Girls Ice Hockey -- too late to start?

[Anonymous]

My DD, 14, is interested in ice hockey. She has virtually no experience, but is strong and coordinated, enjoys skating & skiing in the winter and loves to roller blade.

Is it too late to start? If not, where should I start looking? We live in NW DC (east of the park).

Thanks for any help/advice!

[Anonymous]

There are classes at Maryland Youth Hockey in Rockville. She will be on a learning curve She could probably play on the house team. There are skills camp - one over winter break - and more over the summer. My daughter loves ice hockey!

[Anonymous]

The biggest learning curve is the hockey skating- different skills than recreational or figure skating. You can get her specific lessons though (e.g. Medstar in Arlington). Most players have been hockey skating since they were 8 or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest learning curve is the hockey skating- different skills than recreational or figure skating. You can get her specific lessons though (e.g. Medstar in Arlington). Most players have been hockey skating since they were 8 or so.

Try 4. But it's still not too late to start as a hobby as long as you temper your expectations. I started a ladies' league in my 40s with other hockey moms, and it was a blast.

[Anonymous]

If she already knows how to skate look into house programs at the area leagues (MYHA, Medstar are two big ones). There are also some girls intro clinics and teams for that age. Hockey has a steep learning curve, but I've seen a lot of girls pick it up quickly--especially if they were already strong skaters and played other stick sports.

[Anonymous]

Agree with looking at MedStar and MYHA or also TriCity or the St James for instructional programs and clinics.

Having a girl who is skilled, but not an all-star player, I would temper expectations that without specific hockey experience, it may be challenging to find an all-girls team to join at 14U unless she has very good skating skills, particularly edge work. Socialize the idea that she may have to play coed house for at least a year before joining a 14U girls team (birth year 2010 and 2011). MYHA is the only non-checking house team in the area at that age.

I am not being discouraging, however! Rollerblading, skiing, and figure skating are all super transferable athletic skills. Girls at this age can really skyrocket when they are motivated. Also, there is a dearth of 14U girl goalies in the area so that is also an option for starting out at this age.

[Anonymous]

There are also a handful of private schools in the DMV with girls hockey teams. If she’s in 8th grade now and you are even considering private that might be worth looking into. Some schools have beginner programs and other have both V/JV with JV being new to hockey girls.

Agree that at least for the first year your best bet will likely be a non checking house league (which almost certainly will be coed) plus clinics and camps. When DD started, DW was not keen on the coed team at all but when she saw that DD could hold her own, she relaxed a little. DD was a strong skater and very good soccer player and was able to pick up hockey quickly at 13.

[Anonymous]

You could also try a roller hockey league - there are some in the area.