Columbus Blue Jackets

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    Learn to Play

Learn to Play is a program that provides a unique opportunity for families to join the hockey community and for participants to develop fundamental skills to help them succeed both on and off the ice. Created jointly by the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL). Learn to Play’s goal is to inspire youth and welcome more families into the hockey community.

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    Open Registrations

Rink & Address Locations

OhioHealth Chiller North
8144 Highfield Drive, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
OhioHealth Chiller Easton
3600 Chiller Lane, Columbus, Ohio 43219
OhioHealth Chiller Dublin
7001 Dublin Park Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43016
Chiller Ice Works
401 E. Wilson Bridge Rd, Worthington, Ohio 43085
OhioHealth Ice Haus
200 W. Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, Ohio 43215
NTPRD Chiller Springfield
301 E. Main Street, Springfield, Ohio 45504
Bird Ice Arena – Ohio University
102 Oxbow Trail, Athens, Ohio 45701
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    Blue Jackets News & More

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    Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the Blue Jackets!

Learn to Play is a program that provides a unique opportunity for families to join the hockey community and for participants to develop fundamental skills to help them succeed both on and off the ice. Created jointly by the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL). Learn to Play’s goal is to inspire youth and welcome more families into the hockey community.  

The value of learning to play hockey goes beyond skating and puck-handling skills. Its’ greatest value is the role it plays in the development of character and life skills such as RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT, INTEGRITY, PERSEVERANCE and TEAMWORK. Learn to Play is the start of a new experience, extending further than the ice. It’s about falling down and getting up, making new friends from teammates and most of all creating fun memories that’ll last a lifetime. 

 Learn to Play aims to be the gold standard for youth hockey programs by providing first-time participants free head-to-toe equipment, age-appropriate on-ice instruction, and certified coaching in a fun and safe atmosphere. 

The program is offered to new, first-time participants (boys and girls) between the ages of 4 and 10. First-time participants are defined as those who have not previously been registered in a USA Hockey sanctioned youth hockey program (i.e. an organized league/playing on a team). 

No. Learn to Play Hockey 1 will teach and develop beginner skating skills for your child.

The program fee for each 8-week session is $200 and all participants will receive: 

  • Family-friendly schedule with 8 weeks of 45-minute classes held on consecutive days of the week. 
  • Professional age-appropriate skating and hockey instruction. 
  • Special appearances by Blue Jackets Alumni and Stinger. 
  • One (1) free ticket to a 2021-22 regular season Blue Jackets home game. 
  • CBJ giveaways and more! 

Additionally, a complete set of new hockey equipment (yours to keep!) is included with your child’s initial enrollment, $600 value. Participants may repeat the program at the same fee but will not receive equipment. 

Learn to Play is offered in 8-week sessions year-round with both weeknight and weekend classes held on consecutive days of the week. Below is a typical schedule, subject to change.  

August session: August – October 

October session: October – December 

January session: January – March 

March session: March – May 

May session: May - July 

To get on the mailing list to be notified of when registration opens, click here.  

Creating a safe environment for families to develop a love for hockey is integral to the Learn to Play program and the first step in doing so is providing all participants with properly fitted head-to-toe equipment with first-time enrollment, $600 value. With your child's initial enrollment they will receive a new complete set of equipment, which includes: a helmet with cage, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey pants, shin guards, hockey skates, athletic supporter, hockey stick, jersey, socks, skate guards and an equipment bag. 

Once you've registered your child, equipment ordering instructions will be included in your confirmation email. Equipment fitting will be done online only. Equipment will be shipped to each participant to the address provided. Please allow 7-10 days to receive equipment.  

 

NOTE: If you sign up for your session of Learn to Play less than one-week prior to the start date then we cannot guarantee you will receive your equipment before the first class. 

Yes. Learn to Play is open to both girls and boys between the ages of 4 and 10.  

Yes, and we encourage you to! Your child may repeat the program until one of the following occurs. 1) Your child ages out of the program. 2) Your child is too advanced for the program pending an evaluation from an instructor. 

No. Equipment is only included with your initial enrollment in the program. 

Next step instructions are included in your confirmation email. If you did not receive your confirmation email please check your spam folder. If you are still unable to locate it, email learntoplay@bluejackets.com  

Don’t wait to try on your child’s equipment as soon as it arrives to make sure it fits. Skates come unsharpened and will need to be taken to an OhioHealth Chiller location for sharpening. DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOUR FIRST CLASS TO GET YOUR SKATES SHARPENED.    

 

Watch this video to learn how to put on your child’s equipment  

 

We strongly recommend that you attend one of the many public skating sessions at the OhioHealth Chiller rinks to test your child’s equipment out. Go to https://thechiller.com/public-skating/ for times, locations and pricing. 

The equipment and equipment fitting is fulfilled by a third party company, Pure Hockey. Any equipment issues and exchanges will be handled with them directly at no charge. Should you need to exchange any equipment, please refer to the “order confirmation” email you received from Pure Hockey. If you don’t have this email please check your spam folder. If you can’t find it please email them at learntoplay@purehockey.com  

 

NOTE: If wearing a hockey helmet is new to your child, we recommended wearing it around the house while watching tv, playing video games, or other activities to help break it in. The padding is quite stiff and can irritate their head at first but should feel better after a few weeks. 

Please arrive 20-30 minutes early to check in, familiarize yourself with the facility and finish dressing your player. Please allow extra for your first class.  

The front desk will be able to direct you to the appropriate class check in location. Please check in each week. 

Yes. Locker rooms are available at each rinkhowever, we recommend getting your child dressed in the majority of their equipment at home then completing the process at the rink, such as their helmet and skates. 

We are sorry to hear that! If you are able to give notice prior to completing your equipment order you are able to cancel your registration, and our staff will work towards processing your refund. If you have already received your player’s equipment no refunds will be granted. Please e-mail kfogt@thechiller.com with any cancellation notices 

Please email your program manager directly or reply to the weekly reminder email you receive f or each class and let them know you are unable to attend. 

In order to preserve the appropriate student to instructor ratio no make-ups during regularly scheduled classes are permitted. 

You will be provided with an overview of next step programs prior to completing the Learn to Play Hockey 3 class.