(PHILADELPHIA, PA – January 13, 2012) – The fourth season of the Snider Hockey League (SHL) is set to begin this Saturday, January 14th. The onset of this season comes with the excitement of breaking in the newly renovated city rinks.

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, completely renovated and enclosed three of the city-owned public skating rinks; Laura Sims Skate House at Cobbs Creek Park, Simons Ice Rink, and Scanlon Ice Rink. These facilities are now fully operational on a year-round basis.

The Snider Hockey League is comprised of 6 Junior Division teams and 6 Senior Division teams. The Junior Division is made up of players between the ages of 8 –11, and the Senior Division features players from 12 – 15 years old. Not all of the teams are in action this weekend, but it won’t be long before all SHL teams hit the ice as the 2012 season gets underway.

The Junior Division will begin play on Saturday morning with the Rizzo Junior Troopers traveling to Simons to play the Junior Sonics at 10:00 AM. In West Philadelphia, the Cobbs Creek Junior Coyotes will host the Tarken Junior Tigerhawks at 12:45 PM.

In the Senior Division of the SHL, the Simons Sonics will host the Rizzo Troopers at 11:30 AM and the Cobbs Creek Coyotes will host the Pennsauken Knights at 1:45 PM. Each SHL game is comprised of three 15 minute periods with a running clock.

In addition to the Junior and Senior Divisions in the SHL, Snider Hockey players will also compete in the Snider Hockey High School League, which will begin play in the upcoming weeks.

Be sure to check out Snider Hockey at your local rink. Admission to all games is free and all fans are welcome to attend Snider Hockey City League games. Directions to all Snider Hockey rinks can be found under the Schedule section on www.esyhf.org.

The mission of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation is to use the sport of hockey to help educate young people to succeed in the game of life. The program incorporates on-ice and off-ice activities, stressing citizenship, academics, and life skills. ESYHF services are targeted to boys and girls who otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn to skate or to play ice hockey. The Foundation provides equipment, ice time, and experienced coaching at no cost.

Friday, January 13, 2012