Hockey is fun at Suburban Ice-East Lansing
April 4, 2007
Smiles replaced looks of confusion as parents and kids of the Lansing area learned the basics of hockey at the “Hockey is Fun” clinic Thursday, March 29th at Suburban Ice East Lansing.
This free clinic, put on by the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in collaboration with Hockey Day in Michigan, introduced around 40 beginner skaters ages 5-11 to the game of hockey.
In the first half of the clinic, skaters worked through the struggle of dressing for hockey with equipment supplied through CCM. Players received their own hockey stick, hockey socks, and a jersey for participating.
Although there were several looks of bewilderment as participants and parents sifted through the bags of equipment, volunteer workers were there to help.
“I had a bit of trouble with getting the right size,” said Natalie Kreps, a 10-year-old participant. Natalie wanted to try something new and signed up for the clinic after hearing about it in her weekly figure skating class held at Suburban Ice East Lansing.
Once volunteers switched her size small hockey pants with a larger pair, Natalie joined the other kids in skill games including the Superman slide and one-footed skating.
“We basically introduced them to skating, passing, shooting, but everything was designed to have fun,” said one of the directors of the skill session, Jeff Mitchell.
As general manager of Suburban Ice East Lansing, Mitchell expressed excitement in a new wave of hockey players.
“I was glad to see the numbers. There are 40 new kids interested in the game of hockey.”
A handful of skaters enjoyed the clinic so much that they decided to extend their hockey education through Suburban’s Three on Three Spring Training Program.
As Natalie’s mother filled out a registration form for the program, Natalie considered whether she would turn in her tights and figure skates for shin guards and hockey skates.
“You better stay in it. You’ve got the Spring Ice Show coming up,” her mother advised.
Skaters from the Greater Lansing Hockey Association, the CCHA and Suburban’s own Learn to Skate program were among the volunteers at the event. Alongside Mitchell, Mike Rucinski, assistant manager of Suburban Ice East Lansing, also assisted in the clinic.
“Most importantly, the kids had fun and I saw a lot of smiles,” Ruscinski said. “And I was only knocked over one time,” he added with a laugh.
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