From Sue Street comes a reminder the Regional District of Nanaimo is hosting the Try Girls Hockey clinic from 1-2:30 p.m., Saturday, June 9 at Oceanside Place.
The clinic is free to any girls aged 5-14 that would like to try hockey. Equipment is provided, and there will be certified coaches on the ice.
Participants must register in advance through the RDN recreation office at: 250-248-3252 or online at: https://onlineca.activecommunities.com/RDN.
“Last season we had 81 girls registered and playing hockey in Oceanside with OMHA,” Street said. “There were three female teams: one Initiation/Novice team (5-9years old); one Atom team (9-10) years old, and one PeeWee team (11-12 years old).
“We would like to see that number increase so that we will be able to have a team at the Bantam (13-14 years old) and Midget (15-18 years old) levels again as well,” continued Street, explaining that female registration in hockey programs around the Island has been declining over the past two years, “and these free clinics invite the girls in our community to come out and give this FUN sport a try — without having to make the commitment to join a team, (or the expense of purchasing equipment) until they have tried the sport.”
Oceanside Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) offers the free Try Girls Hockey clinics twice a year, and as OMHA’s female co-ordinator, Street said, “the idea and focus is on having a fun and enjoyable experience on the ice.
“While at the clinic, girls can get more information about the female hockey program that Oceanside Minor Hockey offers, as well as funding options for registration, (OMHA is a KidSport and SOS-funded organization for those needing help to offset costs of participation), in addition to information on our gear loan program (a free program that provides equipment for players that require it).”