'The Hound' Gets Roslyn Hooked on Hockey

Elementary School students had something of a hockey training camp Wednesday after school — and they got some guidance from a professional. 

Bob “The Hound” Kelly, a former left wing for the Philadelphia Flyers, ran the one-day clinic and many fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students jumped at the chance to learn from one of the last Flyers to hold Lord Stanley’s Cup.

The program is called “Hooked on Hockey,” and Kelly is the Ambassador of Flyers Hockey.

Kelly said he’s been working for the Flyers in this capacity for the last seven years. 

“World B. Free was doing [a similar role] for the Sixers, so the Flyers wanted a similar presence — someone out there in the community,” Kelly said after the clinic. “I interviewed, and here I am.”

On his time with the Flyers, Kelly, originally from Ontario, said, “It was awesome. When you’re a kid growing up, you want to play. The world isn’t linked the way it is today so there were only the original six teams, and when I broke in, there were only 12, so … we didn’t know where Philadelphia was, but we found it.”

Kelly taught the students the fundamentals of stick handling, passing and shooting — he had the students attempt to score on him using snap shots, slap shots, wrist shots and backhand shots.

Almost all of the students were unsuccessful.

“They’ve got to work for it!” Kelly said with a laugh. “There’re no freebies today … They’re good kids.”

PTO leader Suzanne Netter organized the event. She said she heard about the “Hooked on Hockey” program and then brought the idea to the PTO board.

“They thought it was fantastic,” she said, adding that the Flyers organization was very accommodating. “I should be wearing my Flyers jersey, but I left it in the car.”

[It’s OK. She was rocking a black Flyers T-shirt.]

Roslyn Sixth Grade Teacher Matt Schaffer was in the center of things as well. Schaffer said he is heading up a hockey club for the school’s fifth and sixth graders, and said the clinic serves as a perfect training camp.

“Hockey is pretty popular at the school,” Schaffer said. “I’m trying to encourage it because it’s my favorite sport. I would like to see it more popular.”

Schaffer — who was wearing a Vaclav Prospal jersey — said he played hockey as a kid. And he was definitely in line trying to get Kelly to autograph some hockey stuff.

“This is fantastic,” Schaffer said. “You can tell that he’s out there for the kids — he’s really enjoying it. He’s not just here because he needs to be here.”

Kelly stayed after the clinic, taking photos with the students and signing autographs. He showed up with dozens of hockey sticks — which he had signed earlier — to hand out to each student.

“I hope that they take away a little bit of knowledge about the game of hockey today, and mostly that they come out and have fun, get away from the TV, and get outside,” Kelly said.