On the Road (Show) Again: Teaching Hockey and Fun

Back in 2021 when Kraken Community Iceplex was still under construction, the team’s learn-to-play-hockey instructors traveled state-wide to introduce the sport to kids of all ages.

Fast-forward to this fall with hundreds of youth skating and stickhandling and smiling every week at the Iceplex, and the NHL squad coming off a two-rounds-of-playoffs season training on the same rinks where the kids take to the ice.

Those same instructors took to the road again on a try-hockey-for-free mission to keep the momentum going for youth hockey associations across the state. The stops included Sno-King Ice Arena and the rinks around the state, including Spokane, Tri-Cities, Wenatchee, and Vancouver, WA. A session at Bremerton is scheduled for later this month.

“The aim is to have beginners that have never tried hockey, or are in the very early stages, to get a free opportunity, receive coaching and have a good experience,” said Martin Hlinka, director of youth hockey for the Kraken Youth Hockey Association. “We hope the next step is they sign up [with their local associations] and become hockey players.”

“Growth is positive in every age group right now in this sport,” said David Min, a Kraken Community Iceplex player development coach who organized the roadshow. “Kids that are 10 to 16 years old represent a non-traditional entry, but throughout our experience, we consistently see kids in this age window hungry to join and play.

Min pointed out that clubs like Sno-King saw these trends and have created a pathway for their later start participants called Teens and Tweens. The Kraken Youth Hockey Association has a similar program called Sea League for kids from 9-16 years old who are at the beginner stages in their hockey career. Min said, “it’s great to see associations expand the grassroots pathways” as this will help introduce more players in the area.

The popularity of the Kraken and especially certain players (Matty Beniers and Philipp Grubauer among others) was evident at all stops. Lots of jerseys with favorite players’ numbers and Kraken gear of all varieties.

One example: Min said there were about 55 first-timers at the Sno-King session in Kirkland: “There was lots of energy, lots of Kraken jerseys, a very well-organized event [with association support]. You should have seen the line for Matty Beniers posters, mini-sticks, Kraken stickers, you name it. Kids were loving it. They were super-stoked on the ice and they loved leaving the rink with Kraken swag.”

When Hlinka, Min, and colleagues, Chad Goodwin, director of skating, and Katelyn Parker, player development coach, put the “Try Hockey for Free” program into action in 2021, the goal was to provide a significant boost for girls’ hockey around the state by both staging clinics and fans engaging with the NHL team. The recent co-rec clinics at all locations revealed an encouraging trend.

“There were definitely more girls [this fall] at the four cities [Spokane, Wenatchee, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver] we visited, including among the older ages,” said Hlinka. “It was great to see a larger amount of girls experience skating and scoring goals on the ice.”

Min offered insight: “One way I would describe it is, let's say you have no idea anything about hockey and you walk into the ice rink and you saw one of our [“Try Hockey for Free”] events, you would have never thought for a split second, whether hockey is only for boys; there were just as many girls as boys at some events and I think that shows a level of progress in growing the girls’ game.”

Min said he and his colleagues aren’t complacent about achieving more progress: “We need to improve and continue to improve [access for girls and all kids in need] every day, every year. We’re still hungry. There are many different ways to improve, including more opportunity for girls.”

The format of the “Try Hockey for Free” sessions was similar across locations, said Min.

“Each event has a basic equipment requirement of a helmet, gloves, skates.” said Min. During the on-ice component expect to learn how to fall, get up, and begin learning the early stages of skating. Lots of kids pick it up pretty quick and then they receive a hockey stick and start feeling the puck on their blade.” The priority is to make sure participants feel safe and feel a level of comfortability in skating before receiving a stick.

The instructors introduce those concepts and skill off the ice on a rubber floor to prevent inevitable slipping and sliding if kids head right to the ice surface. The desired result is to learn how to fall on your side and make contact with skates on.

The kids head to the ice to go through a few suggested movements, such as marching and “swizzles” with skates scraping apart laterally and then back together. It’s all for the purpose of feeling more comfortable on the ice. Once that is achieved, everyone gets a stick and rotates at four or five skill stations (such as basic stickhandling) allowing kids to try it themselves.

The 45 minutes goes fast and instructors afford kids to reach whatever skating and skill level at which they feel comfortable and safe. But there is one constant whether they’re a true beginner or a participant who acclimates quickly.

“If it’s not fun, you're not going to come back,” said Hlinka, who is adamant that all Kraken youth hockey programs have a fun factor.

“Part of making it fun is helping kids to feel physically and psychologically safe,” said Min. “We need to teach physical safety and empower them with ways to not feel intimidated by falling or the newness of being in a rink.”

One note: Even the best Kraken players will fall to the ice themselves. Matty Beniers, 2023 NHL rookie of the year, tumbles regularly but bounces right back up.

“Like Marty said, our sessions are not drill-based,” said Min. “We put kids in a fun environment where they're moving, skating, and hitting pucks in a safe and appropriate manner. As a coach or volunteer, you’ve got to bring the energy and excitement. The adults on the ice who have the privilege to wear a coach’s tracksuit have the ability to influence a kid to come back and become a player for life.”