WI Resident Skates Her Way onto Ice Girls, Again

Victoria, 21, made the cut for the second consecutive year.
A.J. Voelpel
West Islip Patch
August 12, 2011

You’re likely to see a lot of fresh faces when the New York Islanders take to the ice this season. But Victoria will not be one of them.

For the second consecutive year, West Islip’s own Victoria (whose last name we’ve been asked by Islanders to keep anonymous) will star as a member of the Ice Girls, a group of 10 women that represent the Islanders on and off the ice.

The Ice Girls are a huge attraction at the Nassau Coliseum and have been part of the organization since the 2001-02 season. If you’re not familiar, you can normally spot them shoveling up loose ice during timeouts, presenting the Islanders flag before games and taking part in community events.

We recently spoke with Victoria, 21, about the team, her skating career and the rejected Coliseum vote on August 1.

West Islip Patch: Take me through the tryout process. Is it as competitive as it looks?

Victoria: This was my second year doing it, and it was a little different than the first year. There were a lot more girls trying out this year. We have to bring in a headshot and a resume, then we go out on the ice and skate then we each get interviewed. Then the coach eliminates some girls and we keep filtering.

WIP: Do you hang out often with other girls on the team?

V: We kind of live all over the island, but the ones that live closer to me, I do see. So we do hang out, but not as much as I’d like. We’re all around the same age, so we all get along really well.

WIP: Since it isn’t a 12-month ordeal, do you work any other jobs?

V: I work at a fitness Incentive in Babylon Village at the front desk and also teach aerobics classes there.

WIP: Were you upset that Nassau residents turned down the new coliseum?

V: I was a little upset at first, but from what the coaches are telling us, they’re not going to give up just yet.

WIP: Tell me about when your skating career started.

V: I started at 7-years-old, skating both before and after school most days, up until eighth grade (Victoria said was home schooled during high school and will be entering CW Post in the fall as a junior). My schedule was really crazy; get up at 5 a.m., go skating, go to school, rush and do my homework on my bus, then go skating again.

I skated in several international competitions, some of which I medaled in. I Stopped skating competitively about a year and half ago. I’m hoping to do some more shows after school, but my job right now as an Ice Girl is perfect.

WIP: What’s the coolest place you’ve visited?

V: It’s Courmayeur. It’s in Italy and it’s where the tallest mountain in Italy is. Even in the summer there’s snow. I went there in July once and there was a dusting of snow. It was crazy.

WIP: Would you say you’re one of the best skaters on the team?

V: I would, only because I’ve skated and competed the longest out of anyone on the team for sure.