Kids give the ice a try for free at annual hockey event

WASILLA — The time of youth is a time to try things. It’s a time to see what’s out there and engage in sports and other activities that the individual grows an interest in. That’s why several families brought their children to the annual Try Hockey for Free event at the Menard Sports Center on Feb. 23.

“This is really great actually. There’s not many opportunities like this,” one participating parent, Susan Standifird, said.

Twenty-one children of varying ages participated in this free event. Sponsored by USA Hockey, the Try Hockey for Free program is a national effort to increase hockey enrollment while exposing children to the sport without the typical cost and commitment.

It’s designed to be a stress free experience that any child of any age with any skill level can try out and according to president of Alaska Avalanche Amateur Hockey Association and one of the Try Hockey course instructors, Nick Decovich, this year could be deemed, “mission accomplished.”

“We just had the kids going back and forth. I think they all at least touched the puck. Some goals were scored and it looked like they were having fun,” Decovich said.

Decovich said that about half of the participating children had little to no skating experience so they split the groups by their experience levels to either work on the fundamentals of hockey or focus more on the fundamentals of skating with some hockey elements.

Participating children were introduced to the basics of hockey from how to hold the stick to passing, puck movement and shooting. Decovich said that at the end of the course, they held a scrimmage game with all the children.

“We just want to make it fun for them, keep the commitment down to a minimum when you’re starting out,” Decovich said.

Danielle and John Campos brought their 4-year-old daughter Angela to not only try out hockey, but to try out ice skating for the first time on her own. Danielle said this was Angela’s third time on the ice total but she was on the ice with her for the previous occasions.

“I’m a little nervous because I’m not right there to hold her hand but she’s doing really good,” Danielle said.

Danielle and John both stood inside the benches and attentively talked to their daughter as she slowly and carefully meandered over the ice. Angela only fell a few times during the class and her parents credited this to her cautious approach. Angela was one of the youngest participants and wasn’t entirely sure what was going on but she followed Decovich and the other coaches’ lead.

“The exposure to other kids is good for her,” Danielle said.

Since Angela is so young, Danielle said that experiences like Try Hockey are an ideal way to expose her daughter to different experiences so “she can gravitate to the things she likes.”

“It’s so good for the kids,” Danielle said. “It’s a good way to make friends and interact with other people. I think it’s just amazing.”

Danielle said being in Alaska with so much ice throughout the year, hockey seems like an appropriate sport to get into. John said that the when the Alaska Aces hockey team was still operating, they signed Angela’s first pair of ice skates.

“It’s sad that the Alaska Aces aren’t here anymore. We used to take her to games all the time,” Danielle said.

Decovich has been involved with Alaska Avalanche for six years. He said that the youth amateur hockey club affiliated with Alaska State Hockey and USA Hockey has been in the Valley for several decades and this is the second year they’ve participated in the Try Hockey program.

“It’s part of a big push to get more enrollment,” Decovich said.

Decovich said that the overall attendance was up from last year. He said that a handful of last year’s event took the next step and signed up to Alaska Avalanche. He said that any of the participating families who want to take their child to the next steps can register for the Menard’s Learn to Skate Program or into the Alaska Avalanche’s three-month introductory course. He said this course costs $150 and includes 15 one-hour sessions for new hockey players.

“Ultimately we’re gonna’ get them into one of our Avalanche Hockey programs- that’s the ultimate goal,” Decovich said.

Decovich said that hockey in general is “extremely popular in the Valley” and he wants the sport to keep growing in the area.

“I think hockey in the Valley is huge,” Decovich said.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at Jacob.mann@frontiersman.com.