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NGB News U.S. Figure Skating & USA Hockey PHOTOS: USA HOCKEY; U.S. FIGURE SKATING Upward Trajectory 24 / SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2025 USICERINKS.COM Over 7,500 Children Nationwide Attend Try Hockey For Free Team programs driving membership to record numbers Total Membership 2023-24: 246,213 2024-25: 249,942 Learn to Skate USA Individuals 2023-24: 185,581 2024-25: 187,449 Learn to Skate USA Programs 2023-24: 1,323 2024-25: 1,335 Synchronized Skating Teams 2023–24: 669 2024–25: 698 Collegiate Membership 2023–24: 5,292 2024–25: 5,648 High School Teams 2023–24: 161 2024–25: 180 Theatre on Ice Clubs/Individual 2023–24: 101 2024–25: 106 ASPIRE Members 2023–24: 1,452 2024–25: 2,154 p For the fourth consecutive year, U.S. Figure Skating reported membership totals higher than the previous year. For the 2024–25 season, full mem- bership grew 3.5 percent to 62,493. Learn to Skate USA, meanwhile, jumped 1 percent to 187,449, for total membership of 249,942. "We are seeing an increase in par - ticipation across team-structured disciplines and programs such as synchronized skating, intercollegiate skating and high school skating," Elise Preston, senior director of membership at U.S. Figure Skating, said. "Participation in competitive skating programs that feature national advance - ment opportunity, such as the solo dance series, Excel Series and National Showcase, are also drivers of this growth." Aspire programs, she added, are starting to introduce more skaters from Learn to Skate USA to U.S. Figure Skating, while the Excel Series (2,867 skaters) and the more than 836 skaters at National Showcase are also fueling this surge in membership. p More than 7,500 children across the United States tried hockey on Sept. 13 during the first of USA Hockey's two national Try Hockey For Free Days, presented by Discover, for the 2025-26 season. Try Hockey For Free is a nationwide USA Hockey initiative focused on providing an opportunity for kids across the country to try the sport of hockey without cost. Saturday's event also served as a part of the organization's Welcome Back Week, presented by Winmark. Certified coaches and volunteers provided instruction, with host sites providing equipment to borrow. AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park, Kansas, led the nation with 123 participants, followed by Blue Sport Stable in Superior, Colorado, with 78 and New Hope Ice Arena in New Hope, Minnesota, with 70 kids trying the sport. Of the 7,500 kids who tried hockey for free on Saturday, 2,500 were girls. The day included 27 girls-specific Try Hockey For Free events around the country, with 530 girls trying the sport as part of the Washington Capitals' ALL CAPS ALL HER initiative, high - lighted by 54 at the Ashburn Ice House in Ashburn, Virginia. With the support of the NHL and NHL member clubs, as well as sponsors and local associations, USA Hockey's Try Hockey For Free, presented by Discover, is designed to provide a national plat- form for introducing children to the sport of hockey. The events are the world's largest introduction-to-hockey initiative. J Record Growth p The Harmony Production Ensemble from Michigan competes at the 2025 National Showcase.

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