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WILKES-BARRE — Jason Spess believes a lot of young kids would love to try ice hockey, but the cost of equipment scares their parents away.
Now, thanks to a new program offered at the Toyota Sportsplex, there’s no reason to be scared.
The facility has teamed up with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to implement the Toyota Tykes Learn to Play Program for kids ages 4 to 8. The program consists of eight weekly sessions and is similar to other learn-to-play events at the sportsplex on Coal Street.
But there is a difference.
The first 50 children participating in Toyota Tykes will receive all of their hockey equipment for free.
Spess, who is the assistant general manager of the Toyota Sportsplex, said the equipment per child is valued at more than $200, and it’s theirs to keep after the sessions end. The only thing not included is skates, but Spess said kids can use rental skates for free.
“A similar program is done in Pittsburgh, and it’s a success,” Spess said. “That’s where the idea came from. Toyota got involved with us and we hope the program will be popular here.”
The program begins this Saturday, and Spess said there is still room for kids to sign up. Parents can bring their children to the Penguins Pro Shop inside the Toyota Sportsplex to be fitted for new equipment right up until the 8 a.m. start of the first session. Equipment includes helmet with full cage, gloves, elbow pads, shoulder pads, pants, shin guards, jersey and a stick that will be cut to length to fit each child.
“Toyota is excited to give young boys and girls in the region the opportunity to gain high-level instruction as well as being involved with one of the first AHL teams in the league to embark on such a program to grow the game of hockey,” said Stori Snider, who represents NEPA Toyota Dealers.
Kids in the program will also have a chance to skate on the ice at the Mohegan Sun Arena during intermission at a Penguins game this season.
Spess hopes the kids in the program will keep skating and playing hockey long after the session expires.
“After the course, we’d really like to see them get into our in-house programs. They will learn the basics of hockey — skating, stick-handling and shooting — and should be ready to jump right into our atom and mite leagues,” he said. “If you just get them interested, we can see these kids go into the Junior Penguins and beyond as they get older.”
The Toyota Sportsplex already offers several skating and hockey programs for all ages and skill levels. General Manager Jason Jarecki said adding a program that offers free equipment is a natural progression of what is already in place.
“This program is different because it’s allowing first-time hockey players to have their own equipment. It’s not cheap to buy everything that is needed, so this removes that barrier,” Jarecki said. “And if it encourages kids to stick with the sport, it’s a win-win for everyone.”
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