In conjunction with the City of Ottawa, I Love to Play Hockey is designed for children ages 10 to 15 years and provides them with skates, a hockey helmet, hockey gloves, hockey stick, a jersey and a series of lessons held on outdoor rinks, followed by a fun wrap-up event at Canadian Tire Centre. This hockey program builds on the existing I Love to Skate program, which equips children ages 6 to 12 with skates and skating lessons.

I Love to Play Hockey is in memory of Eric Leighton, 18, an avid hockey player who also raised money to help less fortunate children play sports. Eric died on May 26, 2011 as a result of injuries from an explosion in an automotive shop class at Mother Teresa Catholic High School. Through the I Love to Play Hockey program, Eric's memory lives on in the children and youth who are now playing the sport.

The Ottawa Senators and Canadian Tire Jumpstart are proud to support this program.

For more information, please contact the City of Ottawa at iloveto@ottawa.ca.