Child's Play: Road to Happy Hockey

While construction workers were putting the final touches on the three rinks at the Kraken Community Iceplex during August, the team's learn-to-skate/learn-to-play-hockey instructors took to the highways-and the ice-across the state.
Director of Youth Hockey Martin Hlinka, Director of Skating Chad Goodwin and the Kraken Community Iceplex's player development coaches, Katelyn Parker and David Kyu-Ho Min, nicknamed their nine-stop tour the "road show." Virtual flyers and local rinks from Everett to Vancouver, WA, and Lynwood to Tri-Cities promoted "Try Hockey for Free" events presented by the Kraken.

"We felt the excitement for the team across Washington," said Min. "At all of the rinks, people are stoked. They are amazed with the team's logo and colors."
Collaborating with youth hockey associations across the state, the KCI instructors staged "Try Hockey for Free" on-the-ice clinics. Let's stride into the fun with diary entries from Parker and Min.
Aug. 7: Everett Community Ice Rink
David Min: "This first event was awesome. We appreciated how organized the volunteer coaches and staff were, making it really positive for the kids. I think all of the kids felt super special, from stepping on the ice to receiving goodie bags. Lots of happy faces. A number of kids were trying out hockey because they have older siblings who play."
Katelyn Parker:"There was a lot of coaching help and I loved having the more experienced 12- to 14- to 16-year-old players out there helping the kids, supporting the effort and even help some stand up. The newer skaters don't feel like they are on an island.

Aug. 14: Bremerton Ice Center
Min:"We didn't take the ferry. We drove around the long way [smiles]. The events were capped at 50 to 60 kids [allowing more personal instruction and attention]. We reached capacity at Bremerton and pretty much all of the rinks. You could feel the excitement of all of the kids on the ice. Most players are younger [the program is designed for four- to nine-year-olds] but there were a handful of 12- to 14-year-olds too. We also saw a lot of interest in girls hockey."
Aug. 15: Sno-King Ice, Renton
Min:"Lots of the rinks and area we visited had close ties to the local WHL and juniors teams. The Thunderbirds are popular with kids at the Renton rink. They had not just volunteer coaches but junior coaches and players, including girls 10 to 12, helping pick up players and giving encouragement. You see kids get excited. Sometimes all it takes is hitting a puck or the sound of skates on ice."
Aug. 19: Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee
Min:"It was impressive to see the support from the Wenatchee Wild and be joined by coaches from the junior and academy teams. A lot of what we did here, along with the coaches at each rink, is teach the kids to have fun. That's the goal and helps us support rinks around the state to get people to their buildings more frequently."
Parker: "The new kids like it when they see hockey players their age with good skills. It inspires them. We always look to progression when we hold these sessions. Our approach starts with Learn to Skate and then goes to Hockey 1 and Hockey 2, then the youth hockey ... but one thing to remember: some steps of progression take practice."
Aug. 20: Eagles Ice Rink, Spokane
Min:"This was officially a Try Hockey for Free event. We will be back for the preseason game [Sept. 26] to do that one. Instead, we joined a Learn to Play class that was cancelled for 100 kids because of the pandemic. We worked with those returning kids and it was fun to set drills and stations."
Parker:"The co-rec sessions both included a good number of girls. Every stop we made had girls in the group. It's exciting to see little girls take their first steps as hockey players. We want our programs and the team to provide a platform for girls hockey in Washington state ... The sessions were more drill-based, divided up on a huge range of hockey skill levels. We even found time for a scrimmage."

Aug. 21: HAPO Ice Pavilion, Pasco
Min:"There was active gear rental, which was a huge help. Chad Goodwin, skating director] led the first 30 minutes for skating instruction. That normalized the skating without sticks. Kids learned how to fall and get up properly."
**Parker:**"Lots of kids attended. I think the [Western Hockey League.*