Students at Glasgow Elementary School received an exciting introduction to the sport of hockey through the Street Blues program, an initiative by the St. Louis Blues designed to teach the fundamentals of the game to children in grades 1-8.
The Street Blues program brings a street hockey experience directly to schools, focusing on basic skills such as passing, shooting and teamwork. The Street Team works with students during physical education classes, while also providing P.E. teachers with a curriculum they can continue to use throughout the school year.
The program included a visit from Louie, the St. Louis Blues’ mascot.
“95% of our students have never played hockey before,” said Jason Holzum, Glasgow’s P.E. teacher. “I tell our students, ‘If you have never played hockey, you don't know if you like it or if you'll be any good at it. Just try it out! You may enjoy it!”
From the looks of things, the Glasgow Elementary scholars had a blast learning the fundamentals of street hockey. The Glasgow Elementary gymnasium morphed into the Enterprise Center. They zipped across the gym in their St. Louis Blues street hockey jerseys as they scrambled to score goals, make passes and blow past Louie.
At the conclusion of the program, each student received a “Hockey at Home” pamphlet outlining the next steps for getting on the ice. The information also included tips on how to continue to develop their hockey skills.
Glasgow Elementary was allowed to keep the hockey equipment used in the program, including hockey sticks, street hockey balls and nets. This will help to remove barriers for students interested in learning more about the sport.
Through this partnership, Glasgow Elementary students are not only having fun but also learning valuable lessons in teamwork, coordination and perseverance—skills that extend well beyond the rink.