WHERE:
Cyr Arena (Forest Park), 200 Trafton Road, Springfield
WHEN:
Sessions will begin Saturday, Nov. 25th.. Each session will be held from 3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Children wishing to participate are asked to arrive by 2:30 p.m. each week. The additional sessions will be held on Saturday December 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th.
WHO:
Members of the Springfield Police Department will be present for each session.
WHAT:
This year marks the 27th anniversary of the Stephen O’Brien Memorial Learn-to-Skate Program, and the 26th year it has taken place (the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). As part of the program, Springfield Police officers help teach children of all ages how to ice skate.
The program is free of charge, including skate rental for children, ice time and instruction. Children MUST to bring a properly fitted bicycle or hockey helmet and gloves to keep their hands warm.
The program is open to all children, not just Springfield residents.
Children are not required to participate in every session and may take part in as many sessions as they wish.
About Officer O’Brien
Springfield Police Officer Stephen O’Brien died of cancer in 2015 at the age of 56.
A native of Springfield, he worked for several years at the Hampden County Registry of Probate before joining the Springfield Police Department in 1986.
In addition to golfing and coaching baseball for many years in Westfield, Officer O’Brien was one of the first Springfield Police officers who took part in the “Learn-to-Skate” program at Cyr Arena that is now named in his honor.
Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood stated, “Officer O’Brien was not only a dedicated police officer but he also gave back to the community in many ways, including coaching and mentoring children in our area. I look forward to carrying on Officer O’Brien’s legacy of teaching children how to ice skate and having our officers out on the ice to connect with children to show they are positive role models for the youth in our community.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and I are very happy to see this great community program return for the holidays. Officer O’Brien was truly a wonderful and dedicated officer who gave back to our Springfield community in many ways. I am proud to join with our brave and dedicated men and women in Blue in supporting the return of this Learn to Skate event to continue to honor the memory of Officer Stephen O’Brien and his legacy.”
