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Girls' Hockey League
The Olympics are over but some new Olympic dreams may have been born. And collectors of Olympic memorabilia may be fueling the fires for future Olympians.
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(Mar. 21, 2002)------ American Women Hockey Players won silver here in Salt Lake last month, and gold in 1998.
That has fired up lots of interest in girls hockey, and some folks say it's time to give the girls a league of their own.
Some Olympians are aiming to help raise money for the new league, and memorbilia collectors are the target. News Specialist Shelley Osterloh reports.
NBC featured women's hockey captain Cammi Granato in a spot that showed how a little girl's dream of playing sports can turn into Olympic glory.
Sarah Argyle/Murray: I THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY, AND THEN IT MADE ME JUST WANT TO START CHECKING PEOPLE MORE.
Cammi Granato/U.S. Women Hockey Team Captain: FOR LITTLE GIRLS TO BE ABLE TO WATCH IT AND TAKE FROM IT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PLACE TO GO AND A PATH FOR THEM IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THAT PATH, IT'S REWARDING.
A few months ago, Nike pledged 100 thousand dollars to start an all girls hockey league right here in Salt Lake City at the Utah Olympic Oval.
Nick Thometz/Utah Olympic Oval Manager: IT'S TIME TO GET GIRLS PLAYING IN THE GIRLS LEAGUES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
Until now, most younger girls could only play on boys teams.
Katelyn Contreras/Idaho Falls, Idaho: THEY USUALLY DON'T TALK TO ME BECAUSE I'M A GIRL AND THEY USUALLY DON'T PASS IT.
Kaylie Taylor/Salt Lake : SOMETIMES THEY TEASE ME, BUT THEN I GET OVER IT.
When they are in town, some USA Olympians hold clinics for young skaters.
Brandi Fisher/U.S. Women's Hockey Team: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT GIRLS UNDERSTAND YOU CAN PLAY HOCKEY, YOU CAN BE AN ATHLETE AND YOU CAN STILL BE A FEMININE GIRL.
And now, to help raise money for the girl's hockey program in Utah, Cammi Granato and other skaters, including Canada's Mario Lemieux, have donated Olympic game worn skates to be auctioned on E-Bay.
It's for money that may help build a young girl's dream.
Jannica Mitchell/Kaysville: I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO AND PLAY FOR A COLLEGE TEAM AND HOPEFULLY MAKE IT.
Sarah Argyle/Murray: I'D LIKE TO BE A PRO HOCKEY PLAYER AND PLAY FOR THE WOMEN'S TEAM.
Last day to make bid on E-Bay is Monday,
March 25.
And at the first of May, The Olympic Oval begins it's learn to play hockey classes and will host a girl's hockey tournament.
