“We are a predominantly white male sport,” Hoffman said. “I think we need to try to diversify our sport and do some things differently.

“I think you have to start at the top, you have to be visible, and I think what you do and what you do has to be meaningful, and then you have to follow through.”

Hoffman reached out to Miley, who she learned about from the HPOC Movement participating in the Amerigol LATAM Cup, and spoke with USA Hockey’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion Stephanie Jackson about doing something in the Raleigh area.

“And the rest is history really,” Jackson said. “We at USA Hockey organized this between the HPOC Movement and the affiliate. Since we organized it, it was natural for us to say, ‘We’re going to put up most of the money for this.’

“Last year when we did the opening weekend, we funded everything,” Jackson said. “This year, we worked with CAHA to get sponsors. The Hurricanes came in with some money, along with some local organizations. It was really an idea that came from an affiliate. We’re glad that the relationship between CAHA and the HPOC Movement has remained strong.”

So is Cassidhe Wozniak. A former forward for Worcester State University’s NCAA Division III women’s hockey team, Wozniak served as a counselor at the camp, subjecting participants to rigorous on-ice tests.

“I was doing a drill,” he said, “and I asked the kids if they wanted to go 1-on-1 against the coaches, and they were so excited because they wanted to go out there and prove to us their skills and how good they were.

“At the end of camp, they’re all giving us high fives and saying they can’t wait to see us next year,” Wozniak said.

“I’m thinking of going back too.”