Registration is now open for the inaugural DMV Girls Hockey weekend, a two‑day celebration of ice time that will run on September 12 and 13 across 18 rinks spanning Maryland and Virginia.
The initiative targets girls between the ages of four and nine, offering them a chance to step onto the rink at no cost, in a move designed to broaden participation in a sport that has traditionally been male‑dominated.
A community‑wide invitation
The event is being rolled out in partnership with the Washington Capitals, the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association and a network of local youth hockey clubs, backed by a $33,000 grant from the MSE Foundation and supported by equipment loans.
Clubs from Virginia such as Ashburn Ice House, Caps Academy at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Hampton Roads Warriors, NoVA Ice Dogs, Potomac Lady Patriots, Reston Raiders, Richmond Generals, Roanoke Lady Dawgs and STJ Hockey Club will host sessions, while Maryland participants include the Baltimore Youth Hockey Club, Bowie Hockey Club, Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex, Howard Huskies, Montgomery Ice Devils, Navy Youth Hockey, Southern Maryland Sabres, Tri‑City Eagles and Tucker Road Ducks.
Organizers have warned that rink assignments may shift and new sites could be added as the schedule finalizes, but the core mission remains unchanged.
The weekend follows the success of the 2023 DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day, which drew more than 630 first‑time participants across 18 local rinks, and it aligns with USA Hockey’s broader Try Hockey for Free program.
The weekend is being positioned as more than just a try‑out; it is a gateway for families to experience the camaraderie, fitness and confidence that hockey can bring, fostering a new generation of players who might one day wear the Capitals’ colors.