ACCESS TO HOCKEY
Hockey is for everyone
Hockey is more than a sport—it’s a platform for confidence, connection, and belonging for everyone in our community. We remove financial, social, and logistical barriers so people of all ages, identities, and backgrounds can experience the sport and the community built around it.
Our commitment is simple: make hockey welcoming and attainable for all, whether you’re stepping onto the ice for the first time, joining an adult or women’s program, exploring LGBTQ+‑inclusive hockey spaces, or experiencing the excitement of a Firebirds game for the very first time.
Why Access Matters
Hockey teaches skills that extend far beyond the rink—teamwork, confidence, perseverance, accountability, and belonging. By using hockey as a gateway, we help individuals of every age and background build resilience, form connections, and discover new opportunities.
These experiences belong to everyone, and our job is to open the door.
Hockey as a Tool for Inclusion
“Hockey is for Everyone” isn’t a slogan—it’s a commitment.
We support and champion access for:
- Women & girls
- LGBTQ+ athletes and allies
- Adults trying hockey for the first time
- People with disabilities
- Underserved or underrepresented communities
- Families experiencing financial barriers
Because the rink should feel like a place where every person can belong.
What We Support
Programs for All Ages & Identities
From youth Learn to Skate to women’s hockey, adult beginners, and inclusive LGBTQ+ skating groups, we support programs that make it possible for anyone to participate—regardless of starting point, identity, or experience.
Gear, Fees & Financial Assistance
We help remove cost barriers by supporting essentials such as loaner gear, program fees, and transportation assistance—ensuring no one is turned away because of financial limitations.
School & Community Hockey
We partner with schools and community organizations to introduce hockey‑based activities that build teamwork, focus, and confidence—bringing the sport to new audiences across the Coachella Valley.
Powered by Our Community
“Every auction bid, every 50/50 raffle ticket, and every donation fuels programs that expand access to hockey across the valley—turning first steps on the ice and first‑time game‑day experiences into memories and confidence that last a lifetime.”
— Kate Spates, Executive Director, One Valley Foundation
Access to the Experience of Hockey
Opening Game Day to New Fans
Experiencing the thrill of a live Firebirds game is part of what makes hockey magical—and we believe everyone in the valley deserves the chance to feel that energy.
Through our community giveaways, special promotions, and the Win Tickets program, individuals and families who have never been to a game can enter for a chance to receive complimentary tickets to a Firebirds home game.
This initiative helps introduce new fans to the sport, strengthens community connections, and makes hockey more accessible than ever.