HERICANES INVITE GIRLS TO GIVE HOCKEY A TRY
Twin Centre Hericanes hosting free sessions, aiming to recruit those who may have never played before
WHILE MANY HOCKEY TEAMS are busy with playoffs or wrapping up their seasons, the Twin Centre Hericanes are also in fullon recruit mode for next season.
The girls’ hockey organization in Wellesley offered a chance for girls to try hockey for free last weekend and will be hosting it again this weekend.
Twin Centre Hericanes registrar Claire Birrell explains current Hericanes are encouraged to bring a friend who’s never played hockey before to the come try hockey event on Sunday. The girls will start with a warm-up, practice their skating and shooting, play some games on the ice and participate in scrimmages.
“I think any time you can get a child out participating in a sport is a great thing. Life skills are taught on and off the ice. It’s a great environment for girls to be in.”
They have to bring full hockey equipment for safety reasons, but if you contact the Hericanes executive they can provide some to borrow for the day.
All girls are welcome, from as young as six years old.
“It’s interesting, for most people they think it’s just the young girls that need to come out, and we’re happy for any girl of any age to come out and try. We had girls last year starting their hockey careers at the bantam age, so that’s 13-yearold girls starting hockey for the first time, which is fantastic.”
This past season they had just under 100 players, which she says is good, considering girls can also play for the co-ed Twin Centre Stars or travel to larger centres, like Wilmot and Woolwich.
Three of her four kids play hockey for the Twin Centre Stars or Hericanes, and her youngest will likely be playing next season.
“So we’ve got kids all over the age brackets in this house. And I always say I’d rather they be out skating and having fun than sitting at home and maybe on a device or watching TV or Netflix.”
She says it’s been a great experience for her family to participate in hockey and watch her kids build relationships with their teammates and their coaches.
“It’s never too late to start. It’s a great opportunity to be part of a team, it’s a great opportunity to be part of a family environment. It’s a great hockey program.”
Girls interested in hockey are invited to give it a try on Mar. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wellesley Arena. For more information or to contact the executive, visit www.hericanes.ca.