With winter comes those sweet sounds of skates sliding across the ice and the unmistakable clap of the hockey sticks.
These echoes of memory inform the way so many enjoy those long winter months looming just over the horizon.
“We’ve created a community of lifelong hockey lovers and players. This game builds comradery, and that’s the biggest win for all of us,” said Travis Higbee, Saratoga Youth Hockey board member and coordinator of their Learn to Skate/ Learn to Play program for children ages 5 to 10 years old.
TEAMING UP WITH THE NHL
To teach more kids how to skate and how to play ice hockey, last fall, the non-profit, volunteer-run Saratoga Youth Hockey league partnered with the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers.
The partnership delivered. The Learn to Skate program nearly doubled, with a number of those participants continuing on to the next levels of play.
“If they had jumped right into the Mites or the Squirts programs, there would’ve been a big learning curve, because, and it may seem simplistic, but if you can’t skate, you can’t play hockey,” said Higbee.
EQUIPMENT IS INCLUDED
In youth hockey, big names equate to big gains and more bang for your buck.
Your child will learn the basic skills of skating, stick-handling, passing, shooting, and teamwork through ten weeks of 1-hour lessons in the program; enjoy appearances by professional NY Rangers staff and alumni; and the $250 registration fee includes a complete set of new equipment.
“It allows them to dip their foot in the water with hockey without a big investment. They’re given a head-to-toe set of brand-new equipment. That’s one of the very big intrigues of this partnership and it’s a great way to get people in to try hockey,” said Higbee.
STICKLERS FOR SAFETY
While others are only now scrambling to keep up with safety concerns related to limiting the spread of the Coronavirus, Saratoga Youth Hockey got out ahead of it by organizing the “Intent to Play” committee last Spring.
Working with healthcare professionals, first responders, educators, public and city officials, parents, and community members, the committee developed and put a list of safety protocols in place, said Saratoga Youth Hockey President Rodney Eddy.
Hockey, already considered a “low-risk” sport, instituted precise social distancing and mask-wearing procedures, installed guardrails, closed the locker rooms, and established check-in and contact tracing requirements.
They also ask that kids come dressed to practices and have eliminated games and tournaments.
“There was a real community push to make sure we can give the kids an opportunity to play. We all took a page from each other’s books when it comes to safety. We’re all parents and understand the importance of keeping this program going. We’re pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished and feel that we’re in a good place to continue,” said Eddy.
Practices are held on Saturdays at 10:30 am beginning on January 2nd, 2021 at the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink in Saratoga Springs. Full and partial scholarships will be awarded based on need.
To register, or if you have questions, go to www.nhl.com/rangers/community/junior-rangers-rookie-series or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
