Building on the success of its three past free Esso Girls Fun Days, the Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association has once again partnered with Hockey Canada for a six-session Esso Fun Day camp.
And after two completed sessions already, Loewen said the camps — aimed at introducing girls to the sport of hockey — have been a resounding success.
“We are full with the exception of anyone wanting to try goalie,” she said.
VIDEO: Esso Girls Fun Day offers intro to hockey for lakecity players
“[Normally] the Esso Fun Day is a one-day event where girls get to try the sport in an all-female environment without registering with a hockey association. Given the success of the past three one-day sessions in the past three years, an application was made to host a six session Esso Fun Day camp with funding by Esso and Hockey Canada.”
Loewen said, typically, the camp is hosted over six weeks, however, WLMHA has condensed the camp with Hockey Canada’s approval to be completed prior to the 2018/19 minor hockey season.
“This gives participants a real taste of what normal hockey practices will look like and gives them time to decide if this sport is something they would like to continue with,” she said.
“This is ideal for the participant. It saves a lot of the cost if they decide to not carry on, and it is ideal for the league because having players drop out part way through a season, or not show up, can really damage a team and ruin a lot of work put in by volunteers.”
During the camp WLMHA is expanding its focus and is hoping to entice current female players to try the position of goalie.
“On any team, male or female, the position of goalie is extremely important,” Loewen said. “Although every player has an important spot on the team, the reality is that without a goalie a team cannot be formed. A present three current female players have indicated their interest in trying goalie gear in this safe and non-judgemental environment.”
READ MORE: Twenty-one participate in Esso Girls Hockey Fun Day
Loewen said she’s encouraging any current female players who are interested in trying goal to e-mail their interest to essofunday@shaw.ca.
At the camp, roughly three to four coaches and seven to eight on-ice helpers who are current, or past, female hockey players are helping run the fun camps.
“I can’t thank these volunteers enough for their support to the development and growth of female hockey,” she said. “We have seen an increase in the registration of younger female hockey players, and some in peewee and bantam, and hope to have a female team in all divisions from atom to midget, either rep or house.”
Next ice times for the Esso Girls Fun Camp will be Sept. 11, Sept. 13, Sept. 19 and Sept. 24.
sports@wltribune.com
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