Come Try Hockey removes barriers for energetic girls 'doing the pucks'
Credit to Author: Nick Eagland| Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2019 00:04:46 +0000
Girls’ ice hockey is growing in Canada and some volunteers in Vancouver are doing everything they can to help keep it that way.
Each year, the Vancouver Female Ice Hockey Association hosts three “Come Try Hockey” events to help girls get into the popular sport. There are currently 88,500 female players in Canada, up from 86,612 in the 2014-2015 season, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Girls ages four and older can go to the Killarney Rink, sign a couple of forms and then borrow skates, pads and a stick for just over an hour to give the popular sport a try.
The event has been around for about a decade and runs each March, August and October with sponsorship from Hockey Canada, B.C. Hockey and Esso, and funding from the province and viaSport.
Saturday’s Come Try Hockey was timed to fall on World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend, a Hockey Canada event running across the country to recruit, retain and engage female players, coaches, officials and fans.
About 30 girls were each paired with an older “on-ice helper” from the Vancouver league who supported them, encouraged them and picked them up when they fell down.
The girls ran drills, skating, stumbling, passing pucks and grinning as the helpers pulled them across the ice by their sticks.
James Nedila of the Vancouver Female Ice Hockey Association said the Come Try Hockey events have grown in popularity since he became president in 2014. The events have helped the association grow to more than 300 players ages five to 20.
“The whole goal is to be aware that female hockey is here — and it’s really fun,” he said. “It’s risk-free, we provide all the equipment.”
Come Try Hockey require a lot of help, Nedila said. He estimated 100 volunteers, including the on-ice helpers, help run each event. Donors provide equipment and grants for more gear.
Nedila said about 30 per cent of Come Try Hockey participants later join the league.
“I’m really happy with that number,” he said.
Best pals Ryleigh and Beatrice, both four years of age, said they were “excited” to have a chance to hit the ice.
Ryleigh has been skating for two years and tried hockey once before, in August. She said her experience as a gymnast helped her hockey skills and she had fun “doing the pucks.”
Her parents brought her to Come Try Hockey after she expressed interest while watching hockey on TV with her dad. They were pleased to learn about the event through a Google search.
“We thought it would be a good way to introduce it and see if she likes it,” said her mom, Skyla Burden.
“If she likes it again today, we’ll probably sign up.”
Justin Burden, Ryleigh’s dad, said the cost of hockey gear and fees can be a barrier for many families, so the event is a great way to try a new thing.
Beatrice said she enjoyed her experience and would like to try hockey some more.
“I loved shooting,” she said. “I made some new friends and they tried to help me when I was doing it.”
Shaun O’Connor said Beatrice, his granddaughter, likes all sports, but it would cost too much to try them all. When O’Connor’s daughter asked him to take Beatrice to Come Try Hockey, he was happy to oblige.
“I think it’s a great idea,” he said.
“I’m a big sports fan. I don’t really care if she excels at it or whatever. I just like to see her enjoy it and I like to see her have an activity, whether it be hockey, soccer, volleyball.”
More information about the events can be found at vancouvergirlshockey.com/come-try-hockey/.
CLICK HERE to report a typo.
Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com