Cool as Ice! Angela Lewis is Our LadyHatTrick

Facts and Figures, News and Events — By Mia Jackson on March 17, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Sideline Pass Talks to Hockey Writer Angela Lewis

Angela Lewis: Our Ball Girl on Ice

A 2^nd grade girl went to a hockey game and her heart has been frozen on ice every since. When Angela Lewis saw the Washington Capitals take on the Canadiens in DC, she fell hard for the NHL. Some didn’t quite understand her intense love for the games. “Something about the team or the game captured my attention … I fell in love,” Lewis says with a smile. With South American parents and living in the land of the Washington Redskins, it’s difficult to comprehend how it happened that Angela’s first true loves were those fast skating men with sticks. “The game is awesome!” she shares with women who haven’t taken in a NHL game.

Following that first game, Angela soon began writing her own post game reports and keeping a journal that she shared with her father. That journal and the sophistication of her articles grew. Supporting his daughter’s dream, her proud father forwarded Caps owner Ted Leonsis some of Angela’s post game reports. Leonsis graciously replied suggesting that Angela consider sports journalism and right then her major was set. Currently a college senior at American University, Angela balances her professional writing career with a full academic load, handling both the skill of a smooth Wayne Gretzky.

Today, Angela covers local high school high teams for the Washington Post and is an NHL credentialed writer for The Hockey Writers. She’s earned her stripes and feels comfortable sitting with the older writers because she’s confident in her knowledge and understanding of this speedy sport.

A Classic! Favorite Hockey Experiences

Angela went to the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, the outdoor hockey game that’s fast become a tradition, and was able to cover her home team the Capitals as they took on the Pittsburgh Penguins. As she describes covering the event you can hear just how much she enjoyed each step of the way. The opportunity to interview star players like Sidney Crosby before the actual game, meet with legendary writers and enjoy the electricity of the game only heightened her intense admiration of hockey.

CLICK HERE to LISTEN to the Full Interview

Violence in the Game

When asked about the violence in the game, which can sometimes turn off viewers, she adds her perspective. “The style of play has evolved as well,” she says when comparing today’s players to the freestyle players of the 70’s. Lewis believes that the league does what it can to protect the players. “There are lots of opportunities to get hurt in the game, pucks, sticks, big bodies … I can say that the NHL is not trying NOT to protect the players; they’ve tried to suspend players who have deliberately put players in harm’s way.”

Get Comfortable on Ice

Lady Hat Trick is crystal clear about hockey: ”It’s a great time to get into hockey. There’s no other game like it.” For women considering a career in sports, take a few tips for Angela.