SPONSORED AND CONDUCTED BY: Clarkstown Parks Board and Recreation Commission
ELIGIBLE: All girls in grades K-8
DATE: Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, 2012
PROGRAM: A fun time shooting and playing. Just show up ready to play! Participants can play in roller blades or sneakers. Equipment will be available. This program is free.
LOCATION: Congers Roller Rink, 6 Gilchrest Road, Congers, NY
Program taught by John Barbera, Congers, NY
Everything I do is to get more boys and girls interested in skating and playing hockey. The kids today aren't growing up exposed to the sport. Most of their exposure is through games on XBox.
"The Girls Only Hockey Weekend" is one part of USA Hockey's initiative to grow the game. It is actually part of a greater global initiative, sponsored around the world by the IIHF, the governing body for ice hockey worldwide.
Girls hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in this country, and the opportunities for girls to play are growing every day.
In this country there are about 700 college scholarships a year for girls to play ice hockey, and about half of them are going to girls from Canada, Sweden, Norway, etc. I'm out to change that statistic."
John Barbera, Hockey Coach
Councilwoman Shirley Lasker, who is liason to Parks and Recreation, first met John Barbera, who is a local Congers resident, a few years ago by observing his coaching skills directly at the ice hockey rink in Central Park, ironically named the Lasker Rink (no relation).
"John impressed me with his enthusiasm and his direct connection with his young skaters. He was able to get both the children and parents excited and motivated to play by creating a positive and fun atmosphere. I recruited him to be a coach for the Towns Recreation Department and the number of players has increased under his watch. Please join John on Saturday and Sunday, Oct 13th and 14th from 10am to 2:00 pm for this Girls Only Hockey Weekend. The event is free and located at the Congers Roller Rink in Congers Memorial Park on Gilchrest Road. All grades K-8 can play. Equipment is available and participants can play in roller blades or sneakers."
