The CHC Grow-The-Game (GTG) group is comprised of representatives from all interested organizations across the state. Our mission is "To recreate ice hockey in Connecticut by providing a financially affordable, time sensitive, player focused experience in a fun and considerate environment."

Our mission was created because, unfortunately, for many people outside of hockey there is a not so positive perception of ice hockey. What is that perception? This is what the GTG group has determined:

The current perception and/or reality of the game of ice hockey is:

We believe that those of us who really understand the sport of ice hockey can define the benefits and the GTG team is doing that. The second CT Hockey Day is scheduled for January 9, 2010. Our first CHD was a huge success, with over 300 new-to-hockey participants in 10 rinks around the state. Many immediately signed up with local programs to continue the fun and learn to play hockey. Stay tuned as we release details about the 2010 event.

» To see 2009 CT Hockey Day photos submitted from rinks across the state, click here.

Archived Grow-The-Game Update — December 2008

We are ready for CT Hockey Day on January 10, 2009. CT Hockey will be hosting a free play hockey hour from 11am until noon at ten rinks across the state for boys and girls aged four through eight years old. Please go to www.CTHockeyNews.com/chd.html for more information. On Thanksgiving weekend The CT Northern Lights hosted their inaugural Mini-Mite Cross-Ice Jamboree at the International Skating Center in Simsbury. Teams from Avon-Canton-Farmington Youth Hockey, Eastern Connecticut Youth Hockey, Simsbury Youth Hockey and The Northern Lights participated. It was great fun for all and even included a visit from Sonar from the Hartford Wolfpack. See some action packed Mini-Mite photos!

Archived Grow-The-Game Update — November 2008

Plans are continuing to jell for CT Hockey Day on January 10, 2009. CT Hockey will be hosting a free play hockey hour from 11am until noon at ten rinks across the state for boys and girls aged four through eight years old. CT Hockey will be providing equipment and local programs will be providing administrative support (including how to get dressed) along with on-ice support to teach the basics of standing on their skates, skating (or just moving around for some), holding a stick and playing a fifteen to twenty minute scrimmage pond hockey style.

So start to think of all your friends and neighbors who have four, five, six , seven and eight year old children and let's work to get them to the rink on CT Hockey Day. With the support of USA Hockey and OneGoal there will be a major radio blitz starting at the beginning of the year to support our local publicity activities. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Karleen Astorino at email MITEMOM@COMCAST.NET or via telephone at 203-468-9976 or 203-996-9548. With everyone's help we are confident that Connecticut hockey can grow and become an even better athletic option for more children across the state!

Archived Grow-The-Game Update — October 2008

Archived Grow-The-Game Update — September 2008

The First Strides concept was created by Nike Bauer to provide kids with no prior hockey or skating experience the opportunity to try the game in a fun environment at no cost. GNHW is responsible for developing it administratively, logistically and operationally. The program began on September 2nd and ran through September 18th. Two 60 minute sessions a week were provided on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00pm and 1:30pm respectively for three weeks totaling six sessions. The concept is based on utilizing unused ice time during the week (and its associated lower costs) and targeting younger kids who may have other activities or family obligations on weekends.

Nike Bauer has underwritten the cost of the ice time and has supplied helmets with face masks, gloves, sticks, skates and jerseys. All the equipment is on loan to the players (GNHW stores it between sessions) with the exception of the jerseys, which the kids get to keep. GNHW provide all the logistics and coordination. i.e. registration, equipment fitting, securing the ice, publicity, etc., as well as the instructors. GNHW is also developing the on-ice curriculum. Once the program is completed, GNHW will conduct a post-mortem and refine the concept.

The initial sign-up was strong with 23 kids, 17 of which had never been on skates before (or been in a rink for that matter). The remaining six had been on skates at least once, but none had played hockey and only one parent had another child who had played hockey before. So GNHW hit its target audience perfectly. All of the kids are between the ages of 3-5 years old. There is no doubt that we could have potentially doubled the number of participants had we worked through the area schools AM kindergarten programs, but in light of the fact that this is a pilot program, GNHW felt that they needed to cap the number of participants in order to preserve an effective coach/participant ratio.

The real indication of whether this program is successful is how many of the kids continue on in the other programs that GNHW offers such as Learn-To-Skate and Clinic. They have already had some initial inquiries. CT Hockey News will let you know how that goes in future issues of the publication.

Check out future editions of CT Hockey News for complete details of the event.

Archived Grow-The-Game Update — August 2008

Last season an effort was started to look into issues and opportunities that would help increase the number of players participating in ice hockey in Connecticut. A Grow-The-Game (GTG) group was formed comprised of representatives from all interested organizations across the state. After several meetings a mission was defined which is "To recreate ice hockey in Connecticut by providing a financially affordable, time sensitive, player focused experience in a fun and considerate environment."

While we know it will take time to make this mission a reality, in the coming months we will talk more about what is being done to achieve this mission. This month some background is provided to explain why this mission has been created. Unfortunately for many people outside of hockey there is a not so positive perception of ice hockey. What is that perception? This is what the GTG group has determined:

The current perception and/or reality of the game of ice hockey is:

So let's think about this for a few seconds. I am a parent of a five year-old, I have never played hockey and I am looking for activities for my child to participate in this winter. What are my options? There are many. So why would I select a sport that has the reputation as described above!

We believe that those of us who really understand the sport of ice hockey can define the benefits and the GTG team has started to do that. However, what we want is to hear from you. Please send your stories, feelings, and experiences of why you are involved in this wonderful game. And if you have recommendations as to how to make it better, we want to hear those too.

We will use and publish the stories so that parents of a five year-old chooses hockey over the myriad of other options available to them. If we join forces, we can Grow-The-Game of ice hockey in Connecticut. We need everyone's help!