A free event for women and girls interested in playing hockey is coming up fast.
Come and Try Hockey, hosted by the Cochrane Minor Hockey Association (CMHA), is for girls nine years old and younger and takes place April 9 at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
"The day is really a celebration of female hockey," said CMHA female director Lorne Bremner. "It's all about getting girls in sport.
"Of course we want them in hockey but we just want girls in sports and for them to stay in those sports."
The event is part of the Esso Fun Days program aimed at growing the sport through a fun and safe introduction for women and girls.
Come and Try Hockey is led by CMHA female coaches and players who will be there to help brand new players navigate the ice.
It's recommended that players bring their own skates and helmets with a mask, but there will also be some on hand just in case. Other protective hockey equipment will be provided.
There will be a similar session for girls interesting in learning to goal tend.
Females of all ages experienced in hockey or other ice sports are also welcome to join for a fun day of activities, including a quick-shooter three-on-three tournament where teams will be grouped by experience.
"Our goal is to help find a female team for every player that's interested in joining," Bremner said. "We're here to answer any questions you have and give you the information you need so that come registration time, you know what to expect and can stay in touch."
Bremner said Cochrane has one of the fastest growing female hockey associations per capita in all of Canada.
"Our growth over the last six or seven years has been about 300 per cent. We have over 200 girls playing this year with 10 teams and two divisions within each team."
This past year, the U11 teams and up were re-branded from the Rockies to the Jr. Chaos in a move to align with Cochrane's Alberta Junior Female Hockey League Chaos.
"That was all sponsorship driven and we were provided with brand new jerseys, hockey bags, pant shells, and that in itself has driven more interest in our program," Bremner said. "Girls want to be in the Jr. Chaos."
As more opportunities become available, girls have been moving from co-ed streams to all-female streams where gameplay is more competitive, he added.
The U13A team is going to provincials this year and the U13B team is currently in playoffs.
Those in attendance for Esso Fun Day will also have the opportunity to check out some of the best U15 girls in the province as they try to make one of six teams for Hockey Alberta's U15AA Provincial Challenge.
After each free event that day, players can enjoy a snack and an off ice component with Cailin Morrison and the Girl Be You program in the gym. In the past, Morrison has hosted fun and lighthearted yoga and kickboxing sessions as part of the event.
The day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.
The Jr. Chaos will also be hosting their 2nd annual Female Hockey Banquet Pasta Bar by Gourmet to Go that same day. The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. and will take place at the Lions Club Event Centre with a photo booth, DJ and raffles.
All funds raised through ticket sales and raffles will support female hockey in Cochrane.
To stay up-to-date, visit the Cochrane Female Hockey Facebook page.
