The Washington Capitals, in partnership with the Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) Foundation, the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association and a network of local youth hockey groups, have announced that registration is now open for the inaugural DMV Girls Hockey Weekend. The two‑day event will be staged at 18 rinks scattered throughout Maryland and Virginia on September 12‑13, offering a low‑barrier entry point for young girls to experience the sport.
Organizers say the weekend is designed specifically for girls between the ages of four and nine, who will be able to step onto the ice for a single, one‑to‑two‑hour session without any financial commitment. All participants will receive a full set of hockey equipment on loan for the duration of their slot, removing a common obstacle that has historically kept many families from trying the game.
A milestone for girls’ hockey in the Capital Region
The initiative is part of USA Hockey’s broader Try Hockey for Free program, which has already introduced thousands of children to the sport across the United States. By embedding the effort within the Capital region’s vibrant hockey ecosystem, the Capitals and their partners hope to replicate the surge in interest that followed the franchise’s early successes.
Last year’s pilot saw 18 rinks and clubs across the region open their doors to more than 630 first‑time female players, and the ripple effect was immediate. Within a week of the event, participation in the Capitals’ Future Caps Learn to Play program jumped by over eight percent, underscoring the appetite for accessible, girls‑focused programming.
The growth story extends beyond a single season. Since Alex Ovechkin’s arrival in Washington, the District’s hockey registration numbers have surged, with total youth and adult registrations climbing by more than 220 percent from the 2005‑06 to the 2025‑26 seasons. Female participation in the same period has risen by 225 percent across the District, Maryland and Virginia, propelling the Southeastern District to the top spot in national registration rankings for the upcoming 2025‑26 season.
Beyond the numbers, the Capitals’ Youth Hockey Development team continues to roll out a robust slate of programs aimed at expanding the game’s reach throughout the region. The momentum generated by the DMV Girls Hockey Weekend is expected to feed directly into these efforts, reinforcing the franchise’s long‑term commitment to diversity and inclusion on the ice.