Young girls in Montgomery County will have an opportunity to shoot some pucks at a Rockville ice rink this September as part of the Washington Capitals DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day.
“When you’re a young girl … [you’re] trying soccer and gymnastics and dance and basketball and swimming,” said Jessie Thompson, the Washington Capitals senior manager of youth hockey. “We want to be able to add hockey to that list.”
Registration is open for the second annual event, which provides girls ages 4 to 9 an opportunity to try ice hockey during a one- or two-hour session at no cost, according to a press release. No experience is required.
Playing hockey can be cost-prohibitive for many people due to the price of equipment, which can total more than $500, Thompson told MoCo360 in a Tuesday interview.
“This is really an opportunity for young girls to be in a really safe and fun, encouraging atmosphere and be able to try a sport that’s fairly intimidating at absolutely zero cost,” Thompson said.
The event will take place Sept. 14 at 20 rinks across Maryland and Virginia, including in Montgomery County at the Rockville Ice Arena at 50 Southlawn Court in Rockville from 1:20 to 3:00 p.m.
The free event is a joint project between the Washington Capitals, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association and youth hockey organizations. This year, the Montgomery Youth Hockey Association is participating. While local organizations are holding the event for DMV girls, Try Hockey for Free is a national program through USA Hockey.
Thompson said a $34,373 donation to the Potomac Valley association through the partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation allows rinks to host the event without having to pay for coaches, ice time and snacks.
In addition to introducing young people to the sport, the free hockey day gives local youth organizations such as the Montgomery Youth Hockey Association an opportunity to acquire new players and engage with interested families.
In the program’s inaugural year last year, more than 300 girls participated in the event across the region and 30% of the participants continued to play hockey, according to the press release.
Thompson said the number of girls that participated in the Capitals’ first-time hockey player project, the Future Caps Learn to Play program, increased from 14% to 27% in less than a week after last year’s try hockey free event.
According to USA Hockey, over the past 15 seasons, girls hockey in the U.S. has seen a participation increase of 65%.
“[Hockey] is becoming incredibly more popular amongst young girls,” Thompson said. “We are really trying to match the moment as much as possible.”
Equipment is loaned to participants from youth organizations and availability varies by site. Those interested in the program can register at capsyouthhockey.com/girlsthff.