GLENVILLE, N.Y. — Several nights a week, members of the Schenectady Youth Hockey Association spend many hours on the ice.

It's a game that teaches plenty of lessons that go beyond the ice and into the classroom.

For 13-year-old Robby Carr, those lessons include science, technology, engineering, and math. He's learning it all through it program called Future Goals-Hockey Scholar.

Created by the NHL and their players' association, it teaches athletes STEM education using hockey concepts through an online course. 

There are 12 lessons, six in math and six in science. It takes about three hours to complete, and the program is free.

"It's connecting the dots for these kids regarding STEM and hockey," said Nancy Carr, Robby's mother.

She learned about the program from a teacher friend earlier this year.

Nancy says after doing some research, she introduced the lessons to the Schenectady Youth Hockey Association. The program was immediately approved by the board. 

"It was really exciting that we would be the first youth hockey association offering this online STEM training to its players," Nancy Carr said.

Some of the STEM topics that can be used in hockey include velocity and kinetic energy for speed, dynamics of the ice surface and the laws of reflection for puck movement.

"I can get around a defender more easily now, now that I know when to hit the puck and where to hit the puck," said Connor Desjardin, a player with the Schenectady Youth Hockey Association.

Right now, about 50 players in the association that have started or completed the program. Coaches and parents hope more players will enroll in the future.

"The vast majority of these kids are going to grow up to do something other than play hockey," said John Wilber, the Schenectady Youth Hockey Association president. "So if we can help them at this point along in their development to benefit them in the future, then we've done our job."