Our Kids Play Hockey: How The Nihl Built One Of The Largest Girls Hockey Leagues In America With Bob Apter
Episode Description
How do you grow a girls hockey league from a handful of teams to one of the largest in the country?This week on Our Girls Play Hockey, hosts Lee Elias and Hayley Scamurra sit down with Bob Apter, President of the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) an organization now home to 75 girls travel teams across five states and counting.From humble beginnings to a multi-state powerhouse, Bob shares the inside story of how NIHL became a model for competitive balance, accessibility, and innovation in youth hockey. Youll hear how creative ideas like the Peoria Rule that makes travel more affordable and charm bracelet championships that celebrate every players journey are reshaping the culture of girls hockey. Highlights include:The origin story of NIHLs girls division and how it scaled beyond IllinoisWhy competitive balance is the secret to retention and successThe unique Peoria Rule keeping travel fair and affordableNew initiatives linking NIHL with the PWHL and college programsHow alumni like Cammi Granato, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Abby Murphy continue to inspireWhy now is the best time ever to start or grow a girls hockey program Whether youre a parent, coach, or player this episode is full of lessons on what it takes to build a thriving, inclusive hockey community. Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: How the NIHL Built One of the Largest Girls Hockey Leagues in America Tune in, share with your team, and keep growing the game!#GirlsHockey #YouthSports #PWHL #NIHL #CammiGranato #KendallCoyneSchofield #AbbyMurphy #OurGirlsPlayHockey #HockeyDevelopment #GrowTheGame #MidwestHockeyClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isnt always realistic but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace. Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!Please Be Sure To Subscribe & Leave A Review For Us On Apple Podcasts, doing so helps our show grow!Follow Us On Social Media: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube