you both in the same same year in school?
Or what year are you in? What years are you in?
Speaker 7 (28:14):
So I am actually a junior in high school.
Speaker 6 (28:16):
I'm a freshman.
Speaker 7 (28:18):
We are two grades apart. But joining the high school
team has been difficult because with a co ed team,
we've had so like a two talents, there are so
many girls that it's hard to get playing time.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Right, Well, that's okay, So you get some extra playing
time here, there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot
of the Bruins who where they come up with the
Bruins that they're not getting as much playing time and
they go back down to Providence and they have a
good season in Providence and the next year they're playing
for the Bruins. Well, thank both of you for having
the coverage to do this and to call in, and
best of luck with your careers and as well, if
(28:54):
you end up playing for the Boston Fleet, you got
to get this poor old talk show hosts some tickets.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Okay, sound good?
Speaker 2 (29:01):
All right, Thanks Aaron, Thanks, thank you very much, Bye bye.
All right, You're very welcome. I'm sorry I cut you
off there just a little bit quickly. We have other calls.
I'm gonna I want to get to everyone, So we're
gonna we're gonna take a very quick break and I'll
be back with Janelle Chaffey. She is the along with
her family members, her husband and her daughter, the founders
(29:22):
of the New England inter County Scholastic Hockey League, which
provides more ice time, more opportunity for young girls to
play hockey, which is a tremendous sport. Uh. There's carryover
value to hockey. You you learn to skate. Uh, that's
obviously a complete necessity to play ice hockey. There's no
(29:45):
doubt about that. And you get stronger every year, every
every practice. And there are some schools that don't offer this.
This fills that void the New England inter County Scholastic
Hockey League. I'm thrilled to talking with Janelle Chaffey, and
I'm thrilled to be talking with some of these young women.
Back on Night Side, we'll get everybody in right after this.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
We're talking about hockey, and we're talking about girls' hockey specifically.
Let me go to Phoebe and Grafton. Phoebe, welcome. You're
next on Night Side with Jenelle Chaffey. Go ahead, Phoebe.
Speaker 8 (30:28):
I am a seventh grader and I've been playing hockey
for four years now, and it's been really hard finding
a team that I like, really get along with the players.
All the teams I've been on so far, the girls
haven't been the best, they haven't been the nicest, and
it's just really hard to find a team where I
(30:48):
can get good coaching and where I can be treated
in the right way. And when I found Initchell, I
felt like I really could, like I really belonged there.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
So played all last year. You're currently in the seventh grade. Yeah,
you're very well spoken for seventh grader, and you have
not had a lot of luck. Now does your You've
got to be in middle school. I assume your middle
school doesn't have a hockey team.
Speaker 8 (31:18):
No, it doesn't.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Does your high school?
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Uh?
Speaker 8 (31:23):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Okay, so you'll have to make a decision. Uh, you know,
when you get to high school whether or not you
play for your high school team or play for the
continue to play for this uh Inter County Scholastic Hockey League.
At this point, sounds to me like you like this
this program a lot better.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Except grat by then she's gonna want to play varsity.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Okay, right, well, Phoebe, thank you very much for calling
and uh and representing graft And what is your team? What?
Speaker 3 (31:56):
What?
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Which? Which team are you playing for this year?
Speaker 8 (31:59):
I had played for the Duke Sitters, which.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Okay, we talked over each other.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Spirit sorry yet because we haven't sent out her.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
Team announcement yet.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
We're waiting for all the registrations.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Okay, so you.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Know, because as girls are finding out, they're not making teams,
which is just this week, so it's really hard to
send out team like association you know what teams are
going to be on and then remove them from NAT.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Sounds great, sounds great, all right, Phoebe, congratulations, have a
great season okay, and always remember keep your heads up,
keep your head up when you when you you know,
stick handling. Thanks very much, Yeah, thanks much later. Let
me go next to John Johnny Is in Wyndham. John Is,
I understand you're a parent. How are you tonight?
Speaker 9 (32:52):
Thanks?
Speaker 2 (32:53):
On how we're doing? Just great? You are with Janelle Chophis.
What's your comment or question?
Speaker 9 (33:00):
So my daughter Cassie grew up playing hockey all the
way up until the year they started checking and then
decided to walk away, which rightfully, so she's a tiny
little thing. And then some of the boys, like you
mentioned earlier, six feet tall or one hundred and eighty pounds,
(33:21):
So for years she couldn't find a team to play
on until we came across Janelle's league and Cassie joined
last season, so this is our second season and has
had a wonderful experience. The camaraderie, the friendships, the positive environment,
(33:41):
and just the connection that the girls have is better
than I've ever seen in any of the sports She's played.
And she loves coming every week. She loves talking to
the girls and hanging out with her friends, and she
just I can't say enough about this league, and I
thank you Janelle for and Mike for setting it up
for us.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Oh thank you, Johnny. Can you tell them what your
connection to his hockey because that would matter in this
context with the pph O.
Speaker 9 (34:07):
Sure sure, so I own uh yeah, I own two
things in Adult Hockey League Power Play Hockey League here
in New England, and we have women's divisions, so as
we know, all roads lead to adult hockey. No matter
how good you are, you end up playing hockey when
you childer in the adult world. So so we provide
(34:27):
that here and we've had great luck with the women's divisions,
with our men's divisions. And I also run a charity,
Fallen Heroes Hockey Team that raises money for Fallen Heroes
families as well. So I'm definitely well versed in the
hockey community and I can appreciate what Janelle and Mike
are doing to the end degree with this program.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Well, it's great that your daughter is playing. That's what
That's what it comes down to. How how far away
did your daughter play last year?
Speaker 9 (34:58):
She did, So we're up in Wyndham, New Hampshire, so
we go up to Manchester to the New Hampshire Freedom
team to practice.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
That's not bad. Yeah, that's that's what thirty miles maybe,
I mean, that's that's that's not bad. A lot of
hockey parents end up drive a lot more than that,
that's for sure. Well, congratulations to your daughter, John, and
congratulations for what you do, and thank you for calling
and tonight. I appreciate it very much.
Speaker 9 (35:23):
Thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
You're welcome. Okay, we got one more caller here. Grace
is in New Hampshire. Grace, you were next on night Side.
Are you a hockey player?
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Yes, i am. I actually played with Mitchell last season
and was the captain of the Revolution team out of
Grotten Mass.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Uh huh okay, So so your situation. Are you in
high school at this point?
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Yes, I'm currently a sophomore high school.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Sophomore in high school. Is there a hockey program at
your school or no? For girls?
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Not at my school, but we co up with another
school for all the playing for a Keen High this
year as well as Mitchell.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
Oh okay, So do you think this playing last year
for the New England Inter County Scholastic Hockey League help
you continue to your development so much?
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Last year I was at the point where I was
considering not playing hockey anymore because I didn't have a
team to play for due to districting and where I
went to school at the time. And when I found Michel,
I was able to not only play with the girls
at so many different skill levels, but meet so many
new people and opened so many different opportunities. It was amazing.
I definitely improved as a player.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
Well, that's great. Again, I hope you sound very mature.
What what year are you in it? Did you say
you were sophomore? Yes, yeah, well you sound very well
spoken and very mature. And h hockey is a great
is a great sport for young men and young women,
boys and girls.
Speaker 5 (36:55):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
And I just hats off to all of you who
are making this program work, and I wish you the
best of lie. I have a great have a great year,
and keep us in contact. Okay, thanks Grace, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
Grace for calling in. And I'm so proud so Grace
on her team this year made first line varsity, which
is amazing. So congratulations to you, Grace.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Now we're talking. Thanks Grace. Enjoy the season. Keep your
heads up when you keep the heads up when we bucket. Okay, thanks,
all right, thank you. That's that's I know. That's what
the coaches always used to yell at the forwards when
I was true, I was a goaltender. I was supposed
to just stop the puck. That's a simple thing to do. Uh, Chanel,
(37:35):
let's one more time. Slowly give the website and we'll
also give your email the website. Please, Janell, go right ahead, slowly.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
N I s h l dot org.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Real, that's great, n I s h l dot org.
And if folks want to contact you directly, your last
name is not easy to spell, but you can spell
it for us.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
Go right ahead, Okay, the letter J and then Chaffey.
Do you like Charlie, I like ice cream, like oscar F,
like Frank F like Frank I at initial dot org.
That's n I s h l dot org.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Perfect, perfect, Thanks so much, Janelle. I hope this results
in a lot of parents and young girl hockey players,
female hockey players contacting you and keep in touch. I
wish you all the best of success. You were doing
this out of you and your husband Mike, and your
daughter Delilah are doing this out of the generosity of
(38:37):
spirit and generosity of your heart, and you're making a
difference in the lives of a lot of young women.
And congratulations and on behalf of everyone.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Thank you, Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Absolutely,
have a great.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Night you too. When we get back, we're going to
switch back to a topic that most of you are
more familiar with. It's going to talk about President Trump's
tariffs in the economy. Bad day on Wall Street today,
can't read too much into it, but you certainly have
to take note. And we'll talk about the tariffs, who
put the tariffs in I think a context that all
(39:11):
of you will really understand. And we will talk with
Professor Greg Staller of the Questron School of Business at
Boston University. He's been a great guest before, he'll be
a great guest tonight. Coming back after this
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