A distinguished panel recently gathered in Brighton, Mass., to discuss the future of ice hockey in the United States and ways to create a more diverse and inclusive culture.
Warrior Ice Arena, the Boston Bruins’ training and practice facility, served as a fitting venue for USA Hockey’s panel discussion, “Ice Hockey in the USA: Past/Present/Future.” Among those in the audience were leaders and interested parties from throughout New England.
The panelists, who brought a variety of experiences and knowledge, included: Pat Kelleher, USA Hockey’s executive director; Lou Vairo, 1984 U.S. Olympic coach; Molly Engstrom, two-time Olympic medalist; Blake Bolden, professional player and mentor/coach; Katie Crowley, three-time Olympic medalist and Boston College women’s hockey head coach; and moderator Darren Haynes, Emmy Award-winning sports anchor.
“Advancing efforts around making our sport as welcoming and inclusive to all is a priority,” said Kelleher, “and these types of panel discussions are extremely valuable as we work together with all stakeholders to shape the future of our sport.”