| Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins Visit FDIA!
Pittsburgh players with hockey clinic skaters and coaches
On September 10th, thirty children in full hockey gear stood ready for one of the most exciting afternoons of their lives. They lined the front hallway, pounding their sticks and cheering as the Stanley Cup was escorted into Fort Dupont Ice Arena, followed by Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby, Bill Guerin, Jordan Staal, Marc-Andre Fleury and Brooks Orpik. The players led the kids in an on-ice clinic of stretching exercises and hockey drills, and gave lots of tips to improve their skating technique. The participants in the clinic were chosen from three non-profit hockey programs– Kids On Ice Hockey Club, Fort Dupont Hockey Club, and Hockey In The ‘Hood (Pittsburgh, PA). Afterwards the children took pictures with the Stanley Cup and received autographs from the Penguin players.
Special guests also included Willie O’Ree, the first African-American player in the NHL. He shared with the children about his experience as a professional hockey player. O’Ree’s story of returning to hockey after a serious eye injury really inspired eleven-year-old Kids On Ice skater, Joshua House. Joshua says that “if Willie could play hockey when he was basically blinded, then there should be no excuse for me.”
The day wrapped up with all the children visiting the White House to be present during the press conference in the East Room as President Barack Obama honored the Penguins for winning the 2009 Stanley Cup Championships. Although the children were not able to meet President Obama personally, they were still excited to be in the same room with him. Nine-year old Kids On Ice skater, Ricardo Kornegay, was honored to be that close, and now has a goal to “one day be the President and have fun events with children all the time.”
Special thanks to the National Hockey League and United We Serve for providing this awesome event for our skaters!
Pittsburgh players with Kids On Ice skaters and coaches
On-ice warm up with Brooks Orpik
Goalie drills with Marc-Andre Fleury
Kids On Ice skaters & coaches with Willie O'Ree and the Stanley Cup
Kids On Ice Hockey Club and Fort Dupont Hockey Club with Stanley Cup at White House
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