By Lou Issel
Hockey Weekly Writer
In 1989 a hockey fan named Michelle Monson tired of
just watching the game.
Her husband, Gil Riucci, was an accomplished player who skated in Red
Wings' Alumni games with close friend Ted Lindsay. Suddenly Riucci and Lindsay found
themselves teaching the game to 32 women who were absolute novices but eager to learn.
Monson had run an ad in Hockey Weekly that read: 'Looking for women interested in playing
hockey. Little or no experience necessary. Sense of humor a must.'
Ice times were typically 6 AM or 11 PM.
Monson tells a funny story about their first session.
"We were all given a list of equipment to bring, which most of us
scrounged from our husbands or children," she said. "One woman showed up with a
garter belt for lady's nylons!"
Gil Riucci sees it all as a labor of love.
"At first it was just a lark but it has grown into a league of
over 400 women who have wonderful fun learning and playing hockey," Riucci said.
"The best reward for me is the new friends we have made, hundreds of wonderful people
we would never have met if we hadn't started the team. Because of our league's success, we
were asked to help start one up north and they now have three teams in Cheboygan and two
in Traverse City."
Riucci had his own funny story.
"A boy's Mite team watched one of our first practices in 1988.
After the practice this little boy with his jersey hanging down to his skates came up to
me and said, "Hey, mister. We can beat those ladies!" Riucci recalled.
"We've come a long way since then."
"That first year was interesting." said Lindsay. "None
of these women had ever played hockey. At first most of them stopped by crashing into the
boards but they learned and improved and at least stopped hitting the boards so hard. Now
they have grown into a league of 22 teams in three divisions and they are playing some
pretty good hockey. This league is for fun but they are also competitive. That's human
nature, the way the Good Lord made us. Everyone wants to win. Men and women, at every
level."
Lindsay continued: "I am so pleased that the Metro Skaters League
now has the Riucci Cup. Gil Riucci was the coach and sponsor of that first team and has
been a big supporter of the league. He donated the cup for the tournament five years ago
and the league voted to name it for him."
Lindsay sees great growth ahead for women's hockey.
"That Gold Medal game in the Olympics is going to be a big boost
for women and girls to start playing," he said.
That first team of novices, the Polar Bears, grew to four teams, then
to their own league in 1992: The Metro Skaters Hockey League. This season there are 22
teams with novice, intermediate and advanced divisions. Typically they add three or four
teams each year as newcomers form new novice teams and experienced players move up. The
advanced division has a number of former college players, and Senior B and A players from
the Inter-City League. The focus is on fun and friendly competition.
The spirit of the Metro Skaters Hockey League is exemplified on the
defense of the Arctic Storm, which, won the Intermediate Division Championship. Judy
Stoner is a grandmother who shares the Arctic Storm blue line with two daughters, Colleen
Stoner and Andrea Wurzinger. Their head coach, Terry Mathews, says, "It's a real
treat to hear them out there together in a game, calling to each other - "Your puck,
Mom! Go get it, Mom!" or "I'm open, Mom!"
This years Riucci Cup was held the week-end of March 20, at the
Farmington Hills Ice Arena with 20 of the league's 22 teams participating.
The Novice Goal Line Division Championship went to the Flash of
Livingston County in a 1-0 victory over the Goal Diggers. The Flash's Jennifer Filice
scored the winning goal.
The Intermediate Blue Line Division Championship went to the Arctic
Storm in a 2-1 victory over the Hot Ice, which struck first with a second-period goal by
Julie Buckland; assisted by Becky Jones. The Arctic Storm evened the score midway through
the third period on an unassisted goal by Vickey Allen. The Storm's winning goal came with
three minutes left in the period, scored by Donna Pompan from Gloria O'Neil and Judy
Stoner.
The Advanced Division Red Line Championship game saw the Lady Blues
play the Metro Blades to a 2-2 standoff through a five-minute overtime, forcing a shoot
out.
The Blues had scored midway through the first period, with Kate Pinhey
getting the goal from Tonya Bell.
The Blades came back early in the second period - Sandra McFarlane from
Cynthia Kaspor and Mary Misko. The Blues went ahead again four minutes later when Bell
scored from Jackie Anderson and Pinhey. The Blades made it 2-2 at 7:48 in the third
period, McFarlane from Tanita Ey.
The shootout saw the Blues go up first but the Blades came back with
goals by Kaspor and Lisa Santi.
Lindsay and Riucci made the championship presentations.
|
|
Jason Rybak takes pom-pons in hand to cheer for Stacy
Milonas on the Metro Blades.
Lady Blues forward Tonya Bell tallies a goal against
the Metro Blades. The Blades, however, went on to win the championship.
Ellie Griffith (Princeton '93-captain) accepts her
tournament runner-up pin from Gil Riucci, one of the founders of the league and after whom
the cup is named.
The Metro Blades, Advanced Division Red Line Champions,
won it in a shoot out.
Arctic Storm defeated Hot Ice, 2-1, for the Blue Line
Division Title.
The Flash of Livingston County won the Goal Line
Division by a 1-0 score over the Goal Diggers.
|
