Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

USA Hockey announces record numbers, new ‘Flex Hockey’ program and new quick-change youth goalie gear

Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey
Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

With the conclusion of its Annual Congress, USA Hockey has announced some major news items.

Hockey leaders from across the country gathered in Colorado Springs, Colo., last weekend to discuss the present and future of the game in the U.S.

There, it was announced that USA Hockey had 542,583 total players registered for the organization during the 2015-16 season – a new all-time high for the 79-year history of USAH. That number is an increase of 9,411 players from the 2014-15 season.

The number of coaches (56,515) and officials (23,186) also showed growth in comparison to 2014-15.

All totaled, USA Hockey had a record 622,833 players, coaches and administrators registered during this past season.

“The success of our sport depends on our volunteers and we’re fortunate to have what I believe to be the very best volunteers there are,” said Jim Smith, who completed his first year as USA Hockey’s president, in a release. “Scott Blackmun (U.S. Olympic Committee CEO) said on Thursday at our Town Hall session that USA Hockey is at the top of the ladder when it comes to national governing bodies and that’s a credit to our volunteers and certainly our professional staff as well.”

New ‘Flex Hockey’ recreational structure

At Saturday’s Board of Directors meeting, the Board unanimously approved a new structure at the recreational level called ‘Flex Hockey.”

The new Flex Hockey’ initiative is “designed to keep players in the game and provide opportunities for enjoyment, fitness, relaxation and fellowship.”

The goal, per the USAH release, is to create a safe, fun environment so kids can be active in hockey, but with a flexible participation commitment.

“While associations have always had the ability to have no-check hockey, and some have offered it, we wanted for put together guidelines from a national standpoint for a more formalized opportunity,” said Dave Klasnick, vice president of USA Hockey and chair of the organization’s Youth Council. “We took the feedback from those throughout the country and feel like this Flex Hockey option is a positive step forward.”

Flex Hockey will have no body checking, and programs could allow optional rosters, combined age categories and age-appropriate playing rules.

New quick-change goalie pads

Led by Livonia native Phil Osaer, USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program goalie coach Kevin Reiter, Detroit native John Vanbiesbrouck and former USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorio, attendees at the Annual Congress learned about new goaltending initiatives coming to USA Hockey – most notably new quick-change pads that will fit over player equipment to allow more kids to easily try playing goalie.

Check out the video below for a look at the new pads: