Fall Into Hockey gives girls an opportunity to learn the game

The Fall Into Hockey Program is for all girls 6-12 years old at the Stumptown Ice Den on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, Sept. 4 - 29. Players who are new to the sport can be up to 14 years old. 

New players and seasoned players are all welcome to learn to play hockey, work on skating fundamentals, practice teamwork and have loads of fun. Gear is available to borrow at the rink. 

Fall Into Hockey sessions provide a great opportunity for girls to try hockey for the first time. Girls who have played in the past can have fun polishing their skills prior to the season. 

Montana joins the rest of the country in working to grow girls hockey and the Fall Into Hockey Program has been around for about 10 years in Whitefish. In addition to giving girls opportunities that she didn’t have, organizer and longtime local coach Lini Reading says hockey is a great game for girls. 

“The team factor, the camaraderie, the chemistry, the sport – it's just such a wonderful thing for girls,” Reading said. “We want to give them an opportunity to give it a try in an environment that is not overly competitive, where they can just see if they like it and want to continue.” 

The goal is to have more girls play hockey and Reading’s program is working. Last year, after the Fall Into Hockey Program, over 30 girls continued to play through the season. 

The first day of the program on Sept. 4 is "Girls Only Try Hockey Free Day" which allows girls to try hockey at no cost. After day one, they can sign up for the rest of the program which costs $150 per skater. 

Contact Lini Reading for more information at linireading@gmail.com