Frost Students Take a Shot at Hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks
Hockey is one of the few sports that isn’t really limited by the season. From playing neighborhood hockey with a tennis ball in spring and summer to skating on ice in the winter, learning to play can be enjoyed at any time of the year.
Add in the excitement of being taught by the Chicago Blackhawks, and it’s truly a win.
On December 16, Robert Frost scored big with two hockey training sessions through the Blackhawks’ Get Out and Learn (G.O.A.L.) program. According to their website, the program is designed to introduce hockey to children who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to try it and to do so in a safe environment.
Along with instruction from their youth hockey coaches, the Blackhawks also provided all the necessary equipment, which was donated to the school at the end of the sessions. Tim Gera, Physical Education Teacher at Robert Frost, said the 30 sticks, 30 street balls, 30 jerseys, 2 goals, and banner that were donated “could not be bought with one year of my PE budget.”
Jamal Mayers, who played forward for the Blackhawks and other NHL teams for 15 seasons, came to Frost representing the G.O.A.L. program along with 4 other coaches who are all former hockey players. Their goal was to teach Frost students the basics of hockey including how to hold a stick, receive a pass, and defend a goal. Some other important lessons were covered too, including the value of hard work and practice, camaraderie, and teamwork.
Mayers said the program is a huge commitment by the Blackhawks, and he greatly enjoys being a part of it. “To see the excitement of the kids is a lot of fun. A lot of them have never had a hockey stick in their hand before, and by the end of the day they’ve really come to enjoy it. Hopefully, they’ll stick with it.”
The entire 5th grade class attended the sessions, and their enthusiasm could be seen by the whole group, even students who didn’t think they were fans. Fifth grader Benedict said, “I thought at first hockey is hard, but it’s not as hard as I thought. They inspired me to like hockey.”
Julia, another student who attended, agreed: “It was the best experience in 5th grade so far! It was a once in a lifetime experience!”