Any little Rangers or ice-hockey fans out there? Whether your kids are familiar with skating or have little experience in skating or hockey, this is their perfect chance to try out the sport.
The New York Rangers are teaming up with USA Hockey for the fifth time to host “Try Hockey for Free” to encourage children to play hockey.
“Hockey is such an exciting sport and we want kids to have the opportunity to experience the game and learn from Rangers legends in what is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Jordan Solomon, Executive Vice President of MSG Sports.
Rangers alum Adam Graves, a two time Stanley Cup winner, has been a part of the program since day one. He urges kids to join the program and learn about overcoming obstacles and gaining confidence.
“If you want to have a lot of fun and try something you may or may not [have] tried before, there is not a better or easier program for you,” says Graves. “We have alumni who will come help out, so it is a win-win for a lot of kids.”
The free skating and hockey lessons are taught in different locations throughout the tri-state area, so that Rangers fans from all over can get closer to their favorite players and make the sport accessible to the entire Rangers fan base. Solomon also hopes that hosting the events in 11 different locations will make it easier for parents to find a date and a location that is convenient for them.
Children who have little or no skating or hockey experience will also have a lot of fun and benefit from this event.
“I see a lot of kids that get out there. Their first 5 or 10 minutes, they might be shy, or a little scared. But once they get out there with all the equipment on, you quickly see how quickly they gravitate [to the game with] big smiles on their faces,” Graves says. “Yes, they will fall down, but they will get back up. By the end of the hour, it’s hard to get them off the ice and they don’t want to leave!”
Children will not only receive an introductory on-ice lesson with professional guidance, but each child will also get an exclusive New York Rangers hockey stick for participating in “Try Hockey for Free.” Various Rangers alumni have participated in the event previous years, including Ron Greschner, Nick Fotiu and Brian Mullen, so you and your kids are sure to see some famous friendly faces out on the ice!
Pre-registration is required as each session is limited to 75 participants and space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more about “Try Hockey for Free”, dates and participating locations near you, visit nyrangers.com
