The glossy, glacial surface at Coquitlam Planet Ice proved treacherous for many of the 12 wobbly-kneed at-risk kids invited Friday to skate with a handful of Vancouver Canucks’ alumni.

More slippery for some is the track outside the rink.

That’s why the Canucks’ alumni has linked with Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver, the NHL Players Association and Planet Ice landlord, RG Properties, in a bid to get youngsters who wouldn’t normally be afforded the opportunity to be introduced to the game of hockey.

Cliff Ronning, Orland Kurtenbach, Dave Babych and Port Moody’s Doug Halward were among the collection of ex-Canucks on hand for the session, providing the young newcomers with tips on the game and also offering them somebody to look up to –– literally. Officially, the new program is called ‘Get Kids on the Ice and off the Street’ and Halward, for one, is most proud to be part of it.

“I think it’s just fantastic that the ice time is made available and the guys [alumni] are around to help out when we can... to help these kids at this age and get them on the ice is just fabulous,” said the 53-year-old Halward, a crafty Canuck defenceman for six of his 14 NHL seasons. “Any time you can help out kids at any age, whatever their circumstance, is something the alumni and Canuck players all try to do.

“We’re just giving a little bit back because we love the game. It’s so much fun to see these kids out here because they really love it and they’re really enjoying it too, so it’s great all around.”

Graham Lee, president and chief executive officer of RG Properties Ltd., said his group will do its utmost to accommodate the program whenever possible, so the kids can perhaps grow to one day flourish in the sport. For now, about 25 kids aged eight to 10 years will skate each Friday with the alumni at Planet Ice.

“We’re basically looking to provide them whatever [ice] time they need,” Lee said. “Our dream is to see one of these kids, in eight or 10 years, in the NHL.”

Carolyn Tuckwell, president and CEO of Boys the Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver, said the program is more or less a gift to many single parents her group helps to keep their children out of trouble and into something positive.

“In all likelihood, [a single] parent can’t get their kids to hockey practices or games,” said Tuckwell, whose group oversees and assists about 4,000 families in seven different Lower Mainland municipalities. “These are kids who never get a chance to even dream they’ll have a chance to play. All of a sudden, they have a hope they’ll have chance to play this great game now.”

Ronning, a 44-year-old Burnaby native and six-year Canuck in the 1990s, believes the program is just another example of the way the Canucks’ alumni and NHLPA contribute to society after its members’ playing days are over.

“If I can give back to my community and give that hope, that dream... see those kids smile... your heart just becomes swollen,” Ronning said.