When Sidney Crosby spearheaded the start of the Little Penguins Learn to Play program in 2008, his goal was to grow youth hockey in the Pittsburgh area.
The program provides free head-to-toe gear to children aged 5 though 9, with over 2,000 sets of equipment now provided annually. Since the program's inception, over 13,000 Pittsburgh-area children have been introduced to hockey as a result of the program.
The Little Penguins had 600 participants in that inaugural 2008-09 season. One of them is projected to be a top-3 pick in next month's NHL Draft.