Flyers alumni and Gritty to visit Hillside Elementary in Hainesport

On August 13th at 10 a.m and 11 a.m. at Hillside Elementary, Flyers alumni accompanied by their beloved mascot will visit to celebrate the Flyers Hooked on Hockey program. The alumni will lead free ball hockey clinics for the elementary campus, as well as equipment, drills, and games.

Each participating camp will receive a full set of ball hockey equipment to keep games going season-long. Campers will also receive information on how to register for the Flyers Rookie Kids Club and Flyers Learn to Play program, plus a special ticket offer for a Flyers home game during the 2026–2027 season.

Gritty — a beloved figure across the Delaware Valley since his 2018 debut — will appear at each location, greeting campers between clinic sessions. The Flyers will also bring inflatables, including a “shoot on goal” challenge.

“Getting kids into sports early is about so much more than the game itself,” said Bryan Ford, Association Sports Director at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. “When a child picks up a stick, they’re building confidence, teamwork, and healthy habits that last a lifetime. We’re incredibly grateful to the Philadelphia Flyers for sharing their time, their alumni, and yes, even Gritty, to give our campers a first taste of a sport they might fall in love with,” Ford said in a press release.

The clinics are open to campers at four Greater Philadelphia YMCA camp sites on the following dates. Gritty is expected to come at the end of the first clinic and stay into the start of the second:

Temple Ambler — Monday, July 27 (10 a.m. & 11 a.m.)

Address: 580 Meetinghouse Rd, Ambler, PA

Northeast — Tuesday, July 28 (10 a.m. & 11 a.m.)

Address: 11088 Knights Rd, Philadelphia, PA

Spring Valley — Tuesday, August 11 (12 p.m. & 1 p.m.)

Address: 19 W. Linfield-Trappe Rd, Royersford, PA

Hillside Elementary — Thursday, August 13 (10 a.m. & 11 a.m.)

Address: 1370 Hainesport – Mount Laurel Rd, Mt. Laurel, NJ

Families of participating campers are encouraged to wear their Flyers gear.

For more information about Greater Philadelphia YMCA summer camps and programs, visit philaymca.org or call 215-963-3700.

Kaitlin Swift is a college student who is interning for the Courier-Post this summer. She may be reached at kswift@gannettnj.com.  

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Flyers alumni and Gritty to visit Hillside Elementary in Hainesport