Saturday was a smooth success as several children took to the ice for the Try Hockey for Free program at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena in Batavia.
The Event was part of USA Hockey Week Across America with the support of the National Hockey League and NHL member clubs, among others, and is designed to provide youth hockey associations with a national platform for introducing children to the sport, free of charge. This local event was hosted by the Genesee Amateur Hockey Association.
There were 30 kids registered for the hour of free lessons, which included free skate rentals, hockey sticks and pucks.
"It was a great adventure for all of the children as well as for their families," Coordinator Sharon Valyear-Gray said. "They mentioned that they didn’t know what to expect, but the miracle of seeing their little ones actually skating and using the hockey sticks so proudly when they fell, and that they could get back up with the help of the stick.
"Seeing the excitement and experiencing the energy in the room when the little ones come off the ice makes all the work that goes on behind the scene so worth the effort," she said.
The lead coach was Erik Triftshauser, along with Fred Hamilton and many of the players from the United Hockey Team came to assist. Matt Gray, the operator of the McCarthy Ice Arena, as well as his children Lilly and Leo, who is a goalie and played in net so the little ones could have the total experience, also participated, she said.
Photos by Howard Owens.
