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Try Hockey For Free Day Reaches New Heights

By Minnesota Hockey, 11/16/14, 9:45AM CST

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Record setting 14,767 kids Try Hockey For Free on November 8th at nearly 500 rinks across the country.

Try Hockey For Free Day on Saturday, November 8th was another resounding success for USA Hockey, Minnesota Hockey and its local associations as 14,767 children between the ages of four and nine were introduced to hockey at nearly 500 host arenas located across the nation.

On a national scale, this year’s event set a new record for November Try Hockey For Free Days with 2,000 more participants than last year. The first time hockey players were able to try on hockey equipment and take the ice at no cost. Local volunteers helped with the equipment, provided on-ice instruction and offered families more information on the sport of hockey.

In Minnesota, there were over 1,700 participants at 70 locations throughout the state, marking our second highest participation rate. Kids from Luverne to Ely, Hallock to La Crescent and nearly everywhere in between had an opportunity to try hockey just a short distance from home completely free of charge.

"Welcoming so many fresh faces to the rink is exciting," said Pat Kelleher, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of development. "It was a great day for hockey and the volunteers all across the country deserve a ton of credit. Their energy and passion made it a great introduction to the sport. We're also grateful for the support from the NHL and its member clubs."

USA Hockey hosts two national Try Hockey For Free Days each season. The second event of the 2014-15 season is scheduled for February 21, 2015, as a part of Hockey Weekend Across America.

For more details on the November Try Hockey For Free Day, visit www.minnesotahockey.org/tryhockeyforfree.

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