Even though the first day of Spring is Sunday, hundreds of kids gathered to practice a winter sport Saturday morning.
The Albany County Recreation Bureau program allows kids ages 5 to 9 to learn how to ice skate and play hockey for completely free. Albany County Executive Dan McCoy even joined the kids out on the skating rink. The six-week program is being held at the Albany County Hockey Facility.
Siena College hockey players and Shaker Colonie players volunteered to teach the kids the basics of skating and playing hockey.
"There's a lot of people here who perceivably wouldn't have tried this, either skating ro playing hockey, if it wasn't for the county doing this so it's really exciting all the way around," said Jeff Fraser, Siena College men's hockey head coach.
"Anytime we can open it up to kids for free or little cost I think that's awesome. I know I personally want to share the game I love," said Dave Hunter, junior on Siena College men's hockey team.
The Learn to Skate - Learn to Play Hockey program is one of the many programs hosted by the county for local kids in the community to learn new things.