New Girls Hockey Co-op Opens Varsity Opportunity to Lowell Students

Lowell’s Ellinor Richmond in the blue gloves in the background in a practice with the Jenison Girls Hockey co-op team.

Girls attending Lowell High School will now have an opportunity to compete in varsity hockey through a new Jenison-based cooperative program.

The team will bring together players from schools across Kent and Ottawa counties during the 2026-2027 school year. Lowell High School student Ellinor Richmond is currently the first and only Lowell player on the roster, but the co-op creates a path for additional Red Arrows to join in the future.

Lowell Area Schools has expressed support for Richmond and any other Lowell students who become part of the program.

For girls who previously had to choose between travel hockey, playing on a mixed team or leaving the sport altogether, the new co-op provides another option.

Expanding Girls Hockey Opportunities

Girls hockey opportunities remain limited in West Michigan.

Programs are available through organizations such as Fox Motors at Southside Ice Arena, the Grand Rapids Amateur Hockey Association at Patterson Ice Center and the Hawks at Walker Ice and Fitness. However, the number of girls interested in continuing hockey can exceed the number of available roster spots.

“There are honestly too many girls coming up in West Michigan hockey and not enough teams to support them,” said Syndi Richmond, Ellinor’s mother and a co-manager of the new Jenison team.

After the squirt age group, girls generally face two choices. They can continue on a mixed house team or try out for one of the area’s girls travel programs.

Playing on a mixed team can become more difficult as body checking is introduced at older levels. While leagues teach safe checking, the size difference between players can discourage some girls from continuing.

Body checking is not permitted in girls hockey, although physical contact remains part of the game.

“Most girls are afraid to get checked by a boy far bigger than them,” Richmond said. “Girls hockey is zero checking. While it does happen, the girls are roughly the same size, and it makes it a little less scary.”

The new varsity co-op gives Lowell girls another place to play without having to compete for one of the limited travel roster spots.

A More Affordable Alternative

All photos in this article thanks to Sydni Richmond, Ellinor’s mom and Jenison Girls Hockey Co-Manager

Cost is another challenge for girls hoping to continue playing hockey.

Travel hockey can include substantial registration fees, equipment costs, tournament expenses and frequent trips outside West Michigan. Richmond said her daughter’s girls travel seasons have consistently cost more than her twin brother’s seasons.

“Girls on our side of the state deserve more options, and travel is not always an affordable option for all families,” she said.

High school hockey can provide a more affordable route, particularly because the schedule includes fewer tournaments and less long-distance travel than a typical travel season.

The Jenison co-op plans to participate in two tournaments in the Detroit area this season. College scouts are expected to attend those events, giving players an opportunity to pursue hockey beyond high school.

The team is also working to reduce the financial burden on families through can drives, restaurant support nights, a direct fundraising page and additional fundraising events.

Lowell’s First Player

Richmond, who plays right wing and forward, has attended Lowell Area Schools since kindergarten. She began at Alto Elementary before moving to Lowell Middle School and Lowell High School.

She has played hockey for nine years after initially entering the sport alongside her twin brother.

Richmond began in a figure skating learn-to-skate program at Patterson Ice Center before moving into hockey learn-to-skate, cross-ice hockey and mites.

She stepped away after her second mites season to try lacrosse, but the break did not last long.

“By the end of lacrosse season, she was dragging her hockey stick around the house and sleeping with it,” Syndi Richmond said. “It was then she told us hockey was her whole heart and she wanted to go back.”

Richmond returned after the COVID-19 shutdown and later played two seasons for GRAHA’s 12U girls travel team. She also competed for the Hawks at the 14U and 16U levels.

Her experience included making teams, being cut and repeatedly searching for another place to continue playing. That uncertainty is one reason the new high school program could be important for future Lowell players.

How the Co-op Came Together

The Lowell freshman will take this ice this fall with Jenison.

The program was organized by Jenison team manager Jessica Patera, who previously managed a Hawks 14U team on which Richmond played.

Patera connected with families through the West Michigan hockey community and began contacting schools throughout Kent and Ottawa counties. She then worked to secure the approvals needed for students from multiple districts to join the team.

Syndi Richmond learned about the program after responding to a post in a Michigan girls hockey Facebook group.

Ellinor had been deciding between returning to travel hockey or trying the new high school option. She ultimately chose the co-op because it offered a chance to compete at the varsity level while working toward her goal of playing college hockey.

The team has already had the opportunity to practice with Emma Johns, a Jenison alum and University of Michigan women’s hockey goaltender who will also serve as the team’s goalie coach.

Syndi Richmond will serve as a co-manager and help oversee the team when Patera is unavailable.

Transportation Remains a Challenge

Because players will come from districts throughout Kent and Ottawa counties, transportation to practices and games will be handled by families. Not dissimilar to a Lowell player playing with Caledonia.

Parents will be responsible for driving, while players who are old enough may transport themselves.

That arrangement is familiar to many travel hockey families, but it could still be a challenge for Lowell students considering the program.

Even with the added travel, the co-op represents a significant expansion of athletic opportunities available to Lowell girls.

Richmond may be the first Red Arrow to join the roster, but she does not have to be the last. Lowell students interested in hockey now have a varsity program available to them and another way to continue playing the sport at the high school level. Reach out to info@redarrowpreps.com and we’ll point you in the right direction if you have a daughter interested in girls hockey.