WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington native Casey Pickett was part of professional hockey history this week.
Pickett, a forward for the Boston Pride, played in the first ever Women’s Outdoor Winter Classic, held at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, December 31.
Pickett’s Boston Pride, of the National Women’s Hockey League, battled Les Canadiennes, of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, to a 1-1 tie in the highly anticipated exhibition game during the NHL Winter Classic festivities.
“I am incredibly grateful that I was able to participate in the first ever Women’s Winter Classic,” says Pickett. “It was an amazing experience and I feel very lucky to have shared it with some of my very best and oldest friends. There’s something so special about playing the game outdoors — it is hockey at its purist — and playing outdoors on that big of a stage is something that I will never forget.”
Interestingly, Pickett enjoyed another unforgettable hockey opportunity earlier in her hockey career — playing at Fenway Park during the “Frozen Four” as a member of Northeastern’s hockey team.
Her time at Northeastern was capped by a 2012-2013 senior season in which she finished second on the team in points (21 goals, 26 points), while serving as tri-captain.
Her successful Huskies career propelled her to the pros.
“Part of why I am still playing hockey at this level is because I want to help grow the game,” explains Pickett. “Growing up, I would tell anyone who would listen that I wanted to be a professional hockey player. I grew up in a world where my dream was invalid.”
As a result, Pickett’s involvement in the Winter Classic took on special meaning.
“In inviting us to play and participate in the winter classic, the NHL validated the dreams of all the little girls out there who dream of playing professionally and of having the same opportunities as the guys,” explains Pickett. “Seeing those little girls in the stands at our game was easily the greatest part of the whole afternoon.”
And I’m sure many of those little girls were inspired to follow their hockey dreams, just like Casey did.
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