Kraken top first-year learn to skate programs

The Seattle Kraken's learn to skate program topped the United States in membership among first-year programs last season.

The Kraken Skating Academy was the largest program to join Learn to Skate USA last season with 2,798 participants between September 2021 and June 2022.
The academy, hosted at the Kraken Community Iceplex, was the largest learn to skate program in Washington State and the fifth largest in the United States, according to Learn to Skate USA figures.

Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke said the numbers show that the Kraken are succeeding in their mission of growing hockey and other ice sports in the community.
"I'm very proud of what the Kraken has done to help grow the popularity of ice sports in Seattle," Leiweke said. "Seeing more and more people engage and grow with this sport is what we hoped and envisioned."

Of the participants, 2,341 were youth (ages 3-17) and 457 were adults (ages 18-81), and 55 percent were women. Of the youth that graduated from the program, 365 transitioned to hockey and 83 moved onto figure skating.
One hundred-ninety-six youth received financial assistance for the program through the One Roof Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena.
"When we created the Kraken Academy, our goal was to provide more access to ice sports in Seattle to help grow the figure skating and hockey communities," said Chad Goodwin, the academy's director. "Not only has our program taken off, but we've also seen Learn to Skate programs around the state."