USA Hockey Adult Hockey

When it comes to the hierarchy of talent amongst hockey players between the ages of 18-24, players in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) are often overlooked and cast aside due to the “club hockey” label attached to them.

Two of the league's players, Paige Harrington and Hayley Williams, are set to change the way the ACHA is viewed. The pair was recently signed by the Buffalo Beauts of the newly formed professional National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).

Harrington, a shutdown defenseman from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, was co-captain of the Minutewomen last year. Williams tore up the nation last season at Miami University (Ohio), registering 27 goals and 26 assists and helping lead the RedHawks to a national runner-up finish. The two of them served as assistant captains for Team USA at the 2013 and 2015 World University Games, an opportunity exclusively for ACHA players.

Both used the league as a platform to reach the professional ranks. They are out to prove that the ACHA doesn't mean the end of a player's career. Instead, it can be a stepping stone for further development.

USA Hockey: What did the ACHA do for you?   

Paige Harrington: I had the best experience with the girls on my team. I made such great friends and have a great bond with my teammates. Everyone on the team worked hard, was really dedicated and devoted so that's what I loved about it. Playing in the ACHA also gave me a chance to play hockey in Europe.

Hayley Williams: It gave me an opportunity to play competitively again. It allowed me to continue earning a degree while playing the game that I love. It also raised my confidence in many ways. Not playing for three years and then finding the success that I did the past two years was definitely a boost in my confidence knowing that I do have so much potential.

USA Hockey: You both got to be a part of the 2013 and 2015 World University Games in Italy and Spain, respectively. What was that like to represent the ACHA and USA Hockey?

Harrington: Being able to wear “USA” on your chest and playing against other countries was an incredible experience. One of my favorite parts about playing overseas was the first time we went, we got to play at this outdoor rink in Austria. There were mountains in the background and it was gently snowing. Lining up on the blue line and you have the national anthem going, I was like, wow, this is something I'll never forget.

Williams: That was amazing. I'd never been to another country besides Canada to play hockey. It's amazing that USA Hockey offers that opportunity for ACHA players. The national team would be worthy of going there and winning a gold medal, so that's great that they give us that opportunity. There's camaraderie between different countries even when you can't speak the same language. Nana Fujimoto (of Team Japan) was in Spain and she's coming over to play in the NWHL, so that's cool. It's a small world really.

USA Hockey: The World University Games showcase the talent level of ACHA players. What’s the competition level like during the regular season and playoffs?

Harrington: I definitely think that the ACHA is underestimated. There are so many girls in the league that could've played somewhere else. We had strict schedules and we had certain workouts, as well as late and early morning practices. We could've played some Division III schools and been right up there with them.

Williams: I think there's a stigma against the ACHA because it's club hockey. Nobody ever talks about it. It's hard to recruit for it as a coach because you can't give a scholarship and you have to tell the players that they have to pay to play. The ACHA is just as good of a choice as a NCAA Division III school depending on the academics of the school and where you want to be. It's still college hockey and you still play the game that you love.

USA Hockey: Coming into the NWHL from the ACHA, is there a chip on your shoulder given the stigma surrounding the club level?

Harrington: It is a motivator. I don't know if I can call myself the underdog. We didn't even have a trainer at UMass. We had to do it all on our own. Everything is on your own in club hockey – it's student-run. I want to prove that the ACHA breeds good hockey players. I have a tough mentality and a lot of tenacity on defense. It's mind over matter. Even though I said I'm kind of an underdog, I'm not going to be thinking like that because I know I'm just as good.

Williams: I know that I have a lot to prove. I know that I have a lot more potential and I know that when people find out that I played club hockey, it's kind of like a laugh-it-off or 'oh, who's this girl?' type of thing. Coming from the bottom, it's actually a really motivating thing for me. I succeeded the best that I could at the level that I was playing and now I have another level to step up and show myself.

USA Hockey: This is the first year of the NWHL. What do you hope to accomplish as a league?

Harrington: This is an unbelievable thing that's happening for women's hockey and women's sports. It's going to give youth hockey and younger girls a vision and a platform for where they can play and I think that's terrific. I feel completely honored and blessed that I'm going to be a part of the first year. I think it's going to take off, especially once people realize what women's hockey can bring.

Williams: I think that there's going to be a lot of effort needed on all the players' parts to get the word out that there's a new league and to get a fan base not just in our own cities, but around the country. If we want to expand, then we're going to have to get the word out. If we use social media and tell everybody about it, then I think that it will be able to grow more than if we just let the staff do the work.