NASHVILLE -- There were more spills than goals, and a few puddles as well, but the countless smiles at the IntelliCentrics Ice Rink at Bridgestone Winter Park made it all worth it.
As part of the NHL's Learn to Play program, 14 Nashville youngsters hit the outdoor ice rink Saturday next to Bridgestone Arena – site of the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game (5 p.m., NBCSN, SN, TVAS) Sunday, continuing to learn the game of hockey and clearly having fun.
Learn to Play is a program aimed at removing access barriers for U.S. and Canadian youth by providing children ages 4-8 free head-to-toe equipment and at least six weeks of on-ice training at no charge. The Nashville Predators are part of a pilot program. On Saturday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the program will launch nationally later this year.