Erica McKee was once the first woman to participate at the USA Hockey Sled Player Development Camp.

Now, more than 17 years later, McKee is making history again.

The Chicago native became the first woman to coach at the development camp, which is currently taking place at the Philadelphia Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, New Jersey.

“It’s an honor to see that all the hard work that I put into this sport is showing off,” McKee said. “I want to be that role model for the younger generation growing up.”

McKee, 37, has broken barriers in sled hockey her entire life. She was the first woman to make the U.S. Men’s Development Sled Hockey Team and the first captain of that squad. 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 the captain of the team, she has played every position but goalie.

“Seeing where it started to where it is now, the skill level has gotten a lot better since the first camp,” McKee said.

The U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team features 17 players. There were about 60 players at the recent development camp, including eight women.

The purpose of the camp was to identify, train and educate the top sled hockey athletes in the country. The selection process for the development camp was by invitation only and players had the opportunity to compete with other elite athletes in their age group from around the country in practices and games.

“It’s something I didn’t get to experience as a female skater growing up in the sled hockey world,” McKee said. “I didn’t have that female presence because I was always with the guys. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that there’s a pipeline for girls to get to our team. The female side is just going to continue to grow.”

McKee said that David Hoff, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, asked if she would be interested in being the first female coach of the development camp. McKee’s husband, Kevin McKee, in addition to Noah Grove and Josh Pauls, are among U.S. National Sled Team players who helped instruct at the event.

“We should have a female coach because they need someone to look up to, or go to when they have a problem,” McKee said. “Sometimes going to a male coach isn’t as easy because it’s not easy to talk to them as it is a female. It was very exciting, and I honestly never thought I’d be asked.”

When the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Team holds tryouts, there’s typically 40 players attempting to crack the top 17 that make the roster. The team will hold tryouts in August and a training camp in September. Anyone who makes the team will have their first big test in October when Norway hosts the Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge.

“We’re getting faster and stronger, and we can keep up with the guys,”McKee said. “It’s exciting and the growth has been exponential.”

McKee said the talent and skill level wasn’t high in women’s sled hockey when she initially started, but it has improved over time.

“One of our mottos on the team is, ‘It’s all about the climb,’ and I’ve been chasing this dream since I was a child,” McKee said. “There are so many little girls playing sled hockey out there now. They’re going to get older and compete and one of these days, eventually, I hope they take my spot and I can coach that team.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.