New Faces Join the Pipeline at Team USA Women’s Sled Hockey Tryouts
For 16-year-old Laighton Philbrick, being selected for Team USA women’s sled hockey team would be a dream come true.
The New Hampshire resident is trying out for the second time, having played the sport for five years — ever since someone at her school noticed how competitive she was and suggested she give it a shot. A below-the-knee amputee, Philbrick found more than a sport in sled hockey.
“I was really happy with the result,” she said Thursday at Verona Ice Arena in Verona, Wis. “It was very competitive, very fun. I like the community.”
Philbrick was one of more than 30 women and girls who took the ice as part of a tryout field that turned out bigger than usual — a milestone that didn’t go unnoticed. Tryouts run through Saturday.
The morning session opened with skills and drills, the first of two on-ice sessions players will run through each day, followed by a scrimmage in the afternoon. Coaches were watching for more than raw skill.
“They’re definitely looking for intensity,” veteran forward Monica Quimby said. “They’re looking for communication. They’re looking for how well you’re able to mesh with our team. And, you know, are you a go-getter? Are you going to go get that puck? You’ve got to drive to that net.”
For Philbrick, skating alongside veterans like Quimby has been part of the appeal.
“They give really good advice,” she said. “I always will take that and try to implant it in my playing style. I just love the intensity they bring — it gives me a good challenge and a good workout, too.”
Quimby, for her part, has spent much of 2026 growing the sport on a bigger stage. This past spring, she took part in the inaugural Latin America Para Ice Hockey Skills Development Camp in Mexico — the first para ice hockey camp ever held there — followed two weeks later by the first International Women’s Para Ice Hockey Development Camp in Vierumäki, Finland, which drew 86 applicants from 16 countries and brought 36 players from 10 nations together on the ice for the first time.
With a trip to Australia still ahead, Quimby has had a front-row seat to the sport’s expansion. And this year’s tryout turnout hit different.
“We’re really excited to see how many women and girls came out this year,” she said. “We haven’t really had tryouts in a couple of years, so to see this many people come out and play the sport that we love is just so exciting. It’s the growth of the game, and that’s what we want.”
Teammate Erica McKee echoed the sentiment. McKee helped start the U.S. Women’s Development sled hockey team in 2007 to create additional opportunities for other women and girls, and as team captain, has played every position but goalie, making her well-positioned to see how far the pipeline has come.
McKee called Philbrick one of their up-and-coming stars.
“The last time we had a tryout was three years ago,” McKee says. “It’s exciting to see the younger generation getting better.”
The afternoon scrimmage between Team White and Team Red started as a tight contest before Team White pulled away for an 8-4 win.
Team Red jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Team White scored three unanswered goals — a pair from Kelsey DiClaudio and one from Ellie Messerschmidt — to take a 3-2 edge after the first period.
Team White pulled away from there. DiClaudio was the story of the game, adding three more goals in the second period for a five-goal outing, while Chloe Kirkpatrick and Kaden Herchenroether also scored.
Catherine Faherty’s goal for Team Red wasn’t enough to keep pace, and Team White closed out the scrimmage, played over two periods rather than the usual three, with the win.
Tryouts continue Friday with an 8 a.m. practice, followed by a 1:30 p.m. game, before wrapping up Saturday.