- The Utah Mammoth is hosting youth hockey camps statewide to help expand the sport's reach.
- Camps vary in cost and format, with some, like the one held in Riverdale Tuesday, allowing kids to keep gear they receive.
RIVERDALE, Weber County — The Utah Mammoth are making good on a goal to bring hockey to more kids across the state. They're holding a youth camp this week in Riverdale, Weber County; it's one of many the team is rotating in different cities year-round, teaching kids the sport.
The Utah Mammoth street hockey clinic on Tuesday in Riverdale is teaching kids hockey drills and skills, and kids got some real time playing against each other. The Riverdale camp is for third to sixth graders who pay to play.
Kids keep their hockey stick and jersey and get tickets to a game, but there are a lot of different versions of these Mammoth camps across the state – some are free, some are on the ice, some you even get to keep all the hockey pads and skates. A couple of kids told KSL-TV why they were excited to be there.
"Uh, because I want to be an NHL hockey player when I grow up," said Cohen Connelly, who attended the Mammoth street hockey clinic.
"I've never been to a hockey camp, but my brother does hockey, so I thought I'd try it out, see if it's fun," said Aiden Blackham, another attendee.
"Yeah, it was really fun. My mom told me about it, and it seemed fun," said OIiver Blessett.
"What's your favorite part about playing out there?" KSL-TV's Brian Carlson asked one camp-goer.
"Scoring goals," said Scott Williams.
"Oh, can you score?" Carlson replied.
"Yeah," Williams said.
You can find different camps like this almost every week from Logan to St. George. The goal is to bring the sport to as many kids as possible.
The next street hockey clinic is next week in Lindon. If you want to see when a camp is coming to your town, visit this link to the Utah Mammoth youth website.
