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Try Hockey For Free This March

By Minnesota Hockey, 02/11/14, 10:00AM CST

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March has long been a special time of year for hockey fans in Minnesota. With our historic youth and high school state tournaments as well as annual college hockey conference championships, March is a time to reminisce about past champions and memories while watching the next round of players make their mark on Minnesota’s hockey legacy.

This year, March is taking on an added meaning. No longer will it just be a special time to watch hockey, it will also be a great time for new players to play hockey!  There will be opportunities for people of all ages to try hockey for the first time.

Youth Hockey

On March 1st, 2013, over 50 community-based youth hockey associations in Minnesota will host a Try Hockey For Free event as a part of the National Hockey League’s Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by CCM. Kids, ages 4 to 12, are encouraged to come out to a local participating rink and try youth hockey.

Try Hockey For Free events are a great opportunity for kids that are interested but have never played hockey before, to try it at no cost. Each location provides a limited amount of equipment to use, jerseys, goodie bags and a variety of fun games.

To find a location near you, click here.

Women’s Hockey

Women, if you’ve never tried hockey, now is your chance to discover this great game in a safe, encouraging and fun environment.  Take advantage of a free clinic for women ages 18 and over on Sunday, March 16 at 10:30 am in Richfield offered by the Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota (WHAM), the largest women’s hockey organization in the world!

WHAM instructors will lead through a beginner clinic covering skating stride, turns, and stops.  We’ll finish with half-ice scrimmages where you’ll play with other beginners just like you.

WHAM’s beginning level league is growing.  The league added 4 entry-level teams and over 70 brand new skaters last year!  WHAM will again offer “Hockey 101” clinics later this summer to help new skaters prepare for league play next season. Many current WHAM members began playing hockey in their 30s, 40s and even 50s!  No previous skating or hockey experience required.

Recommended equipment: 

  • Minimum gear necessary: Helmet with facemask, gloves, stick.
  • Full gear is optional.  (Feel free to borrow gear from friends or family.)
  • Skates available for rent at the arena – WHAM will cover the cost of skate rental!

For more information, visit the WHAM website.

Adult Hockey

AHA Hockey also has several programs coming up designed specifically for adult men and women new to the game of hockey.  On Sunday, March 2nd, AHA will be hosting a women’s only try hockey event starting at 1 p.m. in Braemar Arena. 

Then, AHA will conduct two beginner programs starting in early April. The Women’s Beginner Clinic provides women a skills focused program that hosts one practice a week for 10 weeks.  The AHA Beginner School offers beginner players an opportunity to participate in a program with an emphasis on game play and team concepts as well as skill development. The Beginner School includes 10 games and 10 practices over a 20 week period.

“Our beginner programs will teach you everything you need to know to play hockey in AHA,” said Pete Morrow of AHA. “We cover how to put on the equipment all the way up to playing full-ice games and everything in between.”

For more information, visit the AHA or AHA Women’s website.

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