Young girls from across the region will be lacing up their skates in Carman next weekend as a new initiative aims to spark interest in female hockey.
On Saturday, March 21, the Carman-Dufferin Arena will host a “Grow the Game: Female Hockey” try-it event for girls aged five to nine from communities including Carman, Miami, Sperling, Roseisle and Elm Creek.
Organizer Lisa Dreger said about 30 girls have already registered for the free event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is designed to introduce newcomers to the sport in a fun, welcoming environment.
The idea was spearheaded by Stephanie McCullough, who wanted to bring Carman into the growing movement supporting girls’ hockey across Manitoba.
“Many other towns are seeing an incredible boom in female hockey, and Carman wants to be a part of it,” said Dreger.
The event will feature help from a strong team of volunteers and local sponsors, with on-ice instruction provided by players currently competing at the AA and AAA levels in the Pembina Valley.
Organizers say the day is meant to celebrate women in sport while giving young girls a chance to try hockey with encouragement from experienced female players.
“It’s truly a women-in-sport event,” organizers said. “It’s going to be really cool.”
Families interested in learning more about the program or future initiatives can follow the group on Instagram under @growthegamecarman, where organizers share information about the event and promote female hockey and women’s sports in the community.
