Las Vegas girls are stepping into hockey at a time when the sport is growing faster than ever in Southern Nevada. The Vegas Golden Knights will launch their first girls-only NHL Learn to Play program at Hylo Park Arena this winter. The debut lines up with Wickfest’s first appearance in the United States, giving young skaters ages 4 to 10 the chance to learn from Olympians, Hall of Famers and PWHL stars.

A first in Vegas and a first in the U.S.

The Learn to Play session opens during Wickfest, a global girls hockey festival founded by four-time Olympic gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser. For 16 years, the event has taken place exclusively in Canada. Now it arrives in Las Vegas for the first time, stretching across City National Arena, America First Center and the Golden Knights’ new Hylo Park Arena.

Sheri Hudspeth, the team’s director of youth hockey programs and fan development, said the timing could not be better.

“It’s a weekend of inspiration,” Hudspeth said. “To be on the ice with Hayley Wickenheiser, Angela James, Haley Skarupa and Jillian Dempsey is an incredible opportunity to interact with some of the game’s greats.”

Wickfest has already engaged more than 30,000 girls, women and participants since its founding. Bringing the event to the U.S. marks a milestone for the festival and for Las Vegas.

Demand that surprised even the Golden Knights

The response to the girls-only Learn to Play program exceeded expectations. Hudspeth said families signed up almost immediately.

“Within 24 hours we had close to 30 girls registered,” she said. “We just closed registration today with a total number of participants at 45 for the first session.”

Those numbers highlight the momentum behind girls hockey in Nevada. Interest is growing faster than the city can currently serve, which reflects a wider shift in the sport’s popularity.

“We need more ice and if we build it they will come,” Hudspeth said. “The interest in hockey in Nevada is at an all-time high and we have a lot of room for growth on the girls and women’s side.”

A true starting point for girls in Las Vegas

The Golden Knights have offered Learn to Play sessions for years. However, this will be the first girls-only program with free gear, structured instruction and a class designed for first-time skaters.

“This program is the first step to a girls hockey pathway from 4 years old to one day being able to play entirely girls hockey at all levels under the VGK umbrella,” Hudspeth said.

Coaches will evaluate the girls on the final day and recommend the next step. Many will move into the new girls-only Lil Knights program at Hylo Park in April. They will skate twice a week and begin cross-ice gameplay.

“The goal is to have everyone up to speed in time for fall house league in August 2026,” Hudspeth said.

Pathway, not pressure

The Golden Knights view the program as an entry point, not a tryout. The focus is on confidence, fun and access. Girls who fall in love with the game will have a path forward, but there is no pressure to advance.

“This is the first low-cost entry-level program which provides the new player all the equipment and everything they need to get started,” Hudspeth said.

For many of these girls, skating for the first time is the milestone. The rest can come later if they choose.

‘If you see it, you can be it’

The first Learn to Play class will share the ice with some of the most influential names in women’s hockey. The lineup includes Wickenheiser, Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James, U.S. Olympian Haley Skarupa, PWHL forward Jillian Dempsey and Canadian speaker Kendra Fisher. Another U.S. Olympian will be announced soon.

The girls will also be invited to the Wickfest opening celebration at Aria, a kickoff event that brings participants together with Wickenheiser before the Golden Knights game at T-Mobile Arena.

These moments matter. Seeing leadership and excellence up close can change a young athlete’s life.

“Obviously, if you see it, you can be it, right?” Hudspeth said.

A new chapter for Las Vegas hockey

Girls hockey participation in Nevada has grown more than 600 percent since the Golden Knights joined the league, according to USA Hockey. The arrival of Wickfest in Las Vegas and the launch of the girls-only Learn to Play program mark the next step in that evolution.

Hudspeth believes the city is ready for what comes next.

“The goal is to one day have a whole girls hockey ecosystem under the VGK umbrella where if a girl wants to play girls hockey all the way from 4 to 19 without traveling, we will one day be able to offer a space for her in our arenas,” she said.

It starts on the ice at Hylo Park. It starts in February. And it starts with the first 45 girls ready to discover the sport with champions by their side.