WALDORF, Md. – It’s hockey season — and this fall, young girls across Maryland are getting their shot to hit the ice for the very first time, skates and gear included.
Registration is now open for DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day, returning Saturday, Sept. 13, to 16 ice rinks across Maryland and Virginia. The annual event invites girls ages 4 to 9 to experience the sport during a free on-ice session designed for first-timers — no pressure, just fun.
Organized through a partnership between the Washington Capitals, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA), and local youth hockey programs, the event brings together clubs throughout the region to build up girls’ participation in what’s traditionally been a male-dominated sport.
Maryland families have plenty of local options to choose from — including Capital Clubhouse in Waldorf, where the Southern Maryland Sabres will host girls eager to try on skates. Additional Maryland sites include the Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis, Rockville Ice Arena, Bowie Ice Arena, Columbia Ice Rink, Reisterstown Sportsplex, Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex, and The Gardens Ice House in Laurel.
“This is a USA Hockey Program that provides local youth the chance to try hockey during a one-to-two-hour ice session at no cost,” the organizers shared. All necessary equipment will be provided by the host clubs, with details sent to registrants ahead of the event.
While rinks in Virginia — including those in Arlington, Alexandria, Ashburn and Reston — are also participating, Maryland saw a surge in involvement last year, and organizers are hoping for even bigger turnout in 2025.
In fact, over 500 girls participated in 2024, and more than 26% continued on with the NHL’s Future Caps Learn to Play program — a follow-up initiative hosted by select rinks in the weeks after the free day.
A key supporter of the effort is the MSE Foundation, which donated $50,000 to PVAHA in 2024 to help sustain and grow programs like DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free.
In Southern Maryland, the excitement is already building. The Sabres, who play out of the Capital Clubhouse, said the event has become a favorite for their coaches and families alike. “It’s one of the best ways to introduce hockey to girls in our community,” a team parent shared during last year’s event.
From first steps onto the ice to the thrill of holding a stick and chasing the puck, the experience is designed to build confidence, spark curiosity — and maybe even uncover a future goalie, winger or team captain.
To sign up for a free session at a Maryland or Virginia rink, visit www.capsyouthhockey.com.
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