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38 // APRIL/MAY 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM But, while youth programs have been going strong for more than five decades, many considered hockey to be somewhat of a niche sport in the area. Until the NHL committed to Seattle. "The hockey passion is very deep in the community, and for the peo- ple in the hockey world, having the NHL announce it was coming has excited them to no end. They're bringing their friends, and people are starting to see what hockey is all about," said Donna Kaufman, USA Hockey vice president and chair of the Junior Council. She has operated a rink in nearby Tacoma since the early 1990s. " T h e r e 's a g r e a t c u l t u r e o f sports in the Seattle area. There are Seahawks flags all over the state, and the NHL team sold out its season tickets in 10 minutes. That shows you that this com- munity is excited about this ven- ture and is completely behind it. Those are all indications that we're ready, and a passionate group of hockey people and families is going to lead the charge." The new NHL team figures to attract a whole new fan base, aside from those who have had a previous connection to the sport. Seattle will also benefit from the NHL's "Hockey is for Everyone" campaign, which has gathered nothing but momentum since debuting 22 years ago. "The diversity program the NHL is doing right now is fantastic," Kaufman said. "Having Cammi Granato as one of the new NHL team's scouts ties right into female hockey and growing that sector. The rink in Tacoma is compatible for disabled hockey, and there are a lot of mili- tary members out here to tie into warrior hockey. So, the opportunities and the places we can go in the area are going to grow exponentially because we'll have the NHL team." Since the announcement of the expansion franchise, six new ice surfaces have either begun construction or have been planned to accommodate the expected influx of new players. PHOTOS BY USA Hockey Magazine Archives; Getty Images WHEN THE NEW NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE debuts in Seattle at the start of the 2021-22 season, the seven youth hockey associations in the region will be more than ready for an influx of new players. Like the team itself, those associations will have a healthy head start. "We don't know how much growth we're going to experience or when it will happen, but we're certainly positioned to handle growth, and we're looking forward to it," said Dave Blanchard, the executive director for the Sno-King Amateur Hockey Association. "The NHL team is doing a great job of working closely with the youth hockey associations to grow the game, and we're thankful for that. "The NHL team will introduce the game to a whole new group of people, and hopefully a very diverse group of new people. They're going to be contributing to the community in other ways as well, so there will be a lot of goodwill built up. So, for a lot of reasons, there will be a lot more kids who want to play hockey." The Sno-King Amateur Hockey Association, a model association within USA Hockey's American Development Model, recently began construction on a facility to add two NHL-sized ice sheets, in addition to its current 2½ sheets. The NHL team itself will open a practice facility with three new sheets of ice, and nearby Tacoma has added another sheet of ice to its facility. Ian Armstrong, the hockey director for the Seattle Junior Hockey Association, experienced an immediate jump in interest just 10 days after the NHL announced its decision to add a team in his city. And more than 200 youth players participated in a Try Hockey for Free program that typically averages 80. Youth Associations Ready For Ripple Effect Generated By Renewed Interest In The Game See Ya In Seattle ICEMEN COMETH "The hockey passion is very deep in the community, and ... having the NHL announce it was coming [here] has excited people to no end." Donna Kaufman, rink owner & USA Hockey board member