10/01/2026
KDWA Radio interviewed our Commissioner of In-House Hockey, Adam Elling, about our TRY HOCKEY FREE event happening on Saturday. Check it out!
https://kdwa.com/hastings-hockey-association-hosting-try-hockey-event/
KDWA Radio Andrew Swadner:
Welcome back to KDWA Radio for either kids or parents or members of the community who wanted to try hockey, there's going to be an event coming up. We're joined by Adam Elling.
He's the Commissioner of In-House Hockey for Hastings Hockey and obviously does a lot of work with KDWA Radio himself. But Adam, tell us about this free event.
Hastings Hockey Association Adam Elling:
Thank you, Andrew. Yeah, we have Try Hockey for Free happening on Saturday, October 3rd at the Hastings Civic Arena. That starts at 4:30pm. This is an opportunity for any kid in the Hastings community who is interested in playing hockey but doesn't want to fully commit to it. This is the chance to come in. We will supply the skates, we'll supply helmets for the youth, and they can go out on the ice for as long as they want. We've got an hour of ice time for this event, so they can go out for five minutes, they can go out for the full hour, just get a feel for what it's like to go out onto a sheet of ice for the first time.
And we'll have players there from all levels of Hastings hockey, as well as coaches and other volunteers to help out, help the kids get their skates on, get their helmets on, and then get out onto the ice and have a good time. And we usually have a couple of snacks and some treats for them as well. So it's a fun little event, and it's a good opportunity for people who are interested in hockey, but look at hockey as one of those things it's super expensive, it's a lot of equipment, and this just kind of gives people a chance to see what it's like, and hopefully we get some hockey players to fall in love with the game.
KDWA Radio Andrew Swadner:
Well yeah, and I know you just brought it up, but I think one of the barriers to getting people interested in hockey is if my kid doesn't like it, I just spent a bunch of money on skates and pads and helmets, and I don't know what that's going to look like, but this kind of alleviates some of that, right?
Hastings Hockey Association Adam Elling:
This alleviates some of that, and then as well, we have a free learn hockey program through the Hastings Hockey Association. So that is for kids who are four to the age of nine, who have never played hockey before, have an opportunity to join our learn hockey program. We supply all of the equipment and the skates, and they get 12 hours of ice time from November through the beginning of March.
So that is another really nice introductory program where you don't have to commit to buying hundreds of dollars worth of equipment just to find out that your kid doesn't like the sport. So this is a nice introduction, and our try hockey for free event that we do on October 3rd is just kind of an introduction to that learn hockey program.
KDWA Radio Andrew Swadner:
If people wanted to learn more about Hastings hockey, in-house hockey, or maybe they moved into the area and just want to learn more about the hockey programs, where should they go or who should they go talk to?
Hastings Hockey Association Adam Elling:
Yeah, they can go to HastingsHockey.com and they can reach out to me. My contact information is on there. I'm the in-house commissioner, or they can, you know, they just have to click around the website and they'll find contact information.
They'll find information about registration, anything that they need to learn more about our hockey association. They'll find at HastingsHockey.com.
KDWA Radio Andrew Swadner:
And one final time, when, where, and who's all invited to try hockey day?
Hastings Hockey Association Adam Elling:
This is for anybody in Hastings. Any kid in Hastings who wants to try hockey, they can come to the Hastings Civic Arena on Saturday, October 3rd from 4.30 to 5.30. They can come at any time. You don't have to be there right at 4.30. Come at any time, whatever's convenient for you. Try on a pair of skates, throw on a helmet. We'll get you all set up with that and then get out on the ice and skate around and have a good time.
https://www.hastingshockey.com/
Hastings Hockey Association Hosting “Try Hockey” Event September 29, 2026 Andrew Swadner The Hastings Hockey Association is hosting a Try Hockey for Free event this weekend, inviting interested kids and parents to try hockey for a day. Commissioner of In House Hockey for Hastings Hockey Adam Ell...
