San Diego Youth Hockey Program Announced

March 10, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Gulls have announced the formation of the new San Diego Gulls Youth Hockey Program. This program aimed at children from 4 to 18 years old has been formed to bring the opportunity for more children to learn and play hockey in San Diego.

"Today the San Diego area offers both in-line and ice hockey at several rinks and public parks. Ice Hockey has always had less notoriety than for example little league baseball, Pop Warner football and other organized youth sports activities in the city. With the popularity increasing in inline hockey and CIF high school participation, now is an excellent time to expose more children to Ice Hockey. With the Gulls' participation the goal is to expose hockey to more children and give them the opportunity to learn and play hockey," said Jamie Black who shares Gulls coaching responsibilities with B.J. MacPherson.

The program is themed "Are You Ready to Play!" The program is supported by local rinks and will be promoted in the local press and at Gulls games.

The San Diego Gulls Youth Hockey Program will be structured in two distinct areas, learning and an organized inter-city league.

The program focuses on learning, for players with no, or limited hockey experience or even skating skills. It will teach skating, passing, stick handling, shooting and fundamentals of team play and hockey rules. Any youth wishing to learn to play hockey can join this program at the participating rinks. It will be structured so the child can start any time, with costs pro-rated and no long-term commitment, so they can try it and see if they like it. Players will learn at their own pace and when they're ready they can choose to be placed on a team with players of similar skills and experience. Then players can join an organize team at the participating ice rinks in San Diego.

The San Diego Gulls Youth Hockey City League is administered and supported by the San Diego Gulls. The league is open to all players and rinks wishing to participate. The San Diego Ice Arena in Mira Mesa has joined the program and the spring youth hockey program will now be under the auspices of the San Diego Gulls Youth Hockey Program. Other rinks will be joining the program.

The Board of Directors of the San Diego Youth Hockey Program include: Brad Belland, Tera Black, Willie O'Ree and representatives from each of the participating rinks. The San Diego Gulls will be active in the league in a number of ways, including providing players to help league practices and clinics.



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