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USA Hockey to Celebrate IIHF World Girls Hockey Weekend Saturday and Sunday

By USA Hockey, 10/03/19, 3:30PM MDT

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More than 130 events scheduled nationwide

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey will join with federations from around the world Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 5-6) to celebrate the ninth annual IIHF World Girls Hockey Weekend. As part of the celebration, USA Hockey affiliates and local associations will host more than 130 events from coast to coast.

Michigan leads the nation with 23 Girls Hockey Weekend host sites. Multiple NHL teams will also host girls hockey events, including the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.

As part of the celebration of IIHF Girls Hockey Weekend, players are invited to take part in USA Hockey's #CellyChallenge by submitting a video of their go-to goal celebration and posting it on their personal social media accounts using the hashtags #CellyChallange and #GirlsHockey. Those entering videos have a chance to win USA Hockey memorabilia signed by U.S. Women's National Team stars Kendall Coyne Schofield and Maddie Rooney.

Girls hockey continues to be among the fastest growing youth sports in the United States. Under USA Hockey's stewardship, the total number of females playing ice hockey in the U.S. has increased 34 percent to over 82,000 over a 10-season span. Over that same span, the total number of female coaches trained and certified by USA Hockey has increased almost 47 percent to more than 3,100 and the total number of female officials trained and certified by USA Hockey has increased 22 percent to more than 1,500.

USA Hockey has nurtured the growth of female hockey since the 1970s, when it became the first national governing body in the world to host annual national championship ice hockey tournaments for girls. Today, nearly 2,000 girls and women compete each year at the Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championships.

For more information about U.S.-based Girls Hockey Weekend, click here.

What is IIHF World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend?

World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend is a special worldwide opportunity for girls and women of all ages to try ice hockey and celebrate the game. Event hosts are encouraged to:

  • Introduce girls and women to basic ice hockey skills in a positive, fun and safe environment.
  • Inform females about ice hockey opportunities in their community.
  • Educate participants about fair play, sportsmanship and teamwork.
  • Celebrate female ice hockey, introduce participants to new friends and help them fall in love with the game.

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Girls Hockey Weekend News

Two young girl players, one in a black & yellow jersey and another in a white & red jersey, play hockey