OneGoal Holds Market Blitzes for 2009-2010 Season

OneGoal selected two markets to help promote the growth of youth hockey. Fresh off the heels of last season’s successful blitzes in Connecticut and Illinois, OneGoal chose Massachusetts and California as this season’s partners.

Market blitzes are conducted by hosting state-wide “Try Hockey for Free” clinics with the goal of inviting potential new players and their parents to the rink. The events in Massachusetts and California will see over 500 new players come out and try youth hockey. For more information on how you can host a similar event to grow your association, please click here (pdf).

Written by Shelly · Filed Under Grow the Game

Hockey Weekend Across America Presents Try Hockey For Free!

Hockey Weekend Across America has been a big success as a national platform to celebrate the game. In 2010, the event will have a stronger focus on growing the game.

USA Hockey is seeking at least 200 rinks offering a free trial of hockey on Saturday, Jan. 30. All hosting rinks are required to hold the free trial at a consistent time of 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. local time. The final goal is to get as many first-time players on the ice and later transition them to each host site’s full-time programs. For more information, please click here (pdf). For more information about Hockey Weekend Across America, please click here.

Written by Shelly · Filed Under Grow the Game

Growing the Game During Times of Economic Difficulties

It doesn’t take an economist to see what the next few years of overall economic downturn will do to the hockey industry. The sport is expensive to play and while beer leaguers can hang on to the same shoulder pads for a little longer, kids don’t have that luxury – they grow, pretty much from season to season.

So what’s the solution? Give it away.

Not all of it, of course, but the industry needs to create a new supply of players in North America. The rate of people taking to the ice in Wilcox, Sask., or Roseau, Minn., isn’t going to change; it’s New York City or downtown Toronto where things can grow and, fortunately, the foundation is there.

One initiative, supported by the NHL, NHLPA and major companies in the industry, is the OneGoal grassroots movement. The premise here is to get more kids playing hockey by offering them low-cost opportunities to try on the gear, get out on the ice and play. Since hockey is expensive as a sport, parents need to know if their kids actually like playing, or just think they want to play before tossing their helmet in the back of a closet with their bass guitar and judo outfit.

There will always be hockey players, no matter how rough things get out there. But if the industry wants to be savvier than they’ve been in the past, they’ll keep fostering players in major cities, even if the end result is “only” a couple more happy kids in the short-term. With so many other options available to kids, it’s the long-term love of the game that matters.

Editor's Note: Thank you to The Hockey News for this article.

Written by Shelly · Filed Under Grow the Game

Houston Aeros Working To Grow the Game

The Houston Aeros are partnering with local rinks and leagues in a new “Grow The Game” initiative. This exciting new program is designed to draw new players to local rinks from the growing fan base of the Houston Aeros.

Any time a team is invited to skate with the Aeros during the National Anthem or perform during the intermission, they will be given a “sign-up” table in the concourse to provide free public skate passes to any fan that signs up. This will allow both the league and their respective rinks to collect contact information and keep new fans up-to-date with their tryouts, events, and any special offers. There has been an overwhelming response to this initiative and all parties are excited to begin and expand the program during the season. For more information on this program, click here.

Written by Shelly · Filed Under Grow the Game

Essex Hockey Grows the Game by Hosting “Bring a Friend to Skate” Event

In this featured "Grow the Game" story, the Essex Youth Hockey Association in Vermont hosted "Bring a Friend to Skate" for local girls interested in playing hockey. The program encouraged current Essex Youth Hockey girls players to bring their friends to Cairns Arena and have them learn the game of hockey from a contingent of current Essex coaches, Essex High School varsity girls players and Norwich women's hockey team members.

"You gotta love it. It's so inspiring seeing them," said Lindsay Norris, a senior player on the Essex High School varsity team, and a graduate of the Essex Youth Hockey program. "They never seem to get frustrated.... they fall down and the next minute you go to help them back up and they're already half way back up and they're just right back at it and it's really cool."

Equipment was provided free of charge to the players. Players were allowed to keep it if they decided that they wanted to continue pursuing the sport after participating in the program. For more information on the Essex Youth Hockey Association, click here.

Written by Shelly · Filed Under Grow the Game

USA Hockey’s Retention Model Helps Grow the Game

Every hockey association has turnover from one year to the next. Many families forget to sign-up before the start of the season and do not return to hockey primarily because they figure that it is too late to play.

Additionally, each season over 40,000 kids stop playing youth hockey. Much of this loss can be reduced through a little extra follow up. In order to help hockey clubs retain existing players and grow their numbers, USA Hockey has created a step-by-step retention model. To see this model, click here (pdf).

Written by Shelly · Filed Under Grow the Game

Newark Ice Hockey Association Introduces Score for School Program

The Newark Ice Hockey Association teamed up with local schools in Ohio's Licking County and surrounding areas to create the "Score for Schools" program. The Score for Schools program is a field trip opportunity to a local ice arena. The field trip for local schools and students incorporates and teaches the science and physical education of ice hockey.

The program format is two hours long, with one group skating or learning the basics of how to play hockey while the other group is taken to the conference room for a science lesson on how the ice arena makes ice. Newark has introduced hockey and ice skating to over 600 children in the area with grades ranging from first to sixth.

As a result of these efforts, membership numbers have increased by 11 percent, which does not include the 2009-10 season. The ice arena has also grown their open skate numbers with this program. For specifics on Newark’s Score for Schools program, click here (pdf).

Editor's Note: For more information on the Grow the Game Initiative, click here...

Written by Shelly · Filed Under Grow the Game