Local Children in Town’s Youth Hockey Program Benefit
The Town of Oyster Bay and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced the donation of brand new sets of hockey equipment, courtesy of the National Hockey League Players’ Association’s (NHLPA) Goals & Dreams Fund, announced Town Supervisor John Venditto. The donation of the gear will help support the Town of Oyster Bay’s Youth Hockey program, which has long been respected for its outstanding rinks, enthusiastic participation and viable ice hockey programs.
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto recently met with New York Islanders players who were on hand to donate hockey equipment to local youth hockey participants at the Town’s state of the art indoor Ice Skating Center in Bethpage.
New York Islanders forward Matt Moulson, defenseman Bruno Gervais, forward John Tavares, goaltender Dwayne Roloson and several other pro hockey players look over the donated hockey equipment.
“NHL players relish the opportunity to give back to the game they love by supporting grass roots hockey,” said Supervisor Venditto. “The National Hockey League (NHL) has partnered with the Town of Oyster Bay to help promote local community hockey programming and youth enrichment. The donation of this hockey equipment by the NHLPA is an example of the commitment made to youth hockey by the NHL and its players.”
Chairman of the Goals & Dreams fund Devin Smith commented on the success of the program. “Over the last 11 years, NHL players have donated more than $19 million to fund and assist grass roots hockey programs around the world,” Smith explained. “We’ve sent equipment everywhere from Australia to South Africa, Europe, Malaysia and North America. The biggest obstacle in participating in hockey is the cost of equipment. Our goal is to bridge the gap…”
In 1999, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) launched the Goals and Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. The players’ program has donated full sets of hockey equipment that has benefited more than 60,000 economically challenged children in 23 countries and assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas world-wide. The program is the largest of its kind in the world. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com
“My colleagues and I on the Oyster Bay Town Board would like to thank the NHLPA and their Goals and Dreams program,” Supervisor Venditto said. “They share our appreciation for the character building attributes of youth sports like ice hockey. Working together, many local youngsters will have an opportunity to play ice hockey and learn that though hard work and selfless dedication, their goals can be achieved.”
