Philadelphia Flyers and Greater Philadelphia YMCA team up to get the sticks in hand

The Greater Philadelphia YMCA and the Philadelphia Flyers brought the Flyers Hooked on Hockey program to Hillside Elementary School in Mount Laurel earlier this summer with help from a special guest – team mascot Gritty.

“Getting kids into sports early is about so much more than the game itself,” said Bryan Ford, Association Sports Director at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. “When a child picks up a stick, they’re building confidence, teamwork and healthy habits that last a lifetime. We’re incredibly grateful to the Philadelphia Flyers for sharing their time, their alumni, and yes, even Gritty, to give our campers a first taste of a sport they might fall in love with.”

Throughout the summer elementary-aged students met with Flyers Alumni and staff at four Greater Philadelphia YMCA camp sites to engage in drills and games. Each participating camp received a full set of ball hockey equipment to keep the game going all season long. Campers received information on how to register for the Flyers Rookie Kids Club and Flyers Learn to Play program, as well as a special ticket offer for a Flyers home game during the 2026-2027 season, which begins on Sept. 30.

“The kids learned how to play hockey, they learned from some Flyers Alumni and had a great time with Gritty as well – Gritty, of course, created some chaos as always – but it was great,” Ford said on Aug. 13. “Not only did they learn how to stickhandle (puck/ball control), pass and shoot, but they always scrimmaged as well so they were able to play some hockey.”

The Flyers Hooked on Hockey program, led by Flyers Alumni and the Flyers Community Relations team, brings the fundamentals of the game to campers across the Philadelphia tri-state area, reinforcing the YMCA’s mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

“It’s a ton of fun and it’s a great opportunity to expose kids to a sport that maybe not everyone plays,” Ford said. “Hockey is not always a sport that everyone has access to, so for the Flyers to come out and teach kids a sport that maybe they have not played before, and to leave the sticks behind, it’s been a great opportunity to expose the sport. As soon as Gritty came out, everyone flocked right to him and to see the joy on the kid’s faces when they scored a goal, when they saw Gritty… It was very infectious.”

Jason Williams, senior manager of community relations and programs for the Flyers, works to book and plan Hooked on Hockey with local camps across the Philadelphia tri-state area. It’s all about seeing the kids have hockey sticks in hand and having fun, he shared, as well as starting to learn and love the game.

“This is an opportunity for kids to become fans of not only hockey, but also the Flyers,” he said. “It’ll pique an interest in them to continue to move forward and understand and play the game of hockey, learn more and become fans and continue that fandom through the rest of their lives. This is an opportunity for kids to learn basic skills of hockey from former NHL players, while also having fun with Gritty. The biggest hope and takeaway that we want kids to have from this is growing the game, being able to play and having access to the game at a lower barrier… This is an opportunity for them to get involved, be active, be healthy, have fun and be in a safe environment.”