girls hockey - age 9

[Anonymous]

I have a 9 year old girl that is interested in ice hockey. We went to an try hockey event today at PW ice arena. She really enjoyed it. She can skate, but is a beginner-intermediate skater. Can get around the ice, but not pretty. What would you suggest if she wants to join a team eventually. We watched the 10U girls and they are good. I am thinking she needs more skating classes, but have no idea where to begin.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live. You need to complete and learn to skate intermediate and then learn to play hockey before joining a house team. She can play coed or girls.

[Anonymous]

There’s a series of required skate classes at some rinks/leagues. We are in Arlington and our daughters played since age 8. They do learn to ice skate, lean to hockey skate then a learn to play program.

[Anonymous]

Find the closest learn to play session (probably eight weeks or so), sign up, and enjoy. And do it this year if you can because the caps LTP free equipment is only for 9 and under.

And while there definitely may be programs that require that long series of classes mentioned above, my experience has been that there is a very wide range of skating ability in learn to play, so I wouldn’t wait and take other skating classes. A huge focus of learn to play includes skating.

I’m also really surprised the try hockey day didn’t give you next-step registration instructions - that’s really the point of those one day events!

https://www.learntoplay.nhl.com/locations/capitals/

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP: she’ll progress in the intro to hockey classes - exactly progression my DD took.

[Anonymous]

Do a Learn to Play class and supplement with skating lessons. Lots of private coaches focus on hockey skating skills.