Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/73787
"USA Hockey is a rock-solid organization because of the people who form the foundation." — RAE BRIGGLE, ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES nities for players of all ages and skill levels to pursue their dreams on the ice. nearly 600,000 strong." The strength of these programs and the commitment of everyone involved in the growth of the game means the base of the pyramid will continue to grow, which means that there's no end in sight for how high it will climb. "There's a lot to be proud of as we reflect on USA Hockey's first 75 years," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "Our organization was literally started out of a shoebox in New York City in 1937 and, thanks to the thousands and thousands of volunteers across the country, we're now Regardless of its successes, on and off the ice, USA Hockey's greatest characteristic is that it has never been satisfied to maintain the status quo. Whether it's providing members with an easier and more effective means of sign- ing up for an upcoming season through online registration, age-specific coaching modules or improving individual player skills through the American Development Model, USA Hockey is always pushing the envelope to find new ways to improve all aspects of the hockey experience. The founding fathers of USA Hockey would undoubtedly be proud to see how far the organization has come in its first 75 years. The challenge now is not to bask in the glory of past achievements. There will always be new goals to score and new victories to achieve. The way to move the sport forward is through the same team effort demonstrated over the past seven and a half decades. What the organization and the game will look like 75 years from now is anyone's guess. But by sticking to the tried-and-true formula of teamwork and commitment to grow the game, the future will surely be bright. N