Youngsters are to be given the chance to follow the Coventry Blaze on to the ice to see if they can become the hockey stars of the future.

Planet Ice, the company which owns the £7 million Skydome Arena, has teamed up with the Blaze to run a development evening next Tuesday, 27 February.

The two-hour session will give young skaters their first taste of the sport, which now regularly attracts 2,000 supporters in the city.

The group's Ice Hockey Development Officer David Graham, Blaze head coach Paul Thompson and the playing squad will pass on their skills to those trying the sport for the first time and will also sign autographs for fans.

Graham said:

"Ice hockey has taken off very well in Coventry and we have had a superb response. Ice skating numbers are very encouraging and we have been inundated with requests for people to learn ice hockey.

"With the support of Paul, who is also Great Britain assistant coach, we are looking forward to welcoming a large number of youngsters.

"We are currently developing a plan to work with schools and colleges to develop skating in Coventry and the wider Warwickshire area.

"We see no reason why the city can't become a hotbed of skating talent and it would be great to think that a youngster who came to this month's first taster session eventually went on to play for the Blaze."