Kids from Plant City Parks and Recreation’s summer program were joined at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center this week by the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Street team.
With local excitement for hockey at an all-time high as the Bolts are fresh off of a second consecutive Stanley Cup title — their third in franchise history — their Street Team travels to schools, recreation centers and YMCAs all over the greater Tampa Bay area in an attempt to grow interest in the game among kids.
The event, organized by recreation center coordinator Brandon Seal, saw each age group from both the Planteen Rec. Center and SGMCC ushered one-by-one into the rec. center’s basketball gym where they were met by the Street Team with hockey sticks, nets and a foam rink, all taking turns playing short ball hockey games. For many members of the summer program this wasn’t the first time they’ve had an opportunity to play with Tampa Bay’s Street Team however, as the group also visited Parks and Rec’s after school program and several schools throughout Plant City previously.
“(The kids) were definitely excited,” recreation supervisor Julie Garretson said. “Especially the ones that haven’t played before, they enjoyed it. And the ones that have played before, they got to showcase their skills.”
The game didn’t end with the final stoppage of play though, as every kid went home with their own ball and hockey stick. But those also weren’t the only gifts provided by the street team. Parks and Rec received a number of hockey sticks and balls, two nets and two full sets of goalie pads to add ball hockey to the rec center’s ever-growing list of activities made available for the kids in their summer and after school programs.
“We teach kids about the game of hockey, we teach them how to play hockey…” street team member Charles Jensen said. “We’re just trying to grow the game in all shapes and sizes, which is awesome.”
In a continued attempt to grow the game of hockey in their local communities, the Lightning started their Lightning Made Girls Hockey program, a program that offers several female-only leagues that cover a number of skill levels and includes travel teams and high school leagues.
And for kids looking to get their first chance at organized hockey, Tampa Bay has also spearheaded their Lightning Made Learn To Play program. Partnered with the NHL and the NHLPA, the Bolts’ Learn To Play program offers a low-cost opportunity for kids age five through 10 to experience the game for the first time at rinks all across the state of Florida.
Learn To Play wraps eight instructor lessons, a customized Lightning jersey, an equipment bag and a full set of equipment, including skates, for just $220 per child. For more information, visit www.lightningmadehockey.com.