Utah Mammoth Welcomes Numerous Participants of Various Ages for Try Hockey For Free Weekend
The Utah Mammoth, along with Kristen Bowness, organized six Try Hockey For Free clinics, sponsored by Discover, on March 7. However, Bowness is eager to emphasize that that busy Saturday was not sufficient.
“I would love to do more,” Bowness remarked with a laugh.
Bowness serves as the director of amateur hockey and youth strategy for the Utah Mammoth, the newest franchise in the NHL.
The addition of an NHL team was a crucial element missing from the winter sports landscape in the Beehive State. Salt Lake City previously hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 2002 and is scheduled to do so again in 2034.
The enthusiasm for hockey in Utah was clearly evident.
A total of 235 individuals participated in the six clinics hosted by the Mammoth at the team’s new training and practice facility in Sandy, located approximately 20 miles south of the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, where the Mammoth play their home games.
Among the participants were three youth sessions—one for girls aged 5-19 that attracted 41 skaters, and two co-ed clinics with 77 participants in the 5-12 age group and 28 in the 12-17 clinic. Additionally, 21 individuals registered for the goaltender segment and another 21 took part in a sled hockey clinic. Finally, 47 adults (18 and over) joined the adult session.
Try Hockey For Free events allow individuals to experience the sport without any obligations. In this instance, the Mammoth supplied equipment for those who attended.
“It's challenging for me since I can’t be on the ice,” Bowness stated. “But there is definitely so much more we could accomplish.”
She also expressed interest in organizing activities for parents as their children engage in hockey, as well as initiatives for on-ice officials.
Although Bowness was unable to be on the ice due to an ACL injury, this situation provided her with insights she might not have otherwise gained.
“It was somewhat beneficial because I could hear all the conversations afterward,” Bowness noted. “The parents are incredibly proud of their children for trying something new, and the kids are thrilled and eager to return, which is the highest compliment you can receive—when a child has such a wonderful experience that they are excited for the next opportunity.”
The interest in hockey is certainly present, as all of the Mammoth’s youth programs are currently at capacity. Many participants from this year’s Try Hockey For Free event are likely to join teams in the upcoming season.
“We aim to expand the foundation and truly cultivate that grassroots model,” Bowness explained. “At the moment, we are operating a rookie league, which is an internal recreational league, along with adult leagues, and we are offering various developmental opportunities, such as clinics and camps, where individuals can continue to enhance their skills.”
Among the attendance figures, the 21 goalies stood out, representing a diverse range of ages.
“It's such a vital component of the game,” Bowness remarked. “I believe we, as hockey directors, need to do more to create opportunities for individuals to try out for goalie positions. This setting is ideal for that. It requires a significant investment in equipment, time, energy, and coaching, so we want to ensure people enjoy it before fully committing. However, the number of smiling faces we witnessed suggests that everyone left feeling very satisfied.”
The timing of the event was advantageous, occurring just after the Olympics, where the U.S. secured gold medals in both men’s and women’s hockey. It also coincided with the Paralympics, with many following the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.
The participation of girls in the Try Hockey For Free event was also promising.
“It's fantastic,” Bowness stated. “It's an exhilarating time to be involved in this. We recently celebrated the 100,000th female registrant for USA Hockey, which is remarkable. We were fortunate to host the event here because she is from Utah, specifically Mill Creek, and has joined our new girls league. It was truly exciting to be part of that. Having Hillary [Knight, U.S. women’s captain] come here to celebrate with us was a tremendous asset. It reflects how significant this milestone is and the need to continue fostering growth in this area.”
After earning her second Olympic gold medal, Hilary Knight visited Utah’s practice facility to surprise the 100,000th female registrant. This was one of several appearances Knight—a native of Sun Valley, Idaho—has made for the Mammoth in recent years, as she continues to inspire young girls to participate in hockey in the region.
The Mammoth are actively working to enhance awareness and popularity not only of the team, which is currently in its second season in Utah, but also of the sport itself.
Alexander Kerfoot donates two tickets to every home game to a girl player in the area, while coach Andre Tourigny frequently conducts youth coaching clinics within the community.
“Everyone is eager to get involved, which is wonderful,” Bowness concluded.
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
