CSB has added a team this year to keep up with the growing number of girls.  The increase in numbers is due to a recruiting effort focused on non-hockey families who have the idea that hockey is too expensive, too early in the morning, is for boys or just too much commitment.

By offering a u10 house program last year, with 2 weekday practices each week and an occasional weekend game, the organization was able to attract over 15 new families.  And the girls love playing with the girls.  Some report that their sisters played with the boys on a mite team, but quit because they didn’t connect with the boys.  This year, when CSB had too many girls on the u10 team and offered the girls a spot on the x-mite team, many said they would not continue.  So we quickly added divided the group into u10 and u12B teams for a total of 13 new families on top of last years 15.  The two teams practice together and some of the players have played up or down depending on the opponent to make balanced games. These two teams will feed the u12A travel team and the u14 team in the future.  CSB boasts close to 50 players on its girls teams and some 8 or so girls playing with the mites and squirts.  We think the success of our girls’ recruitment lies in part by making the schedule family-friendly and keeping the cost reasonable, we can get good female athletes that otherwise would chose basketball or ski on the weekends. CSB hopes to sustain this kind of growth in the girls and boys programs by offering free mini mites sessions.  Our relationship with Play It Again Sports has helped to lower the cost barrier to hockey by offering lease packages for under $100 plus skates and a stick.  Once a new player signs up, the fun of the game hooks them and keeps them coming back.