Before you become a Maple Leaf you must become a bud, a Street Bud!

Whether it's on the ice or in a gym at the local community centre - the fundamentals of hockey are simple- skill development, exercise and fun. And each season, the NHL Street Buds program sponsored by Esso and the NHL is proud to teach these lessons to more than 3,000 young hockey enthusiasts.

In conjunction with the Toronto Parks and Recreation Division, CCYA, JCC the Leafs launched this grassroots program in 1995 which incorporates more than 44 sites throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Markham.

Esso Street Buds provides kids aged 6-16 with the equipment and infrastructure to play organized street-style hockey, get fit through NHL Street Fit and learn and develop their hockey skills in a fun and safe environment. Mats Sundin has been the Honourary Street Buds Captain for the past seven seasons and encourages youth to visit their local community centre to learn how to become a participant.