By Zack Hill
Philadelphia Flyers Correspondent

The Philadelphia Flyers are proud to announce the launch of their newest community relations program, Hooked On Hockey. The program is designed to reach children throughout the Delaware Valley. The program’s main goal is to create hockey awareness among children and teach them how they can benefit from and have fun with the sport of hockey. Flyers forward Todd Fedoruk will be on hand for the inaugural event, which takes place on Wednesday, July 7, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Central Branch YMCA in Wilmington, Delaware.

In support of this grassroots initiative, the Flyers will contribute Mylec hockey sticks to all program participants in an effort to keep kids “hooked on hockey.” Each Hooked On Hockey event will include an introduction of basic hockey fundamentals, scrimmages, skills competitions, Flyers and Phantoms inflatable interactive games, activity books for all participants and various fun activities. Flyers Ambassador of Hockey Bob “The Hound” Kelly will host most of the events as well as interact with the youth participants.

“This is a great opportunity to get hockey sticks into the hands of children and teach them the fundamentals of the game of hockey,” said Kelly. “It also enables us to get back to the grass roots of the sport.”

The Flyers Community Relations and Fan Development Departments will schedule and visit 25 to 30 additional locations throughout the Delaware Valley this year. The following is a schedule of upcoming Flyers’ Hooked on Hockey events (dates and times subject to change):

Wednesday, July 21
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Lionville YMCA
Exton, PA

Friday, July 23
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Flyers Skate Zone
Northeast Philadelphia, PA

Tuesday, August 10
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Avalon Recreation Department
Avalon, NJ

Wednesday, August 18
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tall Pines Day Camp
Williamstown, NJ

For more information, please contact the Flyers Fan Development Department at (215) 952-5999 or visit our Web site at www.philadelphiaflyers.com.