The Florida Panthers are expanding their community outreach with a brand‑new street hockey league designed for children between eight and fourteen years old.
The initiative, anchored at Plantation Central Park in Florida, will run for thirteen weeks, stretching from September through December, and promises a blend of skill development, friendly competition, and family‑focused fun.
Divisions and Schedules
The league is split into two age‑specific divisions. The U11 bracket, for eight‑ to eleven‑year‑olds, features four‑on‑four games with goaltenders on Tuesday evenings, while the U14 division, for twelve‑ to fourteen‑year‑olds, plays full‑rink five‑on‑five matches on Thursday nights.
Participants can expect a structured yet flexible environment, with practices and games scheduled to accommodate busy family calendars while still providing ample ice‑time for skill refinement.
Safety is a priority; every player must be equipped with a stick, helmet, gloves and shin guards, while elbow pads are encouraged but not mandatory. All of these items are available for purchase directly through the Panthers’ official channels, simplifying the gear‑acquisition process for families.
Coaching the league are volunteers who receive a discount on their own children’s registration fees, an incentive that helps attract experienced and enthusiastic mentors from the community.
Registration offers flexibility: youngsters may sign up individually, in which case they will be placed on a team at random, or they may bring up to two friends and request to stay together on the same squad, fostering camaraderie from the outset.
With open enrollment for all skill levels, the program aims to nurture a love for the sport while reinforcing teamwork, discipline, and healthy activity among the region’s youth.