The ice is still cold,

The puck is still small,

The box is still for penalties.

The coach is still a coach.

The team is still a team.

The game is still a game.

The difference is that there’s no one there to see the win.

The difference is that there’s more than one school to be watched.

The difference is that there’s no crowd of peers to cheer.

The difference is that under those helmets are girls.

Amy Erpenbeck, freshman.

Lindsey Schimpf, sophomore.

Paige Weir, sophomore.

Lydia Reimer, junior.

Alex “Bucky” Buchanan, junior and captain.

These girls are the five Homestead participants in the Lakeshore Lightning co-op hockey team that includes Homestead, Cedarburg, Grafton, Slinger and West Bend. Many students at all five schools are unaware the schools even have a girls hockey team.

Along with that comes even more struggles of being co-op. The girls don’t see each other at school like a single school team would, and some drive 30 minutes to practice. Dress up days aren’t as effective, and truth be told, not many people come to games.

“Our parents are our biggest fans,” Paige Weir said jokingly in regards to the lack of peers who attend the Lightning games.

“I think the girls play hard no matter who is in the stands, but like all athletes they get excited to see support from the the student section,” Coach Nate George said.

As a coach of 15 years, this his first working with the Lakeshore girls or a girls team in general, and he, too, is aware of the notice they receive. As coach he’s doing what he can to try and change that by finding people who are willing to support and hopefully encourage enthusiasm from the participating schools.

The girls and their coach can agree that girls hockey is a underrated sport because of the low numbers of girls who are playing. Hockey is known as being a physical sport and that among other things is what keeps girls from learning.

“I feel like girls sports in general can be kind of underappreciated especially our team because students think ‘oh, we don’t have to go cause we’re only a little part of the team’,” Lindsey Schimpf stated.

Even though there are only four Highlanders on the co-op, the team feels that it’s just as good as other single schools.

“I think a great team is a team that enjoys coming to practice and competing in games together having a positive memorable experience while doing it. I think we have that this year with the Lightning. I would consider them a great team,” Coach George said, proudly.

After all:

The coach is still a coach.

The team is still a team.

The game is still a game.