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A program of USA Hockey Inc. COME PLAY YOUTH HOCKEY. ComePlayYouthHockey.com " " " " Come play youth hockey and introduce your girl to a whole new world of adventure. WATCH THEM GO FROM PLAYING DRESS UP TO DRESSING UP TO PLAY. C 1 MOMENTS CAMPAIGN M Y K INITIALS DATE JOB # USA100018 DATE 5.4.11 CLIENT USA Hockey NAME Dress Up TRIM 17" x 11" BLEED .125" FOLDED FILE CREATED AT: 100% COLOR CMYK | CD Scott D. AD/DS Brian B. CW Scott D. AM Teddy H./Ryan P. PM Ann M. STAGE: CLIENT REVIEW 5/4/11 4:19 PM STARRINKS.COM JANUARY.FEBRUARY.2016 / 41 that register early will receive sticks, thanks to USA Hockey Foundation's It Starts With a Stick campaign that took place in December. "All the funds raised from the December It Starts With a Stick will buy hockey sticks for players to take home," said Erlenbach. "It's an added bonus for the players, and to get the rinks to sign up early." But why choose November and February for such large, successful and in-demand events? Erlenbach says that the timing of each Try Hockey event is carefully thought out. "In February a lot of rink operators get worried and say that it's close to the end of hockey season," said Erlenbach, a former rink operator. "But the Try Hockey For Free event in February is a great marketing tool for the fall season, and an even better marketing tool for any spring sessions. I know as a rink oper- ator you are working especially hard to fill those spring Learn- to-Skate and Learn-to-Play programs; February is perfect for that. In addition, it's a month that is perfect because it's in the throngs of winter and people are thinking of hockey. "During the November event, we time it as fall sports are ending and kids and par- ents are looking to get into something for the winter." On top of jerseys, USA Hockey also takes steps to ensure that each arena and association has all the neces- sary materials to run a suc- cessful event. Thanks to an easy portal access to register to host a Try Hockey For Free event, arenas can manage everything from staffing— which USA Hockey recom- mends plenty of—to market- ing and promotional tools for the big day. "It doesn't matter if you're a big rink or association, or a little rink or association," Erlenbach said. "If you do it right and follow the recom- mendations we have and use the marketing tools provided, you will have success." And once a facility hosts one Try Hockey For Free event, it's hard to not sign up year after year. "It takes energy and enthu- siasm from a lot of people, but you have to remember that you're trying to introduce the fun and love for this game," Erlenbach said. "Try Hockey For Free is my favorite thing to do, and it is for most peo- ple who are passionate about this game. You look back at all the pictures and videos people are posting about the fun they had, and it makes you love hockey even more. It makes the event so worthwhile." J HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE EVENT 1. Visit usahockeyprogramservices.com. 2. Click on the "Try Hockey For Free" text. 3. Fill out the registration form. 4. Use the portal to manage everything for the day, including marketing, participants and staffing. By the Numbers , 14,129 kids took part of Try Hockey For Free in November 2015. The event was hosted at 481 arenas across 48 participating states. , There are typically an average of 32 kids per site at the November Try Hockey For Free events and an average of 38 kids per site at the February events. , Between the November 7 and the February 20 events, USA Hockey expects to have 25,000 kids trying hockey. , Try Hockey has been a driving force behind bringing new families into their local rink. At the 8U level, 2014- 15 saw USA Hockey's second-highest level of total memberships with 105,925 regis- tered boys and girls.