Local players already have competed in state, national and international tournaments at the Wesley Chapel-based facility. Plus, the Olympic teams from the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland trained at that location off I-75 and State Road 56 last fall.

The most recent draw to FHCI came in last August when the facility hosted a unique camp run by an innovative coach Darryl Belfrey. The Tactics & Tuneup Camp attracted 18 professionals, including National Hockey League All-Stars Patrick Kane, who has three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, Auston Matthews, who in 2017 won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year, and Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux.

According to the camp’s organizer, who held the inaugural camp last summer at Germain Arena in Estero, near Fort Myers, the Wesley Chapel facility was ideal to relocate to.

“It’s not just an on-ice thing that we’re doing here, so you need multiple services,” said Darryl Belfrey, a special consultant to the Toronto Maple Leafs. “(Players) are trying to train and get better. The facility has just been fantastic. We really love it down here.”

Gordie Zimmerman, FHCI’s founder who also has coached his sons on the Wiregrass Ranch High School team as well as other youth league teams, was delighted that Belfrey decided to relocate his camp here. He cited the 150,500-square-foot building’s five rinks, weight and physical training areas, synthetic ice surface and video outlets, as well as the modernized locker rooms, pro shop and other world-class amenities.

“The facility was designed to attract stuff like this,” he said. “Every little thing matters. We hope to have it again next year.”

Several players raved about the facility on the final day of a four-day training regimen that concluded on Aug. 31.

Giroux noted that hosting the camp in Florida, and specifically Wesley Chapel, goes a long way in promoting the sport and giving some incentives to youth players trying to get to the next level. Already there is the first Florida-born player in the NHL in Flyers teammate Shayne Gostisbehere, who trained in the South Florida area.

“When you have a guy like Shayne coming from Florida to make the NHL, it really gives kids a chance to make it,” he said.

Kane’s advice to local youth players is “to have fun and enjoy it. It’s fun to play a sport you love,” adding that FHCI “was a perfect spot to hold a camp like this.”

As for local players, adult and youth leagues are starting up for the fall. Visit www.floridahospitalcenterice.com for more information on those programs and others.