USA Hockey Draws Over 8,500 Children to Try Hockey For Free Day

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – More than 8,500 children across the United States tried hockey last Saturday (Oct. 3) during USA Hockey’s Try Hockey For Free Day, presented by Discover.

A nationwide USA Hockey initiative in its 17th season, Try Hockey For Free focuses on providing opportunities for kids across the country to try the sport of hockey without cost. Certified coaches and volunteers provided instruction, with host sites providing equipment to borrow.

USA Hockey’s second national Try Hockey For Free Day of the season is slated for Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027, as part of the organization’s Hockey Week Across America.

TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE ECLIPSES 300,000 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS
Try Hockey For Free surpassed 300,000 all-time participants in the initiative’s 17-year history, as Saturday’s total brought the total number of kids introduced to the sport to more than 305,500.

MONUMENT, OVERLAND PARK, WATERTOWN ARE TOP THREE
Monument Ice Rinks in Monument, Colo., led the nation with 137 participants at its Try Hockey For Free event. AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk of Overland Park, Kan., followed with 93, while Prairie Lakes Ice Arena of Watertown, S.D., welcomed 86 new hockey players. The nation’s top five locations were rounded out by the Rushmore Thunderdome in Rapid City, S.D. (79), and Kansas City Ice Center in Shawnee, Kan. (71).

CENTRAL DISTRICT HOSTS MOST THFF EVENTS
The Central District hosted the most Try Hockey For Free events (72), followed by the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (34), Minnesota Hockey (31), the Mid-American District (27) and the Southeastern District (23).

With the support of the NHL and NHL member clubs, as well as sponsors and local associations, USA Hockey’s Try Hockey For Free, presented by Discover, is designed to provide a national platform for introducing children to the sport of hockey. The events are the world’s largest introduction-to-hockey initiative.