Registration is currently available for the second annual DMV Girls Try Hockey For Free Day. The event will occur on Saturday, September 14 at 18 rinks in Maryland and Virginia. This initiative is a collaboration between the Washington Capitals, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA), and numerous youth hockey organizations in the area. The purpose is to provide girls aged 4-9 with the opportunity to try hockey without any financial burden. In support of this event, MSE Foundation has generously donated $34,373 to PVAHA.

Click here to register at a participating rink.

The Try Hockey for Free program, organized by USA Hockey, offers local youth the opportunity to experience hockey without any charges. Participants will have the chance to try hockey on the ice for a duration of one to two hours, with all the necessary equipment provided by the local youth hockey organization. The type and specifications of the equipment may differ depending on the ice rink. Those who have registered are advised to check their email from the host rink before September 14th for further details.

The Try Hockey for Free days offer local youth hockey associations a chance to attract new players and involve interested families in youth hockey programs throughout the region.

Virginia clubs that are participating include Caps Academy (located at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, VA), Hampton Roads Junior Admirals (located at Iceland in Virginia Beach, VA), Loudoun Knights (located at Ion ITC in Leesburg, VA), Piedmont Predators (located at Haymarket IcePlex in Haymarket, VA), Potomac Lady Patriots (located at Prince William Ice Center in Woodbridge, VA), Reston Raiders (located at Skatequest in Reston, VA), Richmond Generals (located at Richmond Ice Zone in North Chesterfield, VA), and The St. James (located at The St. James in Springfield, VA).

Some of the participating clubs in Maryland include the Bowie Bruins, who play at Bowie Ice Arena in Bowie, MD, the Frederick Freeze, who play at Skate Frederick in Frederick, MD, the Hagerstown Bulldogs, who play at Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex in Hagerstown, MD, the Howard Huskies, who play at Columbia Ice Rink in Columbia, MD, Montgomery Youth Hockey Association, who play at Rockville Ice Arena in Rockville, MD, Navy Youth Hockey, who play at Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis, MD, the Southern Maryland Sabres, who play at Capital Clubhouse in Waldorf, MD, Tomorrow’s Ice, who play at Ice World in Abingdon, MD, the Tri City Eagles, who play at The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD, and the Tucker Road Ducks, who play at Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington, MD.

In addition, select participating rinks will host an all-girls Future Caps Learn to Play session in the weeks following DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day to encourage participants to continue to learn more and engage further with the game. For more information, visit https://www.capsyouthhockey.com/.

In 2023, the Capitals collaborated with the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association to organize the inaugural DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day at 16 nearby rinks/clubs. During the previous year’s event, over 300 girls between the ages of 4 and 9 were introduced to hockey for the first time, and an impressive 30% of them expressed interest in continuing to play. Furthermore, the participation of girls in the NHL Future Caps Learn to Play Program saw a remarkable rise from 14% to 27% in less than a week.