‘HTX Storm’ hosts free hockey event in College Station

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – On Sunday morning girls packed the Spirit Ice Arena in College Station during HTX Storm’s “Try Hockey for Free” event — an attempt to recruit more girls to the sport.

While it is an unusual sport in hot and humid Texas, girls in the Lone Star state have found joy in ice hockey.

“Getting out there on the ice is just an amazing experience and I think its good for all girls who want to play hockey,” said 12-year-old Halen Tucker.

“I started playing because my brother started playing and he really loved it,” explained HTX Storm player, Ramune Usaityte. “I was watching him all the time and it looked really fun.”

Girls account for less than 20 percent of youth hockey players in the Houston area.

Nationwide, female players have grown to more than 83,000 from just 5,500 three decades ago, according to USA Hockey estimates.

“Hockey is one of the fastest growing sports, especially for girls in Texas and its offering another opportunity, another sport for girls to try,” said HTX Storm College Station representative, Amanda Dominguez.

HTX Storm’s “Try Hockey for Free” was for girls from ages 6-16 to experience hockey for the first time with coaches in a fun, low-pressure environment.

“There should be more opportunities for girl hockey everywhere especially here,” exclaimed 12-yeard-old, Emma Dominguez. “I really just want to see them succeed with hockey and score goals and make an impact on the world of hockey.”

Dominguez and HTX Storm coaches goal today was to teach the basics and to have fun.

“Its been so wonderful to see my girls flourish and I just want that for everybody’s daughters, to see their girls flourish,” said Dominguez.

Now with the new professional women’s hockey league, young hockey players have bigger dreams than ever.

“Its amazing they gave us a chance to be in the professional league and give us some people to look up to not just the NHL,” said Emma Dominguez.

HTX Storm will be coming back to College Station for another event in February. For more information: https://www.htxstorm.com/.