USA Hockey Magazine

M innesota Sports and Events, local organizer of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, has been offering free statewide youth hockey clinics in preparation for the World Juniors coming to the State of Hockey. The clinics, developed under the Assist26 legacy initiative, are designed to grow the game by introducing new players to hockey and providing skill development opportunities for girls across Minnesota. The program features co-ed Learn To Play clinics for 8U play- ers and girls-only skills clinics f o r t h e 1 2 U a g e g r o u p, w i t h i n st r u c t i o n a n d m e n t o r s h i p from local colleg e programs, youth hockey associations, and hometown all-stars. "These clinics embody the spirit of Assist26—breaking down barriers and giving kids a chance to fall in love with hockey in their own backyard," said Andrea Graham, co-executive direc- tor of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship for MNSE. "Families will not only create great memories, but new connections to the sport and their local youth hockey associations that can last a lifetime." Each clinic includes expert instruction, fun on-ice activities, and appearances from local hockey heroes. The clinics are made possible through partnerships with Minnesota college hockey men's and women's teams, youth hockey associations, and community organizations including: Minnesota Hockey, Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, St. Scholastica, University of Minnesota Duluth, the PWHL's Minnesota Frost, and the NA3HL's Rochester Grizzlies. P O F F T HE D R AW NOV/DEC 2025 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 17 Dynamic Skating & Try Officiating Event Recruits New Officials And Teaches Proper Skating Technique GAINING SPEED OFFICIATING p HOCKEY PLAYERS, even at the youth level, are attacking the game with more speed and skill. With players continuing to get faster, it's important for officials to be able to keep up. That's something that was on Billy Hancock's mind when USA Hockey hosted a Dynamic Skating & Try Officiating Event at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, on Oct. 19 "It's something that kind of drove a lot for our camp in that way," said Hancock, the coordinator of youth officiating development for USA Hockey. The target audience for this October's event was newer officials, and Hancock said he was pleased with the sold-out turnout, with most of the participants being teenagers who worked less than five games. Two were even brand new to the craft. By Sean Shapiro YOUTH HOCKEY Everyone attending had played the game before and were strong skaters, but being a dynamic skater as a player and as a referee are two different things. "We have plenty of dynamic skating courses for players, but none of those really exist for officials, so it was about getting them out of their comfort zone and skate like a referee," Hancock said. "On the very first drill, one of the players noted how weird it was to skate this way without a stick. The point was to show the different positioning we have in officiating and how to be better prepared for it." Hancock said USA Hockey captured videos for drills and education- al tools that will be shared with others across the country. After about 90 minutes of skating drills and working on positioning, participants played 90 minutes of shinny hockey, with each rotating in as an official for short shifts. "We also shadowed them and worked with them, helping the officials understand where to stand, how to position themselves," Hancock said. While most of the participants in the event this weekend were younger, Hancock wanted it to be known that USA Hockey's older, first-time officials are just as important. "We often get kids or teenagers getting into it, but it's important for us that people know that you can be in your 20s or 30s or older and get into officiating for the first time," he said. "It's supposed to be welcoming that way, and it's a great way for people to connect with the sport in another or new way." R E A D M O R E A Chance To Fall In Love With The Game

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