PALMER — The last place Missy Keil thought she’d be on a Wednesday night is the Palmer Ice Arena.

And the last thing Keil thought she’d be doing is playing hockey.

“Never,” Keil said. “Never in a million years.”

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But that was exactly where Keil was on Wednesday night. Along with more than a dozen other women, Keil was decked out in full gear — jersey, pads, skates and all — ready to participate in the arena’s Learn to Play Hockey classes, a women’s hockey program for beginners.

Thanks to a grant courtesy of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, officials at the Palmer Ice Arena have been able to provide local women with an affordable way to learn how to play hockey.

“It’s an opportunity to get good exercise in a game they’ve been watching their kids play,” said Palmer Ice Arena manager Steve MacSwain, who coaches the women during the weekly series of clinics.

Many of the women participating in the current set of classes are hockey moms turned hockey players. But regardless of whether participants come from a hockey family or are completely new to the sport, Keil is surprised about just how many women are eager to grab their stick and get out on the ice.

“As it  turns out, there’s lots of women interested,” Keil said. “There are a lot of women who came out on the first night that have never skated before. There’s a lot of people who’ve never been in hockey gear.”

Although there’s a wide range of experience when it comes to skating, MacSwain said the program is geared to those who are at least relatively new to playing hockey. This, in part, is to make sure that participants have the ability to have fun with others who share a similar skill level.

“We really want to get the newer skaters out here,” MacSwain said.

MacSwain said the program — which is stretched over five weekly sessions — starts with the most basic of skills. The art of not only skating — but stopping — is covered, as are the simple skills of the game, such as stick work and moving around the puck.

“Skating is a great foundation, and a lot of the other stuff comes,” MacSwain said. “But I don’t like them to get too bored. I want to get the puck out there for them. Ultimately everybody wants to play, whether you’re a little kid or an adult.”

The class has similarities to a typical youth hockey practice. On Wednesday, players warmed up by skating between the red line and blue line, skated through a series of cones and took shots on net. MacSwain said he brings the basics of the game to the classes — the skills and rules — but he stresses the need to have fun during the clinics.

“If you’re having fun coming to the rink, all that little stuff is going to come,” MacSwain said. “It’s quality of life, and having something fun in your life.”

For many of the participants, the weekly classes have turned into a social event. The participants are proving there are more options for local women than book clubs or their children’s play dates.

“This is our time,” Becky Fish said.

Shelia Armstrong said she started playing hockey about two months ago.

“My husband told me I needed to try it,” Armstrong said. “I finally had the guts to try it. Once you try it, you’re hooked.”

And it’s great exercise, Armstrong said.

Wednesday’s class marked the tail end of the second set of classes offered by the arena, but program organizers expect to offer another series of clinics in January. The Palmer Ice Arena is also home to a men’s adult league, and the formation of a co-ed adult hockey league is also in the works.

In the future, organizers hope to offer various levels of hockey to adults, in terms of both competitive teams and classes.

Those interested in participating in future Learn to Play Hockey classes can contact Keith Armstrong at 745-6464 for more information. Participants must have a full set of hockey gear to use and there is a cost for the classes. But because of the grant, the cost is significantly reduced.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.