A new initiative in St. Albert encouraging young women to pick up a hockey stick and try out Canada’s most popular game kicks off next weekend.
The first ever ESSO Female Hockey Fun Day takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at Servus Credit Union Place.
“There’s a couple of age groups we noticed are far more represented in ringette than hockey,” said Trudy Kueber, one of the members on the community organizing Sunday’s event.
“We want to give young women a chance to try hockey without having to buy gear or sign up for a league. It’s a fun day we have planned and everything will be totally free.”
The program is designed to introduce girls aged 4-17 to the game of hockey. There will be an explanation of the rules, a couple of skill drills, and a friendly game of shinny at the end.
Gear donated by the community will be available for the players to try on. If you have any equipment that no longer fits (male or female) please drop it off at Servus Place’s Go Auto Arena before 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Any leftovers will be donated to Sports Central.
Female Fun Day is just one of the programs Kueber’s committee has in the works.
Using funds left over from the 2011 ESSO Cup, the group has a five-goal plan that they are working on to promote women’s hockey in St. Albert.
“We are working on developing a scholarship this year for midget aged players,” said Kueber.
In minor hockey the midget age group is for players 16 to 18 years old.
Kueber said the committee was still working on plans to meet the other goals and the process would take a few years.
Anyone with a daughter interested in hockey is encouraged to stop by and participate.
If you have any questions please call Trudy Kueber at 780-458-8725.
Five Goals Plan
1. Develop more interest in hockey with the younger female players.<br />2. An annual scholarship.<br />3. Develop female coaches for the program.<br />4. Skill development for the younger females in the program.<br />5. Female hockey tournament for St. Albert.
