ARLINGTON, VA – Registration is now open for the second annual DMV Girls Free Hockey Try Day, which will be held at 18 rinks across Maryland and Virginia on Saturday, September 14. DMV Girls Free Hockey Try Day is a collaborative event between the Washington Capitals, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA) and various youth hockey organizations throughout the region, offering girls ages 4-9 a chance to try hockey for free. The MSE Foundation has donated $34,373 to the PVAHA in support of DMV Girls Free Hockey Try Day.
Click here to register for the participation link.
“Try Hockey for Free” is a USA Hockey program that provides local youth the opportunity to try hockey for free with a 1-2 hour on-ice session. Required equipment will be loaned to participants through local youth hockey organizations. Equipment provided and equipment requirements vary by rink. Registrants are encouraged to watch for an email sent by the host rink by September 14th.
The “Try Hockey for Free Day” also provides a platform and opportunity for local youth hockey associations to gain new players locally and engage interested families in youth hockey programs throughout the region.
Participating Virginia clubs include Caps Academy (at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, VA), Hampton Roads Junior Admirals (at Iceland in Virginia Beach, VA), Loudoun Knights (at Ion ITC in Leesburg, VA), Piedmont Predators (at Haymarket IcePlexin in Haymarket, VA), Potomac Lady Patriots (at Prince William Ice Center in Woodbridge, VA), Reston Raiders (at Skatequest in Reston, VA), Richmond Generals (at Richmond Ice Zone in North Chesterfield, VA) and The St. James (at The St. James in Springfield, VA).
Participating Maryland clubs include the Bowie Bruins (Bowie Ice Arena in Bowie, MD), Frederick Freese (Skate Frederick in Frederick, MD), Hagerstown Bulldogs (Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex in Hagerstown, MD), Howard Huskies (Columbia Ice Rink in Columbia, MD), Montgomery Youth Hockey Association (Rockville Ice Arena in Rockville, MD), Navy Youth Hockey (Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis, MD), Southern Maryland Sabres (Capital Clubhouse in Waldorf, MD), Tomorrow's Ice (Ice World in Abingdon, MD), Tri-City Eagles (The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD) and Tucker Road Ducks (Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington, MD).
Additionally, some participating rinks will host girls-only Future Caps Learn to Play sessions in the weeks following DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day to encourage participants to learn more and continue to get more involved in the game. For more information, visit https://www.capsyouthhockey.com/.
The Capitals partnered with the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association to host the DMV Girls Try Hockey Free Day at 16 local rinks/clubs for the first time in 2023. Last year, over 300 girls ages 4-9 tried hockey for the first time through the event, with over 30% of girls signing up to continue playing. Additionally, girls' participation in the NHL Future Caps Learn to Play program increased from 14% to 27% in less than a seven-day period.
