The GENESEE AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION hosted 34 children at the Batavia Ice Rink (aka The David
McCarthy Memorial Ice Area) on Evans Street on Saturday afternoon at the “Try Hockey for Free” clinic as part of USA Hockey Week Across America.
Local youth, ages 4 to 9, were welcomed at the rink to experience getting on the ice, learning how to skate, get up after falling, basic skills with a hockey stick and shooting pucks into a hockey net, while being guided by the head coach and on-ice helpers.
“We welcome families to the Batavia Ice Rink to try the great sport of ice hockey,” says Sharon Gray, Coordinator of the “Try Hockey for Free” event.
“Our goal is for these families to enjoy watching their kids learn new skills with big smiles on their faces.”
The head coach for today’s event was Erik Triftshauser along with Fred Hamilton, both with more than 20 years plus experience, both starting out as GAHA players, then high school players and now GAHA coaches. Their on-ice helpers are mostly from this year’s Batavia United high school hockey team along with the coach’s sons.
The event is hosted by the “Try Hockey for Free” Coordinators, Sharon and Bob Gray and the GAHA Beginner Player Coordinator, Marcia Barnes. The team’s goal is to provide the hockey experience to area youngsters free of charge and encourage them to come out in October and consider becoming a player in the GAHA Beginner Program which starts the first week of October. The Beginner Program consists of two sessions (October to December and January to March) with a total of 15 on-ice hours per session.
The skates used by the youngsters were provided free of charge by the Firland Rink Management Group. USA Hockey’s “Try Hockey” program, with the support of the National Hockey League and NHL member clubs, among others, is designed to provide youth hockey associations with a national platform for introducing children to the sport, free of charge.
