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p MORE THAN 8,500 CHILDREN across the United States tried hockey on Oct. 3 during USA Hockey's Try Hockey For Free Day, presented by Discover. A nationwide USA Hockey initiative in its 17th season, Try Hockey For Free focus- es on providing opportunities for kids across the country to try the sport of hockey without cost. Certified coaches and volunteers provided instruction, with host sites providing equipment to borrow. More than 305,500 kids have been introduced to the sport through Try Hockey For Free. USA Hockey's second national Try Hockey For Free Day of the season is slated for Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027, as part of the organization's Hockey Week Across America. 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 platform for introducing children to the sport of hockey. The events are the world's largest introduction-to- hockey initiative. TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE Welcome New Hockey Fans! Top 5 Try Hockey For Free Most Participants 1. Monument Ice Rinks (Monument, Colo.) 137 2. AdventHealth Sports Park (Overland Park, Kan.) 93 3. Prairie Lakes Ice Arena (Watertown, S.D.) 86 4. Rushmore Thunderdome (Rapid City, S.D.) 79 5. Kansas City Ice Center (Shawnee, Kan.) 71 Top 5 Try Hockey For Free Most Events Hosted 1. Central District: 72 2. Michigan Amateur Hockey Association: 34 3. Minnesota Hockey: 31 4. Mid-American District: 27 5. Southeastern District: 23 O F F T HE D R AW 14 // NOV/DEC 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM COMMUNITY ASK DR. HOCKEY M ike Trimboli (Massena, N.Y.), pres- ident of USA Hockey, was elect- ed to the International Ice Hockey Fe d e ra t i o n Co u n c i l a s Re g i o n a l Vi ce President of the Americas and Oceania during the 2026 IIHF Semi-Annual Congress. "To serve the game of hockey in this role with the IIHF is an honor," said Trimboli, who was elected president of USA Hockey in 2021 and has been involved in the sport for parts of the last five decades. "I look forward to working collaboratively with my fellow Council members and hockey leaders around the world to strengthen our sport and encourage its continued growth and development at every level." Trimboli succeeds Bob Nicholson of Canada, who held the role since 2012. He is the first American to serve as an IIHF vice president since Walter Bush (1994-2008) and the first IIHF Council member from the U.S. since Ron DeGregorio concluded his tenure in September 2021. USA Hockey President First U.S. IIHF VP Since Walter Bush For a kid who loves hockey, m o r e t h a n a m o n t h o f f t h e ice can sometimes feel like t h e w h o l e s e a s o n . B u t h i s physician is protecting something very important—his spleen. Mononucleosis, usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, can enlarge the spleen— the organ beneath the left rib cage that helps the body fight infection and filter blood. An enlarged spleen is vulnerable to injury from a body check, collision or fall, which can cause serious internal bleeding. The tricky part is that feeling better does not necessarily mean the spleen is ready for hockey. His sore throat may disappear, and his energy may improve before returning to play is safe. General guidance recommends no athletic activity for the first three weeks from the start of the symptoms, followed by light noncontact exercise when the athlete f e e l s w e l l a n d h a s n o f e ve r. T h a t i s n ot clearance for hockey. Most splenic injuries occur in the first month of having Mono, but later cases happen. This makes your doctor's restriction of 4 to 6 weeks very reasonable for a sport like ice hockey. It is not uncommon for fatigue to linger for several weeks and even months, after a case of Mononucleosis. Prioritize sleep, fluids and good nutrition to help support recovery. Once cleared, the player should go back gradually rather than jump in at full speed. Your hockey player may feel ready to get back on the ice, but with a case of Mono his spleen gets the final say. A few weeks riding the bench is frustrating, but protecting his health keeps him in the game for the long run. P Why Does Mono Have My Kid Riding The Bench By Charles A. Popkin A My 15-year-old has mono. His doctor says he can't play hockey for at least 4-6 weeks. Why does he need to sit out so long? – Concerned Hockey Mom in Los Angeles Q Trimboli Elected IIHF Vice President