Learn from former Toronto Maple Leaf at free youth hockey program in Brampton

Kids and teens can get their sticks on the ice and learn tips from a former Toronto Maple Leaf with the launch of free youth hockey training camps in Brampton.

The city’s new Youth Hockey Development Program officially starts this Friday where youth between ages four and 15 can get coaching to develop foundational hockey skills like skating, passing, shooting and playing on a team.

Brampton native and former member of the Toronto Maple Leafs Phil Oreskovic has partnered with the city for the program, giving kids “the chance to learn the fundamentals of the game through entry-level instruction at their local outdoor ice rink.”

Oreskovic was drafted by the Leafs in 2005 and played with both the Brampton Battalion and the Owen Sound Attack in the the Ontario Hockey League.

The 50-minute development sessions are running at rinks across the city including the Gore Meadows Outdoor Rink, with a special celebration on Friday featuring food trucks, information booths, activities and more.

“Youth sports play a vital role in encouraging physical activity, teamwork and personal growth, ensuring a brighter, healthier future for the next generation and a community that values wellness and lifelong healthy habits,” the city says in a release.

Youth are invited to drop into an upcoming Youth Hockey Development session.

Programs are weather permitting, and participants are encouraged to check the outdoor rink status before visiting.

Guests are required to bring their own equipment including skates, a CSA-approved helmet with a face mask, shin pads, a hockey stick and hockey gloves.

The development sessions start on Friday and run for the rest of the winter season, weather permitting.

The City is also currently exploring opportunities to offer this program year-round by running sessions at indoor rinks once the outdoor ones close, a spokesperson confirmed to INsauga.com.

For a full list of time slots and more information about Brampton’s new Youth Hockey Development Program click here.