Sports photo by Josh Jambor Alpena varsity hockey coach Ben Henry poses for a photo with sophomore hockey player Peyton Weir after practice last week at Northern Lights Arena.

ALPENA – When sophomore Peyton Weir of the Alpena Wildcats varsity hockey team scored a goal earlier in the season, against Traverse City West, the crowd inside Northern Lights Area erupted, and rose to their feet.

Weir is the lone female on the team and her score was not only memorable for her, but will also be a highlight for the hockey program for many years to come.

Peyton said when the horn sounded after the puck entered the net, she was excited, but wasn’t able to fully absorb what the goal meant to the large crowd at the Northern Lights Arena.

“It felt amazing, I did not notice the crowd, but it was loud. I was just focused on hockey.” she said.

Peyton grew up in Alpena and has two brothers, both of which play or have played hockey for the Wildcats.

Lucas Weir graduated last year and was a forward on the team. Clark Weir is in his senior season with the Wildcats and plays forward too. He is currently having a standout senior season.

When asked about the role her brothers played in her decision to start playing hockey, Peyton acknowledged they inspired her.

“I started playing when I was five or six years old, my brothers definitely had a lot to do with that choice,” Peyton said.

Peyton describes being the only girl on the team as super fun and extra competitive.

” It is hard, and it’s more fast paced,” she said about playing and practicing with the guys.

Alpena Head Coach Ben Henry discussed whether having a girl on the team presents any obstacles.

“It’s not common to have a girl on the team, it’s a great atmosphere. I think it creates a lot of diversity on the team in a good way,” Henry said.

Although she is the only girl on the team, that doesn’t diminish her competitiveness. If anything, it makes her more motivated, Henry said.

“She shows up every day, she works extremely hard, there are not too many guys on our team that she doesn’t work just as hard as, if not harder than,” Henry explained.

Henry described the relationship between Peyton and the rest of the team.

“Overall, it’s a great experience for her and the rest of the team. It’s like having a little sister on the team,” Henry stated. “Peyton obviously has her brother on the team, but she also has 23 big brothers as well.”

Peyton appears focused on having a bright future in hockey, and Henry hopes her time on the team prepares her for the next part of that journey.

“It’s getting her ready for her next step in her hockey career, which will most likely be on a girls’ team,” Henry said. “I’m excited for her, and to see what she can do in the future.”

Peyton was one of 15 participants in the USA Girls Hockey Development Camp in 2025.

When asked about her dreams for the future, Peyton had a two-word answer.

“Play hockey,” she said.

Peyton went on to elaborate on her hockey goals.

“In ten years, I see myself in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) as an all-star prodigy, or coaching a little kid’s team, helping kids learn the sport.”

Based on information obtained from USA Hockey, approximately 12 to 13 thousand girls play high school hockey in the United States. In comparison, the boys have roughly 45 to 46 thousand players.

Numbers like those can be intimidating for a young girl who is considering signing up to play hockey. Peyton believes if you truly have passion for it, sign up, you won’t regret it.

“If a younger girl came up to me and told me that she was thinking about starting hockey I would encourage her to start playing,” Peyton said. “Hockey is so much fun.”

Regardless of gender, if you dream it, you can achieve it, and you should pursue those dreams.

“I think that anyone that puts their mind to it can play hockey, and all they need to know is that it’s all about having a love and passion for the sport,” Peyton said.