Cool opportunity

When it comes to ice hockey, Jessica McAllister has always carried a big stick. The 17-year-old athlete grew up skating with the boys at Rizzo Rink, and now competes against some female players twice her age.

McAllister will take on her biggest challenge yet next month when she plays for the 2003 Czech Hockey Challenge Cup. Teams from the Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, Germany, Austria and North America will face off in Prague.

"I always wanted to go to Europe, but I never thought I would be playing ice hockey there," said McAllister, who will be a senior at St. Maria Goretti High. "That’s a bonus."

So are the frequent-flier miles.

The forward spent part of Easter vacation in Chicago participating in a national high-school showcase tournament. She impressed the scouts in the stands, who invited her to play in Europe.

McAllister, of 15th and Shunk streets, will join other Americans and Canadian players on the North American squad. The athletes leave for their trip July 31, and will open their European tour with tune-up games in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

McAllister plans to send plenty of postcards back home, where her family will be waiting for her when she returns Aug. 16.

"Not seeing her is going to be real tough," said her father, Jim McAllister. But, he added, "I think she will take care of herself while she is there."

The athlete said she didn’t originally plan to travel outside Philadelphia to play ice hockey, let alone around the world. But the majority of upper-echelon ice hockey players hail from Europe, Canada and New England. In this region, it’s rare to find an all-girl ice hockey team.

For that reason, McAllister’s friends have a tough time believing that she is a standout ice hockey player.

"They think it’s weird," the honors student said. "They never heard of a girl from South Philadelphia that plays ice hockey."


McAllister fell in love with hockey at first skate at age 4. She points to old photos of herself in a team picture on the walls of Rizzo Rink, Front Street and Washington Avenue. Big brother Jimmy, now 19, also played on the squad.

For Jessica, the rink’s in-house Hockey Central program served as the foundation for much bigger opportunities. Having to play against boys made her a stronger competitor.

The better McAllister got, the further she had to travel to play. Jessica, Jimmy and brother Steven, now 16, spent five seasons playing with the Washington Township, N.J.-based Hollydell Gladiators, who advanced to the district squirt championships.

Then, at age 14, Jessica’s interest in ice hockey cooled.

"I didn’t feel like playing with the boys anymore," said the athlete, who plays pickup games around the neighborhood with her two brothers.

But Frankie Avallone, McAllister’s first hockey coach at Rizzo Rink, had even more advanced competition in mind for the talented player. He was interested in adding her to his Hollydell Hurricanes women’s team. Last year, the coach started making regular visits to the McAllister family’s store, ostensibly to buy coffee. The daily stops were more about getting the semi-retired athlete to join his team.

Finally, McAllister was willing to give the squad a try. Despite playing with women more than twice her age, the standout managed to finish second in goals (five) and tie for third in points (six).

"She took off," Avallone said. "It’s incredible."

McAllister credits Avallone and assistant coach Ernie Liparota for teaching her to skate. Now, she can’t seem to get enough time on the ice. Aside from the Hurricanes, the teen also played in a women’s spring league in Aston, and takes to the rink during the men’s open skating sessions at Hollydell. McAllister also enjoys watching games on television. Not surprisingly, forward Justin Williams is her favorite.

"I think he is cute and a really good player," she said.

The athlete is winning fans in her own right, and hopes to also earn a college scholarship. The exposure in Europe could be just what she needs.

McAllister would love for her hockey prowess to eventually lead to an Olympic rink, but for now, she is keeping her skates firmly planted on the ground — or, at least, the ice.

"I always dreamed about that, but I just want to take it one day at a time."