Minnesota Hockey Journal

who are not already registered for the full hockey season, and helps them learn the basics of hockey and skating. "We provide all the equipment and every- thing that they need," Casey said. "It's a one- week commitment, and then on the last day, we make it a big deal. There's music, announcers, medals—they get the full game experience." The GirlzROCK & BoyzROLL program— in place as it is for a handful of years now— evolved from previous programs that had been around for many years prior. It typically brings in about 30 to 50 kids, and helps them deter- mine if they'd like to commit to the full season. "It's a way to test the waters and for kids to kind of figure out their comfort level," Casey said. "We want to make it easy on parents, too, by equipping the kids and helping them skate around." High school players lend a hand on the ice, which goes a long way in boosting the rook- ies' interest in the game. "They see these older players and they're just like, ' Wow.' They think it's the best thing," Casey said. "It's fun for kids of all ages to make those connections and build those relationships." PAVING THE WAY As Fergus Falls hockey grows, so does its suc- cess—especially for its girls' teams. Last season, the Fergus Falls 12U A girls' team clinched a spot in the State Tournament. "It was a huge deal," Casey said. "There was so much dedication put in by those girls and their families. They absolutely earned their spot. They've been skating together for a long time and they're role models on and off the ice." The achievement highlights Fergus Falls' commitment to growth. Compared to regis- tration numbers from a decade ago, its girls' program has doubled. "Girls' hockey in this town is absolutely growing," Casey said. "It's just really excit- ing to see our girls have such amazing suc- J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 17 Girls' hockey registration in Fergus Falls has doubled in the last decade. As a result, the 12U A team made it to the 2022 State Tournament. cess. It's inspiring for both girls and boys at every level." YEAR-ROUND TRAINING A few years ago, the Fergus Falls Hockey Association hosted its first summer camp during the offseason. Though still in its infancy and only two summers in, it's been a hit—drawing more than 160 participants last summer. "Since we're in Lakes Country, we pulled kids from other states who are maybe vaca- tioning with their families or staying with a relative over the summer," Casey said. "It's wonderful to get new faces." On top of being able to socialize with friends and spend some time on the ice during the summer, kids also enjoy dryland training at the camp. The new Otter Hockey Strength and Performance Center is association-owned and connected directly to the arena, which is owned by the city. "It definitely is unique and it's new and our players are there often," Casey said. "It's a great addition to our association. That duo of on- and off-ice training is per- fect for the kids." The facility opened in January 2021, and has been bustling ever since. "Our facilities have really gone through a transformation, and then we've been doing a lot of internal branding," Casey said. "We have so much momentum right now. We have a lot of coaches that have been with our association for decades, and then we have a lot of new coaches that want to be in on the action." STEPPING UP TO SERVE Fergus Falls credits much of its success to the community. "Our community makes the association what it is today," Casey said. "It has a legacy of assisting us and supporting us." Through fundraising, signage in the arena, sponsoring a team or cheering in the stands, the community of Fergus Falls always steps up. "We try to pay back as an association," Casey said. "I remember during COVID -19, some of our teams went to our local Veterans Home and did activities with them and con- nected with them. I think that was so special for both the kids and the veterans. We really try to be involved with community service." Those small acts of service may not take place on the ice, but they're the epitome of the association's values. "It's so much more than just hockey," Casey said. "It's about developing a person."

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