“You could maybe find one or two games online,” Pride Coach Kush Sidhu said. “If you’re lucky.”

That all changes his weekend as NCAA women’s ice hockey games will be played in the D.C. area for the first time when the Pride host Mercyhurst and St. Lawrence for two games at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington. The puck drops at 1:10 p.m. on Saturday and at 1:30 Sunday, and one ticket for both games is $10.

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“We’re really excited to give publicity to women’s hockey and help it grow in the D.C. area,” said Karinna Cave Hawkins, a senior at South River. “No one would ever think that girls’ hockey would be a thing in D.C., but this gives the girls in the area a chance to see what they can do if they go the route we do and get serious about hockey.”

Sunday will be a homecoming for St. Lawrence freshman Maggie McLaughlin, who is an O’Connell and Pride alumna. St. Lawrence is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation.

From August to April, the Pride’s U-16 and U-19 teams practice three days a week at the Rockville Ice Arena and travel to the Northeast, Midwest and Canada every other weekend for games in the Junior Women’s Hockey league. After nationals in April, the program holds tryouts the next weekend to start preparation for the upcoming season.

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“Growing up I always heard ‘use hockey as your vehicle,’ and I had no idea what that was supposed to mean, O’Connell senior Sophia Marra said. “Now as a senior, I get it. Being in with the Pride has taught me so much about managing time and discipline and work ethic.”

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend next year, D.C. will get another taste of Division I women’s hockey as Wisconsin, Boston University, Minnesota State-Mankato, and Northeastern come to Kettler for a four-game showcase.

NUMBER CRUNCH: 10

Goals scored by Visitation in Friday’s National Capital Hockey Tournament game against Holy Cross. The Cubs won 10-1 behind three goals and two assists from Northeastern commit Veronika Pettey.

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