Local hockey team 'skates it forward'
STOCKHOLM — A local hockey coach is teaching his players how to "skate it forward." Coach Allen Magie from the Skylands Kings Organization is supporting a cause each month by purchasing his players colored stick tape. Each player is also asked to raise money for the cause. With the help of assistant coaches Art Prunty and Joe Chromcik, Coach Al’s idea has been a success.
“I feel I should be teaching players more than just hockey skills, so I came up with the idea of monthly stick tape colors where we support a cause while playing hockey," said Magie. "At first I wasn’t sure how parents would feel about it. Luckily, the parents are on board with me and my team has raised quite a bit of money in the past few months. My assistant coaches and the parents have helped me get this idea off the ground.”
Color of the monthFor September, the team donned yellow tape and raised $300, which was evenly distributed to three local individuals battling childhood cancer. Taping their sticks in pink for October, players supported Breast Cancer Awareness, raising $130 for a local woman battling the disease. Players skated with purple-taped sticks for November, raising $500 for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness donated to the Lustgarten Foundation. December arrived and players have covered their stick blades in camouflage. The team sent 25 care packages to soldiers and military working dogs stationed in Iraq and Korea showing their support.
“My players know that many troops won’t make it home for the holidays," aid Magie. "It’s important for them to realize that while we are playing hockey, men and women are fighting to protect our country."
A fortunate group“I’ve had the opportunity to coach some of these kids since they began in our hockey head start programs," said Magie. "I like to remind them they are fortunate to be playing hockey and should remember those who are in need of our support. At this age, teaching kids sportsmanship, confidence, and respect for others is just as important as teaching hockey skills. I am proud of my players for what they do on and off the ice. Helping them feel good about themselves for helping others adds to the morale of player development.”
The Skylands Kings Squirt Gold team has players from throughout the area, including Vernon, Sparta, Newton, Augusta and Haskell. A travel team skating out of Skylands Ice World, the team is made up of 13 players, ages 9 and 10.
"Ice hockey is a team sport," said Magie. "I feel teaching the kids more than just skills will keep them loving the game."
Skating it forward"Coach Al" said that January, February, and March will bring more colors to his players’ sticks.
“There are so many people that can use our support that it’s difficult to say what our colors will be," he said. "I’ve been thinking it over and have some ideas in mind. All I can say is I will continue to teach my team to skate it forward.”
The Skylands Kings are always looking for new players. For travel hockey, the website is skylandskings.com. For beginner hockey players and learn to skate program, skylandsiceworldnj.com will have all of the the information.