The non-profit, Nassau County Sports Commission (NCSC) hosted a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 28, announcing the kick-off of their Gotta Pay Hockey! initiative. Gotta Play Hockey!, coordinated in conjunction with the New York Islanders and Vytra Healthcare, encourges kids to get involved in all levels and aspects of hockey - dek, roller, street and ice. Gotta Play Hockey!, is a website hosted on the NCSC's site at www.nassausports.org. The site features two interactive hockey related games, one, compliments of Zapspot.com called Puck Break, and the other, a trivia game, courtesy of the National Hockey League (NHL). In addition, the site hosts a database of hockey facilities and programs throughout Long Island for dek, roller, street and ice hockey. The information on the hockey facilities and their programs are free to both the facility and to the visitor of the site.

Members of the Gotta Play Hockey! Committee include former New York Islander and president of the New York Islander Alumni Association, Bobby Nystrom; Andrew Rothstein, NCSC board member and manager marketing programs, Newsday; Bill Kain, director of Corporate Contributions, New York Islanders; Tommy Bennett, NCSC board member and senior vice president, Computer Associates International Inc.; Michael Picker, New York Islanders; and Gary I. Wadler, MD, chairman, NCSC.

In addition to the website, the NCSC and its Gotta Play Hockey! Committee will coordinate events throughout the year introducing kids to all aspects of hockey. In addition to the public, many of the children who will participate in these activities are enrolled in the NCSC's premier sports participation program, Let's Do It!, sponsored by the Sanjay Kumar Foundation and Computer Associates International, Inc. Let's Do It!, introduces children between the ages of 6 and 15 to sports such as tennis, swimming, golf, martial arts, hockey, lacrosse, etc. within Nassau County. These children come from the communities of Roosevelt, Freeport, Hempstead, West Hempstead, Uniondale and Westbury/New Cassel. Many would not have otherwise had an opportunity to be exposed to these sports, nonetheless, have access to the equipment, the instruction and the facility.

The Nassau County Sports Commission is a non-profit organization created in 1992. It is dedicated to promoting sports opportunities and enhancing the quality of life, while improving the economy of the region through sports development. The NCSC hosts a myriad of sporting events for the community, while at the same time, attracting and recruiting major events, teams, leagues and sport facilities to the county. For more information, please visit the NCSC at www.nassausports.org or call at 365-9625.