Girls Can Give Hockey A Shot For Free

Girls age 12 and younger are invited to give hockey a try for free from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Triphahn Ice Arena, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates.

Skates and sticks will be provided for the girls to use (bring a bike helmet and ski gloves). Coaches will be available to help kids learn about the game through activities and games. In addition, tours of the park district's new Athletic Performance Shelf will be available.

The shelf offers hockey players additional off-ice conditioning and fitness training that enhances sports performance.

The event is free but participants must RSVP to Randy Jordan at rjordan@heparks.org. Participants should arrive early to be fitted for skates.

Hockey is a fantastic sport for girls, in spite of what many may think. Hockey is still generally thought of a game for men and boys, but the Hoffman Estates Park District finds that girls and women do very well in the sport. The girls' hockey program started at HE Parks in 2014, with a handful of participants and it has grown to a robust program with more than 40 girls participating in 2017.

"It's the ultimate sport for health and camaraderie," said Randy Jordan, assistant general manager of Ice Operations for the Hoffman Estates Park District's Triphahn Ice Arena. Jordan, who has been coaching the sport for more than 40 years, said "girls are fantastic at learning the fine aspects of the game."

There are many reasons to love hockey, here are just four of the many benefits hockey players enjoy:

1) It's great cardiovascular exercise. Hockey requires players to continuously skate and rest, skate and rest. These intervals offer great benefits to the cardiovascular system.

2) Skating while manipulating a stick and puck requires excellent fine motor skills and improves eye-hand coordination.

3) As a team sport, kids learn how to work with others, rely on teammates and understand the keys to cooperation.

4) Hockey is a fast game, and players who can operate in the fast pace of hockey learn to make decisions quickly and to think on their feet.

Hockey players at the Hoffman Estates Park District have the opportunity to progress to play with the Wolverines Girls' Hockey team.

For information about the hockey program, contact Randy Jordan at rjordan@heparks.org or (847) 285-5501.