BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton was packed with kids and a few hockey pros for an annual clinic for SCORE Boston Hockey.
SCORE Boston is a nonprofit organization that gives younger kids the chance to play hockey who may not have the opportunity. The nonprofit is a long-time partner with the Boston Bruins and affiliate of the NHL’s ‘Hockey is for Everyone’ initiative.
Kids were given the chance to lace up their skates and take the ice with some pros in order to better their skills. The program is now in its 30th year, and SCORE Boston President Wendell Taylor is happy to make hockey more accessible and give back to the community.
“For us, the opportunity to provide the kids everything they need to get on the ice, takes away the main barrier from [playing] hockey,” said Taylor. “Which is number one, equipment, and number two, enough hours to get on the ice and learn to play.”
Bruins defender and Haverhill native Jordan Harris was one of the stars there to share some skills with the younger skaters. Harris said he was all too familiar with some of the issues Taylor spoke about.
“The car rides, how expensive the equipment is, and the hand-me-downs. I understand it, especially being from Mass., to be able to build that here at home is really special,” said Harris. “For me, being here and my background, I think that’s important for kids to see players that maybe look like them and have similar backgrounds.”
Boston Fleet defender Olivia Zafuto was also there to spread some encouragement to a slightly different audience.
“We want to grow our game to girls and boys, but obviously it’s always special to meet young girls who can dream of playing in our league someday,” said Zafuto. “We’re really doing it for them.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.