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Dallas Stars Little Rookies: the free first-hockey program, explained

By DFW Rink Guide · Published Oct 19, 2026

Dallas Stars Little Rookies is a free, five-week learn-to-play hockey program for kids ages 4 to 8 who have never played before. Week one is an equipment fitting, followed by four weeks of 30-minute on-ice sessions with trained coaches. The Dallas Stars provide all the equipment for the program, and kids keep a stick and a Dallas Stars Rookies jersey. The program is presented by GEICO and runs at StarCenter rinks around Dallas-Fort Worth.

All details below come from the official Little Rookies page, checked Oct 19, 2026. Registration links open by location, so check that page for current sessions.

2026 Little Rookies schedule by location

The Dallas Stars currently list 7 locations across three months. As of Oct 19, 2026, 8 of the 8 scheduled month-and-location sessions are this month or later.

MonthRinkAddressStatus
October 2026Comerica Center (Frisco)2601 Avenue of the Stars, Frisco, TX 75034This month
October 2026Children's Health StarCenter Multisport Northlake13850 Chadwick Pkwy, Northlake, TX 76262This month
October 2026Children's Health StarCenter Richardson (Ice Training Center)522 Centennial Blvd, Richardson, TX 75081This month
November 2026Comerica Center (Frisco)2601 Avenue of the Stars, Frisco, TX 75034Upcoming
November 2026Children's Health StarCenter Plano4020 W. Plano Pkwy, Plano, TX 75093Upcoming
December 2026Children's Health StarCenter Euless1400 S. Pipeline Rd, Euless, TX 76040Upcoming
December 2026Children's Health StarCenter Farmers Branch12700 N. Stemmons Fwy, Farmers Branch, TX 75234Upcoming
December 2026Children's Health StarCenter McKinney6993 Stars Ave, McKinney, TX 75070Upcoming

Our Oct 15, 2026 check of the program also found a Northlake session listed for January 2027 (Northlake Jan 9-30, 2027). It is no longer on the main schedule, so confirm with the rink. Each rink above has its own page with directions, public skate times and the programs based there.

What your child gets

According to the Dallas Stars, each day of the program kids get all the equipment they need. After the program, families can buy the gear bag or return it. The stick and the Rookies jersey are theirs to keep. The program is open to first-time participants only, so a child who has already done Little Rookies can't sign up again.

Older beginners: Junior Rookies (ages 9 to 14)

Kids who are 9 to 14 and new to hockey can join Junior Rookies, which follows the same free five-week format. Its published schedule:

MonthLocationsStatus
September 2026Euless and RichardsonPast
October 2026Farmers Branch and MansfieldThis month
November 2026McKinneyUpcoming
December 2026Euless and Farmers BranchUpcoming

What comes after Little Rookies

Many families move on to the Dallas Stars Hockey Academy, 45-minute training sessions that run in two-month semesters. The Academy page lists $40 for a single class or $25 per class when you sign up for the whole semester, with free skate rental on class days. When your player is ready for games, the Dallas Stars Metro Hockey League (DSMHL) is the Stars' rink-based house league at StarCenters and NYTEX, with age groups 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U.

Want to compare every option? See all camps and clinics, our Frisco learn-to-skate guide, or the full DFW youth hockey guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dallas Stars Little Rookies really free?

Yes. The Dallas Stars describe it as a free five-week program, with equipment provided during the program. Families can choose to buy the gear bag at the end or return it.

What ages is Little Rookies for?

Ages 4 to 8, first-time players only. Kids ages 9 to 14 can join Junior Rookies instead.

Where is Little Rookies held in 2026?

The published schedule lists October: Frisco, Northlake and Richardson; November: Frisco and Plano; December: Euless, Farmers Branch and McKinney.

How long are the sessions?

Week one is an equipment fitting, then four weeks of 30-minute on-ice sessions.

What should my child do after Little Rookies?

Many players move to the Dallas Stars Hockey Academy for more skills work, then to a house league such as the DSMHL.

Looking for something specific? Search the full directory of rinks, leagues, camps and tournaments. See something wrong or out of date? Suggest a correction and we'll check it against the source.

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