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p Try Hockey for Free is around the corner! The first of two Try Hockey for Free events this season is on Nov. 2, 2024. The national event calls on local rinks and associations to leverage Try Hockey for Free days as a means to spark local interest and foster the growth of hockey within their communities. These THFF days provide an excellent opportunity for rinks and associations to intro - duce the sport to new participants and cultivate a love for hockey among local residents. While rinks and associations have the flexibility to host THFF events for a variety of supported disciplines—including blind, deaf/ hard of hearing, sled, standing/amputee, special, and warrior hock - ey—the primary focus of national coverage remains on expanding youth hockey. Specifically, the initiative aims to engage children aged 4-9 years old, offering them a chance to experience the excitement and camaraderie of the sport. By participating in THFF days, local organizations can play a cru - cial role in nurturing the next generation of hockey players, ensuring the sport's continued growth and vitality at the grassroots level. This initiative not only promotes physical activity and teamwork but also helps build a strong sense of community around the shared passion for hockey. A dedicated website provides local hosts with access to a registration page for their events. Once registered, the event becomes officially sanctioned, allowing event planners to utilize the Try Hockey platform's extensive resources. These resources include marketing materials, graphics, event templates, and more, all designed to ensure the success of the event. To register for an official Try Hockey for Free event and to find more information on hosting, visit the "Grow" tab at usahockey.com/programservices. This centralized hub makes it easy for local rinks and associations to get everything they need to promote and execute their events effectively, helping to grow the sport of hockey in their communities. J NGB News U.S. Figure Skating & USA Hockey PHOTO: U.S. FIGURE SKATING More Than Medals 28 / SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2024 USICERINKS.COM USA Hockey Gears Up For Season Growth Initiatives p After waiting two-and-a-half years, Team USA has finally been awarded the gold medal in the figure skating team event from the 2022 Winter Olympic Games! The long- awaited medal ceremony took place Aug. 7 at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. At the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games, the United States finished second behind the Russian Olympic Committee in the figure skating team event with 65 points. But in an unprecedented turn of events, the medal ceremony was postponed due to the revelation that ROC athlete Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance. The International Olympic Committee then ruled no medals would be presented for the team event during the Games due to the ongoing investigation. This is the first time in Olympic history athletes have not been awarded their med - als on-site, meaning these athletes missed their opportunity to be recognized on the Olympic podium. In the lead up to the one-year anniver- sary of the scheduled medal ceremony, U.S. Figure Skating officially launched its More Than Medals campaign to push for a resolution and to champion clean sport. On Jan. 30, 2024, Team USA was named the winner of the team event after a nearly 300-day process involving proceedings around the positive drug test. p The nine members of the U.S. team– Nathan Chen, Vincent Zhou, Karen Chen, Alexa Knierim, Brandon Frazier, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue–have been named the gold medalists for the figure skating team event.