NHL veterans grow sport with ‘Street Lightning’ program
By Mike Hamson
Special Correspondent Published: February 3, 2016
TBO.com
Although there aren’t any frozen ponds for playing ice hockey in sunny Tampa, NHL veterans would like to see the sport grow.
Mathieu Garon, a former goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning, recently introduced ice hockey to children during a YMCA after school-program at Alafia Elementary in Valrico.
“It’s one of the things we do,” said Garon, who is from Quebec City. “We go into schools and try to teach the game of hockey. The kids are very happy. Sometimes when we show up, they don’t know exactly what they are doing. By the end of the hour, they don’t want to stop playing.”
Lalita Llerena, the communications director for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, said Alafia Elementary and the YMCA partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning and JP Morgan Chase to educate local children about the game on Jan. 20.
Josh Dreith, community hockey coordinator for the Lightning, said the Street Lightning program helps put hockey sticks in the hands of thousands of local children. USA Hockey certified coaches set up cones for hockey skill drills. Instead of a frozen pond, the hard concrete in front of Florida schools becomes their makeshift rink.
Dreith, who is from Toronto, said they have already been to 52 schools to teach children skills while having fun. In addition to working with YMCA programs, they team up with physical education teachers in the schools.
“Ice hockey is not a huge thing down here,” Dreith said. “It’s clearly increased in the last 10 years since they won the Stanley Cup. It’s about raising awareness.”
Dreith has worked full time with the program for almost a year. He said the program gives children a chance to look up to players and become more involved in the sport.
Zach Winkler of Allentown, Pennsylvania, said he grew up playing hockey.
He applied for an internship with the Street Lightning program and recently taught the 50 children at Alafia Elementary the rules of hockey, team participation, teamwork and sportsmanship.
“Ice hockey has been a big part of my life growing up,” Winker said. “Coaching is ideally where I want to end up, so this is the perfect internship for me. It’s also great for a nontraditional hockey area to get such exposure to hockey because not many other NHL teams do this.”
For information about Street Lightning or to invite them to your school, visit lightning.nhl.com.
Special Correspondent Published: February 3, 2016
TBO.com
Although there aren’t any frozen ponds for playing ice hockey in sunny Tampa, NHL veterans would like to see the sport grow.
Mathieu Garon, a former goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning, recently introduced ice hockey to children during a YMCA after school-program at Alafia Elementary in Valrico.
“It’s one of the things we do,” said Garon, who is from Quebec City. “We go into schools and try to teach the game of hockey. The kids are very happy. Sometimes when we show up, they don’t know exactly what they are doing. By the end of the hour, they don’t want to stop playing.”
Lalita Llerena, the communications director for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, said Alafia Elementary and the YMCA partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning and JP Morgan Chase to educate local children about the game on Jan. 20.
Josh Dreith, community hockey coordinator for the Lightning, said the Street Lightning program helps put hockey sticks in the hands of thousands of local children. USA Hockey certified coaches set up cones for hockey skill drills. Instead of a frozen pond, the hard concrete in front of Florida schools becomes their makeshift rink.
Dreith, who is from Toronto, said they have already been to 52 schools to teach children skills while having fun. In addition to working with YMCA programs, they team up with physical education teachers in the schools.
“Ice hockey is not a huge thing down here,” Dreith said. “It’s clearly increased in the last 10 years since they won the Stanley Cup. It’s about raising awareness.”
Dreith has worked full time with the program for almost a year. He said the program gives children a chance to look up to players and become more involved in the sport.
Zach Winkler of Allentown, Pennsylvania, said he grew up playing hockey.
He applied for an internship with the Street Lightning program and recently taught the 50 children at Alafia Elementary the rules of hockey, team participation, teamwork and sportsmanship.
“Ice hockey has been a big part of my life growing up,” Winker said. “Coaching is ideally where I want to end up, so this is the perfect internship for me. It’s also great for a nontraditional hockey area to get such exposure to hockey because not many other NHL teams do this.”
For information about Street Lightning or to invite them to your school, visit lightning.nhl.com.
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