A photo from a 'Try Hockey For Free' event at the Plymouth Cultural Center (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)

Red Wings, CCM, Perani’s team up for new “Little Wings” program to grow game at 8U level

A photo from a 'Try Hockey For Free' event at the Plymouth Cultural Center (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)
A photo from a ‘Try Hockey For Free’ event at the Plymouth Cultural Center (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)

 

By @MichaelCaples –

The Detroit Red Wings, CCM Hockey and Perani’s Hockey World are all teaming up for a new program called “Little Wings” that will help grow the sport of hockey at the 8-and-under age group.

The “Little Wings” program, designed to offer 240 new players a four-to-six week ‘introduction to hockey’ experience for kids ages 5 through 8, will officially begin in January 2015.

“We’re extremely excited about getting more kids involved with hockey and making sure they’re doing it the proper way and at an affordable cost for everybody,” said Red Wings youth hockey manager Phil Pierce. “One of the things we’ve noticed through USA Hockey studies is that getting kids involved at the 8U level will keep them in hockey longer, versus getting them in at a later age.”

Through the program, players will be outfitted from head-to-toe with high-end CCM Hockey equipment, sized properly during demo days at Perani’s Hockey World in Livonia. Then, the players will have four on-ice sessions with coaching support from MAHA and USA Hockey.

The four rinks below will be the first participating in the new program; each rink will be able to accommodate 60 new players.

Farmington Hills Ice Arena
35500 8 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48335
January 23, 2015 at 5:45 PM
February 1, 2015 at 1:00 PM
February 6, 2015  at 5:45 PM
February 15, 2015  at 1:00 PM

Plymouth Cultural Center
525 Farmer Street, Plymouth Township, MI 48170
January 3, 2015 – Times to follow.
January 10, 2015
January 17, 2015
January 24, 2015

St. Clair Shores Civic Arena
20000 Stephens Street, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080
February 14, 2015 at 11:00 AM
March 8, 2015 at 5:30 PM
March 15, 2015 at 5:00 PM
Fourth day and time to follow.

Kennedy Recreation Center
3101 West Road, Trenton MI 48183
January 17, 2015 at 4:00 PM
January 24, 2015 at 4:00 PM
January 31, 2015 at 4:00 PM
February 7, 2015 at 3:00 PM

Here are some images of the Red Wings-specific CCM gear the players will get to wear:

Photo from RedWings.NHL.com
Photo from RedWings.NHL.com