Utah Lady Grizzlies Secure Two District Championships, Advance to National Girls Hockey Tournament

The Utah Lady Grizzlies captured two titles at the USA Hockey Rocky Mountain District Championships in Denver, as the program's 14U Tier 2 and 16U Tier 2 teams both advanced to the 2026 USA Hockey Girls National Championships. The Rocky Mountain District tournament featured top teams from Utah, Colorado, Texas, and Arizona competing for a berth in the USA Hockey Girls National Championships.

The Utah Lady Grizzlies 14U Tier 2 team captured the district title with an undefeated four-game run, controlling play throughout the Rocky Mountain District tournament. The attack was led by Kathryn Damon, Eloise Linville, and Aly Mossberg, while strong team defense and steady goaltending helped the Lady Grizzlies dictate the pace of games throughout the weekend. ULG generated 23 goals in four games while allowing only 8, reflecting the team's balanced offense and disciplined defense. "I'm really proud of how this group played all weekend," said 14U Tier 2 Head Coach Bryan Bylsma. "They supported each other in all three zones and stayed focused on doing the little things right. When a team plays that way, good things tend to happen." The performance sealed an impressive undefeated run and the Rocky Mountain District championship.

The 16U Tier 2 team battled through a dramatic run, with three of its four games going to overtime. That resilience was on full display in the championship game against the Dallas Stars. Goals from Lady Grizzlies forwards Paisley Uzelac and Josephine Goss kept the score even in the third period before Dallas took a 3–2 lead with 3:03 remaining. With the goaltender pulled for a 6-on-5 advantage, Kassidy Allsman scored with just 33 seconds remaining to tie the game and send it to overtime — where Gianna Monestere delivered the game winner, completing the comeback and securing the Rocky Mountain District title. Team captain Nora McCarty anchored the defensive effort, while Jaylee Gomez and Alette Harker delivered strong performances in goal throughout the tightly contested tournament. "This group showed a lot of grit and resilience all weekend," said ULG Director of Hockey and 16U Tier 2 Head Coach Rob Johnson. "When you play three overtime games in a four-game tournament, you know how tight the competition is. The players just kept battling and believing in each other."

The two Utah-based teams will now represent the Rocky Mountain District and the state of Utah at the USA Hockey Girls National Championships. The 14U Tier 2 team will compete March 25–29 in Rochester, Michigan, while the 16U Tier 2 team will compete March 25–29 in St. Louis, Missouri, facing top Tier 2 programs from across the country. The championships highlight the continued growth of girls youth hockey in Utah and the increasing opportunities for young athletes across the state to compete at the district and national level. For more information about the program, visit their official website.