Arizona Coyotes to bring pro hockey experience to Valley kids
Dec 31, 2015, 5:45 AM
Arizona Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23), of Sweden, and Mikkel Boedker (89), of Denmark, celebrate with teammate Antoine Vermette, center, after Vermette's third-period power-play goal as Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick watches during an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Kings defeated the Coyotes 4-3 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
The Arizona Coyotes hope to replicate a National Hockey League experience for local kids.
It’s part of the team’s youth mobile tour, which kicks off outside Gila River Arena in Glendale before the Coyotes’ New Year’s eve contest with the Winnipeg Jets.
Hockey fans 18 and under can see a Coyotes locker room display and take a personality quiz to match them with their favorite players. Kids can also take part in an interactive NHL draft experience and get their very own hockey card.
“[Kids will] be able to get their picture taken,” said Amy Dimond, senior director of marketing with the Arizona Coyotes. “We’ll drop it into what looks like an official NHL draft card and we’ll print that out right there.”
Kids can also share their draft card on social media. In addition, they can take part in a virtual slapshot experience, allowing them to take a shot on goal against an NHL goalie. Dimond said they reach 40,000 kids a year through street hockey clinics and partnerships with local rinks. Through the youth mobile tour, they hope to grow the game even more.
“We really wanted to be able to bring the game to all those other kids who may not have had an opportunity to be exposed to hockey,” Dimond said.
The youth mobile tour will visit various locations in the Valley through May. See when the tour will come to your neighborhood.
