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Goal! New York Rangers Team Up With City for Free Street-Hockey Clinics

By Patrick Hedlund | December 7, 2010 7:26pm | Updated on December 8, 2010 7:32am

By Patrick Hedlund

DNAinfo News Editor

LOWER EAST SIDE — A pair of New York Rangers joined city officials to drop the puck on a new street-hockey program Tuesday aimed at encouraging New York City youngsters to participate in the sport by grabbing sticks and hitting their local recreation centers.

The eight-week winter program features free indoor street-hockey clinics to children ages 8 to 16 at recreation centers across the city, including the West Village, Chelsea and Lower East Side, where the event was held.

"Fortunately hockey is an exciting sport and great way to get in shape," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who grew up just blocks from the Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center on Catherine Street, and donned his own personal Rangers hat at the event.

He was joined by second-year Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto, who last year at 19 years old became the youngest player in team history to take the ice on opening night, as well as Hell's Kitchen native Brian Mullen, who grew up playing street hockey and spent four years playing for his hometown team.

The program came as a result of a partnership between the city Parks Department, Madison Square Garden and Coca-Cola to promote youth hockey as a way for youngsters to learn a new sport while also exercising and eating healthy.

Howard Jacobs, sports executive vice president of marketing and sales for MSG, said the goal is "raising the visibility of this great game" to a generation of active young people who might not otherwise have exposure to hockey.

"Maybe we'll find the next Michael Del Zotto or Brian Mullen out here today," he said.

The players then held their own street-hockey clinic, teaching children at the center fundamental techniques like shooting, passing and stick-handling.

Participants can simply show up at one of the recreation centers on days when the clinics are scheduled, and they'll also receive an official jersey, Rangers gift bag and hockey skills playbook.

The clinics are available in Manhattan on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center, 80 Catherine St.; on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chelsea Recreation Center, 430 W. 25th St.; and on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, 1 Clarkson St.