Michigan takes top spot in Try Hockey For Free participation numbers

By @MichaelCaples –

Forty-six states hosted official Try Hockey For Free events last Saturday, bringing a total of 12,042 children to the game for the first time.

Which state had the most participation? Ours.

Ice rinks across Michigan gave 959 new hockey players the opportunity to try the sport on Feb. 23, leading the country in total head count.

Pennsylvania was second with 915 participants, while Wisconsin was third with 893.

A total of 24,679 kids participated in the two Try Hockey For Free events of the 2018-19 season; Michigan brought in 1,097 in the first Try Hockey in November.

USA Hockey has been hosting nation-wide Try Hockey For Free Days for nine seasons, introducing more than 189,000 children to the game in that timeframe.

MiHockey visited three Try Hockey events on Saturday; check out our photos below. (Photos by MiHockey’s Michael Caples and Stefan Kubus)

Kensington Valley Ice House (Brighton)

Suburban Ice Farmington Hills

Mike Modano Ice Arena (Westland)