Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the town board recently announced that the Town of Oyster Bay, in conjunction with the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers, will host a special “Try-Hockey-for-Free Program” on Sunday, Feb. 15, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., at the state-of-the-art Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center in Bethpage. The event will allow children, ages five through nine, a unique opportunity to explore the sport of ice hockey. In addition, time will be set aside for photo opportunities and autographs.
“This is a great NHL program that provides local children the opportunity to explore the exciting sport of ice hockey under the watchful eye of professional,” Saladino said. “This free session provides parents the opportunity to assess if the sport of ice hockey is a good fit for their child, without making an initial financial commitment.”
Try-Hockey-for-Free is designed for children with little or no prior skating experience. New York Rangers alumni and junior Rangers staff will lead the one-day session, which includes free skate rentals and loaner equipment, a free Rangers hockey stick for children to take home and a post-skate meet-and-greet with former professional hockey players. The program is limited to 75 participants and space is filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. For additional dates, locations and registration, parents can visit www.nhl.com/rangers/community/junior-rangers-rookie-series.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to get the chance to play the greatest game on Earth,” New York Rangers-legend Adam Graves said. “These are kids that might not otherwise be able to experience the game of hockey. They are sure to love it and hopefully this ignites a lifelong passion for the sport.”
The Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center is a year-round indoor recreational facility located at Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Ave. in Bethpage.
The facility features an NHL-size rink, professional-grade dasher boards, locker rooms with showers, a four-paneled electronic scoreboard, elevated bleacher seating with excellent sight lines, a modern food concession, a brick fireplace and seating area, and a fully stocked pro and skate shop. Year-round beginner/advanced hockey programs are available, including the town’s own House League for ice hockey, as well as figure skating programs and public skate sessions. For more information about the Try-Hockey-for-Free program and other activities at the facility, visit www.oysterbaytown.com or call 516-433-RINK.
—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay
