Panthers host Learn to Play clinic at All-Star Weekend

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- Camden Shinbur was all smiles behind his caged helmet while skating around the Florida Panthers IceDen rink Thursday.

The 8-year-old from Hagerstown, Maryland, was among 20 players representing 11 NHL teams who participated in a Learn to Play clinic at the Panthers' practice facility before Tanisha Saxena practiced going top shelf at the beach and tried it at the Learn to Play clinic Friday as part of 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend.

"I've had a lot of fun with the instructors," said Shinbur, who's been playing hockey for six months. "They've tried to entertain us, and I think they succeeded."

Former NHL players Peter Worrell, Keith Yandle, the Panthers' Learn to Play staff and some special guests also provided instruction in skating, stick-handling and goaltending to eager students at different stations on the ice.

The session had an All-Star feel with the young players wearing the colors of the Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals. Players representing the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders had travel delays.

"It's just a fun way to celebrate the kids as we are celebrating the All-Stars," said Bryan Smolinski, the NHL Regional Director of Youth Hockey and Industry Growth. "They're learning teamwork, they're learning discipline, how to shoot, how to skate. We're happy to have them."

Created jointly be the NHL and the NHL Players' Association, Learn to Play provides a unique opportunity for families to join the hockey community and for participants to develop fundamental skills to help them succeed on and off the ice.

Some players at the event were either selected by NHL Learn to Play programs or won contests after writing essays about what hockey means to them.

Saxena, who was selected by the New Jersey Devils, was so excited about participating in the Learn to Play that she was practicing on the beach with her stick Thursday, her parents said. She learned she was going to Florida from a surprise video from Devils center Jack Hughes.

"It means a lot to me because you get to meet new people, and have fun and make new relationships," Saxena said.

Shinbur and Gemma Horohoe-Rekas were rocking red Capitals practice jerseys, overjoyed they were selected to come to Florida by the team.

"It feels awesome," said Horohoe-Rekas, an Ashland, Virginia, resident who began playing hockey in October. "I've never done anything like this before."

She said the highlight of her day was taking a picture with Hilary Knight, who helped the United States win the gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and the IIHF Women's World Championship eight times.

Knight assisted in the Learn to Play session with U.S. Olympic teammate Alex Carpenter, and Rebecca Johnston and Emily Clark, members of the Canadian women's team that won the gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

"To have Emily, Rebecca, Alex and I out there is awesome," Knight said. "We're the people they're going to see on TV and [later] to sign up to play hockey, to learn how skate and then hopefully maybe to aspire to take that further."

Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour stopped by and gave encouragement to the young players.

"I was always a huge NHL fan," Montour said. "Anytime you get a chance to see players you're kind of in awe, so this is pretty cool to do."

Members of the on-ice officiating crew for the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game were also on hand to lend support, and possibly do some scouting for future referees and linesmen.

"These ones out here, you never know," linesman Brad Kovachik said. "Maybe if their NHL careers don't pan out, they can be officials."

Photos: Jessie Thompson, Washington Capitals, Andrew Maclean, New Jersey Devils