Polar Ice House Announces Stanley Cup Winning NHL Franchise, the Carolina Hurricanes, to Sponsor Youth Hockey Initiatives
RALEIGH, NC, July 24 Polar Ice House, the Triangle’s premier ice-skating facilities, announced today a youth hockey programming sponsorship with the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes. The sponsorship focuses on three types of programming offered by Polar Ice House, including the House Hockey League, First Goal and Learn to Play programs. These programs will offer players of all skill levels the opportunity to learn, train and grow in a competitive, organized environment at the Cary, Wake Forest and Garner Polar Ice House locations.
Starting in September, the Hurricanes will sponsor these Polar Ice House programs to grow the sport locally and encourage kids to lace up their skates and get out on the ice.
“We feel it’s critical to work with this age and skill group to grow the sport,” said Shane Willis, Youth and Amateur Coordinator for the Carolina Hurricanes. “By doing this and increasing our involvement, it will create a boost in excitement and engagement, and ultimately get more kids playing the game we all love.”
The Hurricanes sponsored House Hockey League kicks off its fall season on September 5, 2014, and is open to players aged 5 to 18. The League is dedicated to not only the player experience, but to developing and maintaining standards of player safety and growth potential. For more information, please visit http://www.phhl.org/.
For kids not ready for competitive play, Polar Ice House will offer a four-week First Goal program that provides an introduction to the sport. Upon completion, kids are able to progress to the 8-week Learn to Play Hockey program, where they learn the fundamentals of the sport before they progress to the house league. Polar Ice House launched their House Hockey League in 2013.
“We’re thrilled to partner with an organization that brings both the power of the NHL brand and the appeal of a Stanley Cup-winning franchise,” said Michael Baxter, Regional Director of Polar Ice House. “Hockey has made huge strides in the Triangle since the Hurricanes relocated in 1997 and we are excited to give kids a new option for competitive play.”
About the Polar Ice House
The three Triangle-area Polar Ice Houses are located in Garner, Cary and Wake Forest. They offer a wide variety of ice entertainment including public skating sessions, birthday parties, track out camps and learn to skate programs. Each location is equipped with the latest in hockey and skating equipment. For more information, please visit www.polaricehouse.com.
American Skating Entertainment Centers, LLC (“ASEC”) is the largest owner/operator of ice skating and indoor sports facilities in the United States. ASEC owns or operates 15 facilities in North Carolina, New York, Georgia, Texas, Arizona and California. For more information, please visit www.asecllc.com.
About the Carolina Hurricanes
The National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes have called North Carolina home since 1997. The team has claimed three division titles, two conference titles and the 2006 Stanley Cup championship in its 16 seasons, and has become part of the fabric of the Triangle area. The Hurricanes play their home games at Raleigh’s PNC Arena, and the team’s players, management and staff are dedicated to community outreach through the team’s Kids ‘N Community Foundation. For more information, please visit http://www.carolinahurricanes.com.