Penguins, Citiparks drop puck on new kids hockey programs

A lot of kids in the Pittsburgh area, including those who love sports, have never considered playing hockey.

But now the Pittsburgh Penguins foundation and the city’s Parks and Recreation department are introducing a new afterschool program to get more children playing the game.

The first Pittsburgh Community Puck Partners program is launching Wednesday. Kids and families can learn more about it at the Citiparks “Track and Treat” event Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Bud Harris Cycling Trail on Washington Boulevard in Highland Park.

Pittsburgh Community Park Partners – targeted to grade school students - is free for kids who live in Pittsburgh and participate in Citiparks activities.

“As the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to invest in the growth of our game, we are proud to work alongside such a tremendous partner in Citiparks to bring this program to life,” said Jim Britt, executive director of the Penguins Foundation.

“Through our combined resources, we can share the joy of hockey with children across our city, while providing access and instruction right in their backyards,” he said.

Interested students can then go on to ice skating programs this winter at the Hunt Armory in Shadyside, or continue trying other hockey formats through the rest of the year, including ball hockey or dek hockey at city rec centers and dek rinks.

The Penguins, along with the City of Pittsburgh and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, are building a seasonal ice rink at the Hunt Armory for public use from December to March. The Penguins plan to use the Armory rink for its Hockey Diversity program, and kids participating in Pittsburgh Community Puck Partners can also use the rink to try ice skating or join the Little Penguins program.

“This partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation aligns perfectly with Citiparks’ mission to provide young people with new learning opportunities for safe, fun, and accessible recreation,” said Kathryn Vargas, Citiparks’ assistant director for community recreation.

“Together we are advancing wellness by activating young people around this important sport, while also providing the young people that we serve with greater exposure to the game of hockey,” she said.

For more information on Pittsburgh Community Puck Partners, contact Jaden Lindo at jlindo@pittsburghpenguinsfoundation.org.