The Cleveland Monsters and the Black Girl Hockey Club (BGHC) have teamed up to create an inclusive space on the ice for young girls in the community. On a recent Friday afternoon, they welcomed 40 sixth-grade girls from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for an open skate session at the Halloran Park Skating Rink, according to News 5 Cleveland. BGHC founder Renee Hess has expressed that she wants the club to be a space where Black girls feel as though they have a built-in community.
Hess, who founded BGHC in 2018, shared with News 5 Cleveland how inspiring it is to see girls from diverse backgrounds come together over their shared love of hockey. The partnership also included a question and answer segment with Hess and women who work for Rock Entertainment Group. Additionally, students had the opportunity to learn about careers in the sport and recreational industry. Renee Hess will attend the Monsters vs. Charlotte game as part of the Black Heritage Celebration, as stated in a news release picked up by Spectrum News 1.
One of the attendees, a 14-year-old CMSD student named Rhianah Huggins, expressed her eagerness to try ice skating, having been influenced by watching Olympic skating events. Raven Payne, the Monsters' Community Impact Manager, emphasized to News 5 Cleveland the importance of creating opportunities for these girls to try new experiences and build resilience. "I think I might fall a few times, but I'm [gonna] get back up," Huggins told reporters, embodying the spirit of the event.
Mais Alsaeed, a middle school student originally from Syria, highlighted the sense of belonging the event fostered. She told WOIO about her growth in confidence and communication since moving to the United States. Hess noted the fundamental importance of representation in hockey for girls like Alsaeed and others, aspiring to create a strong community within a sport where Black women are significantly underrepresented. The day concluded with the group attending the Monsters game, celebrating not only their newfound skills on ice but also their participation in the broader Black Heritage Celebration.
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