WIMAUMA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning is working in communities across the Bay area to ensure the next generation of hockey stars is more diverse.
- Team donating 100,000 hockey sticks to more than 325 schools
- Goal to introduce sports in communities where hockey not a staple
- Team currently sponsoring 6 street hockey leagues
The team is on track to donate 100,000 hockey sticks to more than 325 of schools over a five-year period. 80,000 have already distributed.
The goal is to introduce the sport to communities where hockey isn't a staple like soccer, basketball or baseball. RCMA Leadership Academy, a mostly Hispanic charter school in Wimauma, was one of the early beneficiaries of the Lightning's efforts.
The newly-formed team at the school won a championship in their first year.
“They just told us to pick up a stick and kind of like freestyle, and I loved it,” said student Armando Hernandez. “I loved playing hockey, so ever since I’ve been practicing."
Josh Dreith, manager of street and youth hockey for the Lightning, said he wasn’t surprised at RCMA’s success.
“At any level, anyone can play the game of hockey,” Dreith said. “We’ve noticed that and that’s the most special part of it.”
Currently, the Lightning is sponsoring six street hockey leagues. Plans are in the works to sponsor a girl’s league.