Hitting the ice at Newbridge Arena

Young skaters eager to learn more about one of the nation’s most popular winter sports took to the ice at Bellmore’s Newbridge Arena on Sunday, as a new semester of the hockey skills development program began at 5 p.m.

Youth hockey clinics are designed for players of various ability levels, although all participants must have basic skating skills and proper equipment, arena officials said. The program includes several sessions full of drills and scrimmages.

The new semester of hockey lessons began with an hour-long clinic on Feb. 22, with the next set of sessions slated for March 1, 22 and 29, and April 5 and 12. The semester costs $150, and walk-ins are welcome at $30 per session. Skaters from the house league receive a $5 discount.

Newbridge Arena hockey staff members run the clinics. For more information, email newbridgehockey@aol.com or call (516) 783-6181, ext. 12.