Welcome to the Firebird's Guest Book
5/23/2009 2:59 PM
WOW!
It is great to be able to come back and look at how you spent your childhood. I played for the girls team back in 1997 through I believe 1999 or 2000. No particular memories but that of driving back and forth from anchorage to wasilla. All I have left is my jersey, #9, it is just great to see that things are still going thousands of miles away. I am having kids now and hope to be able to put them in such great sports with great and everlasting memories...GO FIREBIRDS!!!
Heather Olzer <h_oler69@yahoo.com>Daytona Beach, FL
8/9/2008 4:09 PM
A Message From One of the Original Firebirds
It’s amazing to come to this site, and see what process the Firebirds have made since the team was first made. As one of the original team members of the Firebirds, I remember back in 1990 when Gary Miller and Sig Jokiel, approached me after I just had finished playing a game with the boys hockey team that I was a member of. There was Sig and a few other girls watching, waiting for me to get off the ice. To be asked by Sig if I would be interesting in helping them to form the first all girl hockey team in Alaska . There a group of amazing girl athletes, from other boy hockey teams came together in Anchorage.. I remember all of us voting on the name for the team, and having a contest on the design, who ever drew the best, was put on the jersey that I see girls wearing today, and I still have my jersey that is about 18 years old or so and still in great shape. I remember the girl that made the design. It's just amazing to see, how far this team has really gone. We had our challenges of an all girl team playing in an all supposed boy game, our team changed that, it changed Alaskan hockey, it made it possible for future generations of girl hockey players. Most of the boys we played against we used to play with on the same team for years, now we were facing each other and as  rivals, as a threat to boys hockey, since a change was now coming upon them, they were not so thrilled. We came up across obstacles and even some hostility on and off the ice, yet we moved beyond them. Our motivation, our spirit, our love of the game and us being a team as well as friends, we were able to succeed in all we did on and off the ice as a team. Some of us even got drafted to the USA Woman's hockey try outs back then. I can't say enough of how proud I am to see all the girls that followed our paths years later and still to come. The very first girls that formed the Firebirds I am sure would be highly proud of all of you young ladies out there. I know I am. Keep it up. We all had a great time back in those days; I hope you all do as well. I can't wait to see your next game! Remember you make it possible for the next generation to play as well.
Jessica Bush <ak_gypsy77@yahoo.com>Anchorage, Alaska