Pelham Parks & Recreation is making waves in the youth sports community by expanding NHL Street into a second season. This innovative and accessible street hockey program is designed to bring the excitement of hockey to a broader audience. The introduction of NHL Street is a testament to Pelham Parks & Recreation's commitment to offering innovative programs that cater to the evolving interests of the community.
Following the success of its first year, big plans are in place to expand the program and make it a staple in Pelham's youth sports calendar. Construction will begin soon on an NHL Street court as a part of an expansion project at City Park. The Pelham City Council recently approved three contracts for various phases of the project, including constructing three NHL Street courts and one full-length soccer court directly across from the city's Recreation Center.
"We're excited to see how this program grows," said Recreation Coordinator Jared Thornton. "Our goal is to give every child in Pelham and Shelby County a chance to play, learn, and fall in love with the game of hockey—whether on ice or the street."
The addition of NHL Street is particularly exciting given Pelham's strong hockey culture, fueled by the presence of the Birmingham Bulls, the City's professional ice hockey team. While Pelham is already home to a thriving youth ice hockey scene at its ice arena, Thornton saw an opportunity to introduce a more accessible version of the sport that eliminates the barriers of ice time, costly equipment, and skating skills.
"This program gives kids who love hockey a chance to play in a more casual and accessible environment," said Thornton. "Not every child has the opportunity to play ice hockey, but NHL Street allows them to experience the thrill of the game in a way that is affordable and easy to learn."
Pelham's NHL Street program began with a four-week 'Learn to Play' series designed to introduce participants to the fundamentals of the sport, including proper stick handling, puck control, and game strategies. The initiative was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, leading to an eight-week summer league where young athletes got to put their skills to the test in an organized, competitive format. Because of the partnership with the Birmingham Bulls, young participants got a rare chance to learn from professionals. Bulls players not only helped teach skills at the 'Learn to Play' sessions but also provided game officials and hands-on instruction.
"The Bulls' involvement added an entirely new level of excitement," Thornton added. "For kids to be able to meet and learn from professional players is something you don't see every day, and it's helped generate more interest in hockey here in Pelham."
The program won Pelham Parks & Recreation and Recreation Coordinator Jared Thornton Innovative Program of the Year in 2024 from the Alabama Recreation & Parks Association. You can read more about that and other ARPA awards won by the talented staff dedicated to providing excellence in recreation in this recent news article.
As one of the few cities in the region to offer NHL Street and one of the only cities in Alabama to construct a dedicated NHL Street court, Pelham is leading the charge in growing the sport of hockey beyond the ice. With the backing of the Birmingham Bulls and the dedication of the Parks & Recreation team, NHL Street is set to become a major success—one that will inspire a new generation of hockey players in Alabama.
Online Registration for the NHL Street Summer League will open on March 31, 2025, and close on June 11, 2025. Participants must be between the ages of 6-12 on August 31, 2025. Practices and games will be played in-house at Pelham Parks & Recreation during the week. Our summer league will play twice per week. Participants will play in their respective age divisions.
For more information, email Jared Thornton.
Dates: Late June to Early August
Time: TBA
Location: Pelham Parks and Recreation
Cost: $70
Space is limited!