Haley Lends a Hand at Learn to Play Fitting
In conjunction with the NHL, NHLPA and USA Hockey, the Panthers kicked off the second season of their successful "Learn to Play" program at the BB&T Center on Sunday, giving many local boys and girls, ages 5-9, the opportunity to pick up a hockey stick for the very first time.
"Our goal is simple: we want to create hockey players," Panthers Director of Community Relations John Colombo said. "From the start of the program, we want to make sure that we're teaching these kids the right way to play the sport. For some of them, they've never even been on the ice before.
"What we're doing is creating a path for them. Working with our five partner rinks has been a huge asset because they're able to create a progression program for each of these kids on case-by-case basis. In the end, we want to make sure that we're taking care of these 600 kids in a positive way."
The primary goal of the "Learn to Play" program is to create the next generation of hockey players and fans by giving local children easy and affordable access to the sport. Each participant in the program will receive six weeks of on-ice training with Florida Panthers Alumni and USA Hockey Certified Coaches as well as a full set of hockey equipment that they will use during the program and keep at its conclusion.
The total cost of entry is only $150.
"The goal of ownership from the get-go was to create a hockey market," Colombo said, citing the commitment of Panthers co-owners Vincent Viola and Douglas Cifu. "The big thing was to make sure that the cost was affordable. For under $150 they get a full set of gear, six weeks of on-ice instruction and tickets to a game.
"It's a huge deal. It's a huge undertaking by the Panthers, USA Hockey, the NHL and the NHLPA. It's also a huge lift throughout the country, but especially down here in a non-traditional market, to make sure that we take care of these kids. The equipment itself would usually cost in the $400-500 range alone."
In addition to the Florida Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs, four other rinks in South Florida will also be participating in the program, including Glacier Ice & Snow Arena in Pompano Beach, Kendall Ice Arena in Miami, Palm Beach Ice Works in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Skate Zone in Lake Worth.
With over 100 kids in attendance, the goal of Sunday's event was to help get the first group of "Learn to Play" participants fitted for their gear - pads, helmets, sticks, etc. - before they took the ice in the coming weeks.
What the kids didn't expect, however, was to be helped by a very special guest.
After signing their official "Learn to Play" contract, participants were greeted by Panthers forward Micheal Haley, who posed for pictures and offered a few words of encouragement for all of the wide-eyed children that were eagerly awaiting to be fitted for their first pair of skates.
"Just have fun," advised Haley, who signed a two-year contract with the Panthers this summer. "It's going to be hard at the beginning, but I think it's good… Everyone is going to be starting from the same point, so they can all grow together."
After only a few on-ice sessions, Haley is confident that the kids will be hooked.
"Once they get a taste of hockey, it'll be hard to get it out of their system," he said.
For more information on "Learn to Play" click
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