Over 500 rinks across the country are giving kids a chance to lace up some skates and hit the ice as part of Try Hockey For Free Day on Saturday, November 2. This is a special opportunity because equipment will be provided and coaches will be on hand. Try Hockey For Free Day is part of the NHL’s Come Play Hockey Month and is intended to introduce boys and girls ages 4 to 9 to youth hockey programs.
To see if there’s a participating facility near you, plug your zip code into this map. You do need to register in advance and some programs might already be filled up. Also, details vary by location. Some facilities might allow a wider age range, so make sure to check out the details. If you have questions call your local participating rink. You can also call USA Hockey at 719-538-1124 or email ComePlayYouthHockey@usahockey.org.
When you’re at the rink, maybe you can wow the kids with some hockey trivia:
- Goalies didn’t start wearing masks in games until 1959.
- The Stanley Cup weighs 36 pounds. (The Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to Super Bowl champs, is only seven pounds.)
- In the NFL, pucks are frozen before being put into play, to make them bounce resistant.
- The first U.S. born NHL player was Billy Burch, who was born in 1900.
