COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey will join with federations from around the world Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 6-7) to celebrate the eighth annual IIHF World Girls Hockey Weekend. As part of the celebration, USA Hockey affiliates and local associations will host more than 120 events across 31 states from coast to coast.
Minnesota leads the nation with 18 Girls Hockey Weekend host sites. Multiple NHL teams will also host girls hockey events, including the Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights.
Girls hockey is among the fastest growing youth sports in the United States. Under USA Hockey’s stewardship, the total number of females playing ice hockey in the U.S. has increased 33 percent to almost 80,000 over a 10-season span. Over that same span, the total number of female coaches trained and certified by USA Hockey has increased almost 41 percent to more than 2,700 and the total number of female officials trained and certified by USA Hockey has increased 11 percent to almost 1,500.
USA Hockey has nurtured the growth of female hockey since the 1970s, when it became the first national governing body in the world to host annual national championship ice hockey tournaments for girls. Today, nearly 2,000 girls and women compete each year at USA Hockey Nationals.
Participants and fans can join in the Girls Hockey Weekend celebration on social media using the #GirlsHockey and #WGIHW hashtag. For more information about U.S.-based Girls Hockey Weekend activities, click here.
What is IIHF World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend?
World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend is a special worldwide opportunity for girls and women of all ages to try ice hockey and celebrate the game. Event hosts are encouraged to:
Introduce girls and women to basic ice hockey skills in a positive, fun and safe environment.
Inform females about ice hockey opportunities in their community.
Educate participants about fair play, sportsmanship and teamwork.
Celebrate female ice hockey, introduce participants to new friends and help them fall in love with the game.
