Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/958383
44 / MARCH.APRIL.2018 USICERINKS.COM REAL PROGRAMS Hockey Weekend Across America rinks in 46 states hosted a Try Hockey for Free event to give kids that have never played before a chance to try the sport for free. "We started Try Hockey for Free in 2008 and then in 2010, following the Vancouver Olympics, much like this year, we had a huge response," said Kelleher. "Hopefully with [THFF} we turn them not only in to fans, but bring kids out to the rink to try our game and fall in love with it." For rink managers, the prospect of THFF is even more exciting. The high participation numbers translate into higher registration numbers. Not only are kids learning to participate in our favorite game on ice, they are getting exposed to all our facilities have to offer. Teach a kid to skate, and you'll have them skating for life. Celebrate Local Heroes Day You'd be hard-pressed to find a town that doesn't have some sort of hockey hero amongst it. Sure you might not have a superstar NHLer or Olympian, but you know as good as any that many of the hockey heroes are right in front of you. They're the parents that bring the kids to practice and games, the coaches who help hone their skills and the volunteers that help make the entire machine run. Celebrate them, along with any hockey notable names you might have around your community. J USA HOCKEY'S NATIONAL TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE DAYS HAVE INTRODUCED MORE THAN 153,000 CHILDREN TO THE SPORT PHOTOS: COURTESY OF USA HOCKEY