skip navigation

Expanding List of Local Rinks Helps Try Hockey Day Grow

By Mike Scandura - Special to USA Hockey, 02/23/17, 2:15PM MST

Share

Over 350 associations will take part this year to help kids try hockey

As part of the 10th annual Hockey Weekend Across America, which has morphed into Hockey Week Across America, we are bringing you a series of features surrounding the celebration of players, coaches, officials, rinks and the many volunteers who make our sport great. 


USA Hockey’s director of membership development, Kevin Erlenbach, has a goal for the organization’s annual Try Hockey For Free Day, one of the most successful initiatives in USA Hockey’s 80-year history.    

“We have about one-third of all USA Hockey associations participating,” Erlenbach said. “We’d like one half of all associations to participate. We’re getting to the point where we’ve identified strong programs and slowly but surely adding on more sites. The focus is starting to shift in terms of how we identify good rinks and associations. The next step is to provide them with tools and resources.”

As it is, Erlenbach will have to “settle” for 350-plus associations participating in Try Hockey For Free Day on February 25.

But the number of associations is impressive considering the initial number when he and Pat Kelleher, USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of development.

“We started with just one rink in Denver and then it spread to a hockey day in Connecticut with 12 rinks,” Erlenbach said. “It just ballooned over the years into what it is now with two national days per year.”

Try Hockey For Free Day is exactly what it sounds like and more. Youngsters who have never had a chance to try hockey are offered the opportunity to do so at no cost. 

Participating local rinks encourage kids ages four to nine to try youth hockey as part of USA Hockey’s Hockey Week Across America. Erlenbach cited a specific reason why the four-to-nine age group is targeted.


Try Hockey Day will have over 350 participating local rinks

“The reason we do it that way is we study our numbers to find out where we can make the biggest impact,” he said. “When small kids get into the sport all of our new players come in at eight and under because. In reality, this is because there is limited ice for rinks that have programs for a 12-year-old that’s never played hockey.

“It’s hard to find programs for kids when they get older. But every rink has a program for kids eight and under so there’s always a next step at every rink for kids to try hockey.”As a result, associations are provided the opportunity to attract new players as well as piquing the interest of their respective families.


On average, one in four kids at THFF days come back to play

“We pretty much know we’re going to get 30 kids per site going into November with pretty close to 500 sites,” Erlenbach said. “[On February 25] we’ll have 380 locations with about 30 kids per site because we have families that have never considered youth hockey before and, since it’s the middle of winter, they think about giving hockey a try.”

On average between the two dates, one in four kids sign up to play hockey.

“We’re satisfied with it now but we’re working to get better,” Erlenbach said. “Some [associations] do a great job and get 60 percent of their kids to become youth hockey players. We’re doing research projects now to identify those clubs so we can get more kids to try youth hockey.”

As part of Try Hockey For Free Day, a training session is held during which kids are split up by age group.

“A lot of 7- and 9-year-olds can hold themselves pretty well on the ice,” Erlenbach said. “We’ll give them practice plans that give them the chance to do all the basics like skating, shooting the puck and passing. Then, we finish it with a cross-ice game.”

Try Hockey for Free Day is the penultimate day of Hockey Weekend Across America, which is capped off with “Celebrate Local Heroes Day” on February 26. Associations are encouraged to develop ways to honor their local hockey heroes, some of whom are out on the ice on Saturday introducing new players to the sport.

“It’s up to the local USA Hockey associations to identify who fits this description,” Erlenbach said. “It could be somebody who’s volunteered for 40 years or somebody who played for the national team or in the NHL. It could be a former NHL player that volunteered to work in the concessions stand.

“It’s been done for several years through social media where a local association posts something on Facebook or Twitter. It’s the essence of what makes amateur hockey so cool.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

Salute to Local Rinks


Try Hockey Day


HWAA Daily Themes

Date Theme
Sunday, Feb. 19 NBC's Hockey Day in America
Monday, Feb. 20 Salute to Players
Tuesday, Feb. 21 Salute to Coaches
Wednesday, Feb. 22 Salute to Officials
Thursday, Feb. 23 Salute to Local Rinks
Friday, Feb. 24 Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day
Saturday, Feb. 25 Try Hockey Day
Sunday, Feb. 26 Celebrate Hockey Heroes

Join The Social Conversation

Be part of the social conversation regarding USA Hockey's Hockey Week Across America initiative. Here's how you can participate in HWAA's 'Salute to Local Rinks' and 'Try Hockey Day' themes:

  • Share photos/videos of your local rink using #SaluteToRinks
  • Share your favorite rink-related story using #SaluteToRinks
  • If hosting events, post photos/videos using #TryHockey and tag @USAHockey to be included in the USA Hockey Storify stream
  • Sample posts & images can be found here: http://bit.ly/2ktOefn

Please note, #HWAA is the main hashtag throughout the week.


Events Near You

Get Involved By Finding HWAA Events Near You


Media Kit

Poster, Social Media Graphics, PA reads and more


Kraft Hockeyville

Nominate Your Local Rink


HWAA News

A young boy, in a black Bauer helmet and a navy USA Hockey/NHL jersey sits on the ice and smiles during Try Hockey For Free Day

USA Hockey News

Michigan Womens's Ice Hockey Team - by Nolan Bona
  • The Game Lives On

  • By Clara Boudette 03/13/2024, 10:15am MDT
  • The University of Michigan Women’s Ice Hockey Team Embraces Domestic & Global Opportunities American College Hockey Association Provides
  • Read More
The Lady Duck "We Play Her Way" program smiles for a photograph on the ice.

Connect With USA Hockey

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter