USA Hockey Foundation

Katelyn, a 4 year old from Deland, Minnesota, used a donated hockey stick to fall in love with the sport.

“Initially, she was hesitant to get on the ice to try hockey," said Katelyn's mother Carolyn who also was an organizer for the Try Hockey For Free event. "But when she learned that she could take home her own stick, she decided she wanted to try hockey.”

Katelyn is the youngest of seven and was scared to get out on the ice with bigger kids.

“The stick was a huge motivator for her and the other kids. The kids’ eyes lighted up when we handed them a stick and they learned they could take them home,” said Carolyn.

Gaius received a free stick and proceeded to "just play and play and play" according to his father Christopher.

Gaius first picked up his free stick in Yorktown, Virginia, and hasn't stopped playing hockey since whether its the family basement or with the Peninsula Prowl at the Hampton Roads Iceplex.

The 10-year-old hockey enthusiast loves to hang out with his teammates and has his free stick to thanks for now countless hours of fun.

Having never skated before, Jacob had a hard time staying up on his skates when he attended February’s Try Hockey For Free. But each time he fell, he stood up with a smile on his face. 

At the end of his first session on ice, he was given a stick to take home. The stick was provided by The USA Hockey Foundation, and was funded through donations from hockey fans across America.

“He was so excited that he wanted to turn around and go back out on the ice,” says Sarra, Jacob’s mother. “Every day he asks if he gets to play hockey.”

That’s exactly the reaction The USA Hockey Foundation was hoping for from the stick recipients.

And hooked he was. Jacob signed up for hockey camps during the off-season and he’s now playing his first season of mites with the Whatcom Warriors.

“Jacob uses anything and everything he can use as a puck. He holds his own practice on the kitchen floor,” Sarra said.