A long time idea will become real in June. In 2021 she built a backyard ice rink together with her husband and hosted hockey skating parties for the kids. During those times, she also brought out bandy sticks and balls to introduce the sport in a casual way. Her kids would occasionally pick them up and give it a try, though their main focus remained hockey, since that was their primary sport. Each winter, she continued to set up the rink, host hockey gatherings, and gradually keep introducing bandy alongside it.
But the break thru was when she brought the Wayzata Warriors 12 Youth hockey team to Västerås, Sweden, in August 2025 that she knew she would follow through with starting the Girls Development Program back home in US.
The first small bandy steps in the Draper backyard..
The woman with the bandy backyard and who is realizing the future dream for girls bandy in the USA is Rebecca Draper, head of the USA Womens Bandy and Chair of FIB Athletes Committee. A dream since several years will now come true.
Rebecca Draper
– While in Västerås, Olle Wiberg and members of the Swedish youth national bandy team led an hour-long bandy practice and game session for our Wayzata Warriors hockey team. That experience gave our players (and their parents) a real sense of the sport, its feel, awareness, and scale, I think, something that truly resonated with them. During Fall rink bandy in 2025, both my daughter and son stepped in for a game when we were short on numbers, further strengthening their exposure to the sport and fueling my eagerness to start a program, says Rebecca
– After returning from the World Championships in Pori, Finland in January 2026 and speaking with fellow bandy leaders, I felt even more encouraged and supported to move forward. In February 2026, my 13-year-old daughter officially played with the SISU Women’s Winter team on the big ice, showing strong promise and ability, solidifying my belief that the time to establish a Development Program is NOW, Rebecca continues.
The activities will be held on Sunday evenings, athletes will be introduced to the sport of bandy while building on their hockey foundation. Players will learn the fundamentals, rules, and strategies of bandy, all while continuing to develop skating and game awareness in a fun and supportive environment. Bandy played on a hockey rink has many similarities with hockey, but it is more free flowing. With 4 skaters on the ice for each team, no offsides or icing, no use of the bandy stick to impede opponents, and minimal stoppages, the game emphasizes creativity, skating, speed, movement, and teamwork. It’s a great way for athletes to get a fresh perspective on bandy.
The goal for the organizer is to have approximately 20-24 skaters and 2 goalies per session. Each session will include 1 hour on the ice, 30 minutes will focus on skill development, such as shooting, flow drills, regrouping, steering and more. The last 30 minutes is game time. The year of birth for the participants will be 2013 or earlier.
Colorful outdoor practice for one of the USA Women’s bandy teams on big ice.
A couple of final questons to the initiator, Becky Draper…
Why do you think this is an important Development Program?
– It is to provide girls with a new opportunity to experience the world’s second most popular Winter sport. Also to introduce them to the rules, skills, tactics, and strategies of rink bandy as a foundation before transitioning to full-sized ice, ensuring they build confidence and are prepared to play at the next level. I want to create a fun, supportive learning environment where girls can enjoy the sport alongside their friends and to establish a strong developmental base that allows athletes to continue improving, participate in summer and fall rink bandy leagues, and progress into the Women’s Winter big bandy league, some day the Women’s National Team. Another important plan is to ultimately build toward forming a USA Girls National Team, capable of competing in Youth World Championships.
That sounds like a really strong ambition, but what is your expectations?
-To launch the program in one city initially, with the long-term goal of expanding into additional cities and ultimately forming a structured league with youth practices and inter-city games. And then continue to grow awareness and visibility of the sport, both locally and internationally. I expect that we build confidence in participating girls by fostering an environment where they are strong, competitive, and encouraged to try new things. We shall keep the experience fun, engaging, and centered around learning and playing bandy.
Becky Draper concluded.
The premiere for the Girls Bandy Development Program will be Sunday 7th of June and in total 5 Sundays ending on the 19th of July, all starting 6:30 PM.
Rebecca Draper in action!