The New York Islanders are bringing their Learn to Play program back to Bethpage this August, and the setup is as practical as it is ambitious: get kids on the ice, give them the gear, and make hockey feel a whole lot more accessible for families taking the first step.
The eight-week clinic will run at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center and is built for children ages 5-9. It sits inside the Islanders’ Future Islanders Program, which is designed to teach first-time players the basics before they move on to local house leagues.
Oyster Bay Town Councilman Andrew Monteleone said the program is led by familiar faces from the organization. "This Future Islanders program, taught by former players and coaching staff from the New York Islanders organization, includes hands-on training skills and all necessary equipment in the early stages of learning hockey," he said in announcing its return.
That equipment piece matters. Youth hockey has always carried a steep price tag, and the program tries to knock down that wall by including a full set of gear for first-time participants. The $295 registration covers a jersey, stick, helmet, skates, gloves, shoulder pads, hockey pants, shin guards, and an equipment bag.
There’s also a little star power mixed in with the instruction. Former Islanders Arron Asham and Radek Martinek are set to make special appearances during the clinic, giving young players a chance to meet two names that still resonate with fans while they work on the basics.
Sessions start Aug. 5 and will be held Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center. The point isn’t to promise the next NHL standout. It’s to keep building the game’s base on Long Island, one beginner at a time.
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