The Palouse Ice Rink

The Polar Bears

Hannah is a young girl who could never play sports. For a long time, epilepsy kept her from enjoying many forms of activity, but when the Palouse Ice Rink created the all-girls hockey team called the Idaho Polar Bears, Hannah finally found a sport she could call her own.

With epilepsy, hockey has turned out to be an ideal activity for Hannah, since all the padding worn while playing the game also serves to protect her in case of seizures. She and all the girls on her team are fortunate that the Idaho Polar Bears exist. Not all girls have this

unique opportunity at their disposal. This team is the only all-female hockey team in the region.

I like the Polar Bears because we are both a family and a team. Not only that, but we talk to each other and go to tournaments together. Its all about having fun. -Polar Bear Team Member

The Idaho Polar Bears team is making a difference. We have created a healthful environment where young girls can gain the confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills they need to become great women. We believe that giving the girls of our community the chance to experience wholesome activities, to participate in team work, and gain a sense of accomplishment, will ultimately strengthen the community of Moscow. We empower our Polar Bears each time they skate out on the ice, but we can only do this with your help. It has taken the Palouse Ice Rink 13 years to get this team going, and with our limited resources we can only serve so many. By supporting the Idaho Polar Bears you can help give more of our youth the tools to develop a multitude of skills.

EMPOWERING YOUNG GIRLS

The Idaho Polar Bears strive to overcome the discrimina-tion and opposition towards girls playing contact sports today. We want to make this possible for all girls. Sports available for boys ages 9-19 are numerous, but for girls there is a definite limit. We want all the girls of our community to benefit from the opportunities that hockey has to offer.

There are 10.6 million girls between the ages of 6 and 17 who play a sport at least once a year, compared to 16.5 million boys (SFIA, 2012)

2

THE POLAR BEARS HISTORY

The Idaho Polar Bears are just getting started. The Palouse Ice Rink, which began as the dream of two friends back in 1999, put the hockey team together this past Fall 2014. We expected only 15 girls to sign up for the team but were surprised to have an overwhelming 42. The girls have had a great season winning most of their tournaments and are already looking forward to next years.

Little girls now have the chance to look up and see women playing soccer, basketball, softball and now hockeyand know they can win a gold medal, too.

- Angela Ruggiero, four time Olympic Medalist former ice hockey defenseman Team USA

3

WHAT WE AIM TO DO

Research shows that it is important and beneficial for girls to participate in some sort of sport. Driven by its mission to provide girls ages 9-19 of all skill levels with the chance to develop their teamwork, good citizenship, loyalty, and hones-ty, the Idaho Polar Bears provide a safe and fun environment in which the girls can grow.

A gift to the Idaho Polar Bears hockey team will have a great impact on their ability to continue strengthening our community by supporting our youth. Your support, no matter how small is much appreciated.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Donate by cash or check to one of the mailing addresses listed to the left.

4

If you want to touch the other shore badly enough, barring an impossible situation, you will. If your desire is diluted for any reason, youll never make it.

~Diana Nyad, World Long Distance Swimming Record Setter

Contact Us!

Phone: 208-882-7188

Address: Palouse Ice Rink, 1021 Harold St. Moscow, ID

83843

Mailing Address: Palouse Ice Rink

PO Box 8023 Moscow, ID 83843

Support the Team