MBS Sophomore Petitions Mattel for USA Ice Hockey Barbie

Great job by MBS sophomore Emma Hughes ’23, who recently started a petition for toy company Mattel to introduce a USA Ice Hockey Barbie.  

“Girls ice hockey is one of the fastest growing youth sports in the United States and it upsets me that many, especially the youngest girls of the hockey community, still see ice hockey only represented as a male sport,” said Hughes, who is a member of the Morristown-Beard girls ice hockey team.   

Although Mattel recently released an Ice Hockey Barbie exclusively in Canada, they have yet to make a comparable doll available in the U.S.

“I thought the doll was really inspirational and would have liked to have one when I was younger,” said Hughes. “But then it made me angry that U.S. girls weren’t seeing this on the shelf. Nothing had changed from when I was at a Barbie-playing age till now.” 

Hughes said part of her inspiration came from MBS Head Coach Bruce Driver, who was a Stanley Cup Champion defenseman with the New Jersey Devils. Driver has dedicated 20 years to the MBS girls ice hockey program and was instrumental in bringing a Girls State Championship Tournament to the Prudential Center for the first time last year. “Having a coach who advocates and supports growing girls ice hockey, not just at the high school level but beyond, is a major inspiration,” she said.

Hughes added, “Girls breaking barriers and wanting to be respected and recognized isn’t a phase — it’s a reality that I want to help grow,” she said.

Click here to sign the petition and read more about Hughes’ campaign.