CRANBERRY TWP — The growing interest in hockey in the region is attracting a number of young players.

To tap into this interest, the township parks department conducted a dek hockey clinic Saturday for children ages 4 to 6 at Graham Park. It was the second of three sessions to be hosted this month by the department.

Children, ages 7 to 9, played March 14, while those 10 to 12 will play this coming Saturday.

The 90-minute session taught the youngest players, who play in the Chipmunk League at the park, the rules and techniques of the game.

“Now that the rink is built, we decided to do a free clinic to tell the kids to come out and play,” said Dave Hutner of the parks department.

Dek hockey is different from ice hockey that the children watch on television.

“There are no skates,” Hutner said. “It's tennis shoes only.”

The plastic-surface rink was built last year in cooperation with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Highmark, who have partnered to build several other dek hockey rinks in Allegheny County.

“It's very well built,” Hutner said. “It has lights and dugouts — it's a nice facility.”

There are different leagues for children ages 4 to 18, as well as for adults. Hutner said league games begin April 6.

Gianni Micco, 5, of Cranberry picked up hockey from his older brother, Antonio, 8.

“He started playing last year,” said his father, Michael Micco. “This is his first year playing in an organized setting.”

Michael Micco said the rink at Graham Park is great for children to learn the sport. “It's beautiful,” he said as he watched his son run around cones set up for a drill. “It's an incredible venue for the kids.”

Micco said his sons' interest in the game goes along with its growth in popularity.

“I think it's becoming almost as popular as football,” Micco said.

The young players went through four training stations before playing a scrimmage. Each station focused on different aspects of the game.

“Some are new to the sport; some have played before,” Brian Perry of the parks department said of the youth players.

Perry said the clinics are geared to get the children ready for the seasons.

Dan Forst of Cranberry said his son, Daniel, loves hockey and was excited to get out to the rink.

“He has excelled at soccer,” Forst said. “This is his first time playing hockey. He seemed to have a strong interest in it.”

Chris Forst, Daniel's mother, said dek hockey is a great way to begin the sport.

“It's nice he can start here because we don't have to worry about him falling,” she said, laughing.

Chris Forst said the family is awaiting the completion of the new UPMC/ Lemieux Sports Complex at the intersection of Interstate 79 and Route 228. That facility will offer an ice rink for hockey fans. It is expected to be open this fall.

“We can't wait to see how that turns out,” she said.

Daniel said he was practicing to play like his favorite players on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I like offense,” he said, adding that his heroes are Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two of the NHL's top scorers.

Daniel enjoys playing the game at home with his friends, including Chase Tompkins, 5, of Cranberry.

Dina Tompkins said she was happy her son Chase could play at the new rink.

“I'm thrilled to have this in Cranberry,” she said. “It's nice to have the amenities.”

Like his friend, Daniel, Chase said his favorite part of hockey is shooting the puck.

“I like to score goals,” he said.