Don Johnson Drives Youth Hockey Growth in Greensboro
Don Johnson took his children skating when they were young, and then somebody talked his son into playing hockey starting at age 5.
That decision led to Johnson getting involved and coaching with the local association in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“I like to see the kids have a lot of fun playing,” Johnson said. “It’s a sport that’s not easy to get into.
“Seeing them smiling, listening to them tell stories. I just have lots of fun.”
Johnson, who runs the Learn to Play program with another coach, was on the board of the Greensboro Youth Hockey Association for a dozen years.
The association plans to hold the same activities it has for many years on Try Hockey For Free Day, presented by Discover, on Oct. 3 at Greensboro Ice House. Johnson has helped run Greensboro’s Try Hockey For Free events the past five or six years.
“Sort of a cheap way to get in so you can find out if you really like it or not,” Johnson said.
Though the standard age range for the event is 4-9, Greensboro opens the event up to older kids as well. They’ll run an on-ice session for an hour with coaches and kids of various skating abilities. Some kids know how to skate, while others have never put skates on before.
The event also features hockey stations for passing and shooting. The staff structures and adjusts the event based on the number of coaches in attendance and the kids’ skating abilities.
Johnson has seen the excitement of kids come through the Try Hockey For Free events and Learn to Play program. Some of those kids have gone on to continue with the sport, playing 18U hockey or getting into college and still enjoying hockey, Johnson said.
Try Hockey For Free events can help ease uncertainty about the sport, both for the kids who are learning the sport and for the parents who brought their kid to the event.
“We incorporated the skating program to pull kids in that haven’t skated to make sure we have certified coaches that we hire to run that part of the program,” Johnson said. “Because skating is the most important.”
Greensboro had a season kick-off party the weekend of Aug. 29 at Greensboro Ice House as its 8U program prepared to start its season. The event included a clinic with the team and all the new coaches for the upcoming season.
Organized hockey in Greensboro has “blown up” in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson said. Over the past five years or so, Greensboro has filled its Learn to Play program with anywhere from 55 to 65 kids participating. They also average about 45 kids for each Try Hockey For Free event.
“We’ve ended up encompassing a Learn to Skate program in our Learn to Play because we have kids that are so young,” Johnson said. “We try to make it as easy to get access into the program without having to spend a bunch of money to those not sure if they’re going to like it or not.”
During his 12 years on the board, Johnson helped hockey grow for kids in the area. Though he’s stepped back from his role on the board, he’s still involved because he enjoys seeing the kids play hockey.
“I enjoy the kids and the families having the excitement of coming to play and learning to find a new sport that is not very popular in our area as baseball and soccer and football,” he said.
“If your kid wants to play, bring them. We’ll make sure they get in. We’ll make sure they learn to skate and be prepared to play hockey. In my opinion, it’s one of the most fun sports around.”
To find a Try Hockey For Free event near you, click HERE
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
