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42 / JANUARY.FEBRUARY.2017 USICERINKS.COM While USA Hockey wants to grow the sport with all youth, there has been a particular focus on getting more girls to the rink. Currently, about one out of four participants at Try Hockey For Free events are girls. "We give rinks some best practices on, once those girls are in your rink, making sure that they don't feel out of place, that youth hockey is meant for them," Erlen- bach said. "We also look at how we foster the social aspect that girls seek out." USA Hockey provides rinks with girl-specific artwork, training and tips to specifically market to girls and their fami- lies. Some rinks even host girl-specific Try Hockey For Free events. In many places around the country, if a girl does sign up to play with her association, she's often joining a co-ed program. Erlenbach noted that in those places, USA Hockey asks co-ed associations to bring families together who have daughters who play, particularly when first joining, to share their experiences. Girls' hockey is growing at record numbers this year, which Erlenbach credits largely to Try Hockey For Free, especially making rinks more welcoming environments for girls. "We actually had a huge boost in new players, for girls, which was totally unex- pected," Erlenbach said. "We hit a record high for 8U girls, which jumped by 12.5 percent. I know it's Try Hockey For Free sites, because not too long ago it was one out of five, one out of six were girls, now it's consistently one out of four partici- pants are girls. "I love it because when associations ask 'how do we grow girls' hockey?' I say 'hey, you just have to open up your eyes to what's going through your rink right now because you're getting plenty.'" USA Hockey hopes to keep that mo- mentum going with another Try Hockey For Free weekend coming up on Feb. 25, 2017, coinciding with Hockey Weekend Across America. USA Hockey provides marketing materials and guidance for all participating rinks, including 40 jerseys for participants. Additionally, in con- junction with the It Starts With A Stick campaign, up to 300 of the participating sites will also receive about 40 wood sticks to give to the kids to continue to develop their skills when they leave the rink. J " I LOVE IT BECAUSE WHEN ASSOCIATIONS ASK 'HOW DO WE GROW GIRLS' HOCKEY?' I SAY 'HEY, YOU JUST HAVE TO OPEN UP YOUR EYES TO WHAT'S GOING THROUGH YOUR RINK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING PLENTY.' " PHOTOS: COURTESY OF USA HOCKEY