Photo Gallery
Videos of Ice Hockey in Harlem event
NEW YORK - The Boston University men's ice hockey team visited Ice Hockey in Harlem (IHIH) in New York's Central Park on Saturday Nov. 30th and practiced with over 30 Pee Wee players. The Terriers, in New York for their Saturday night game vs. Cornell, interacted with the IHIH players, ran skating and passing drills and presented each player with a Boston University ice hockey hat.
After the on-ice practice, Terriers' head coach Dave Quinn spoke to the IHIH Harlem players about the importance of hard work and striving for a college education. BU's director of athletics Mike Lynch then presented Ice Hockey in Harlem's executive director John Sanful with a proclamation, obtained by Boston University through New York Mayor Bloomberg's office, naming November 30th "Ice Hockey in Harlem Day" in New York City. To show his appreciation for the visit, Sanful presented Lynch with a framed Hockey in Harlem jersey.
Boston University's director of special outreach and captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal ice hockey team Mike Eruzione then took the microphone and spoke at length to the wide-eyed IHIH players about his hockey experience before taking questions and signing autographs.
"Boston University's hockey team could have spent their time in New York City in any number of ways," said Sanful. "That they chose to skate with our kids in Central Park speaks highly of the character of these young men and the staff. We are incredibly grateful and proud of our new friends from Boston University."
At the conclusion of the program, Lynch also presented Sanful with 50 copies of the book "The Boys of Winter" about the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympic team. The books will be used for IHIH's after school reading program.
"This was an incredible day for our coaching staff and players," said Lynch. "We are so grateful to John Sanful and the young people at IHIH for welcoming us to be a part of their Saturday. I saw many smiles throughout the day and we could not be prouder to have helped spread the word about the importance of education in achieving ones goals. This event was what being a Boston University student-athletes is all about."
Founded in 1987, Ice Hockey in Harlem is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the social and academic well being of children from the Harlem community through participation in ice hockey. IHIH uses the sport of hockey to engage students and improve their self-esteem, while also providing a safe after school alternative that improves their school attendance and grades. Since its founding, thousands of boys and girls from Harlem have taken part in the program. The organizations motto is "Education is our Goal" and requires each players to attend weekly classroom sessions as a condition for participation in the hockey program.
This season, IHIH has 240 students registered with 74 volunteer coaches. The program recently expanded upon the girls program created last season by entering the Lady Harlem U12 team in a league that competes in New Jersey, Long Island and its home at Lasker Rink in New York's Central Park.
For more information about Ice Hockey in Harlem click HERE
