NBC News:  “A female high school ice hockey goalie who left in tears after being viciously heckled at a game last month returned to the ice Monday night, this time to cheers from a sold-out Pennsylvania arena that included friends, fans and an Olympian.

“Students from Armstrong High School chanted vulgarities at the Mars Area High School’s female goalie during an Oct. 28 game between the teams.  Videos surfaced on social media showing a group of dozens of students in the stands chanting offensive and sexist comments directed at the goalie, with no one stopping them. By the second period of the game, the goalie was in tears, Mars coach Steve Meyers told the Associated Press.

“Armstrong students were later barred from attending the school’s hockey games and the team was placed on probation for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, including the playoffs, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League said Thursday. Siblings of varsity players can attend games only if with a parent or guardian.  Monday night’s game was a triumphant match for the goalie, who was met with support from over 800 people packed into the UMPC Lemieux Complex, the practice and training facility for the Pittsburgh Penguins, NBC affiliate WPXI of Pittsburgh reported.  Fans were seen holding signs that said, ‘Girls are strong!’ and ‘We belong on the ice!’

“Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle, a two-time Olympic silver medalist who now serves as goaltending coach for the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team, was in attendance at Monday night’s game.   ‘It’s pretty, pretty cool. Every time she makes a save this place goes nuts!’ she told WXPI.”