MARQUETTE PARK— As the Blackhawks open up their defense of the Stanley Cup title Wednesday, their community engagement component continues to score goals with Chicagoans.
The team held a Hockey 101 clinic at the Marquette Park Fieldhouse, 6743 S. Kedzie Ave. Wednesday in a partnership with After School Matters.
The #Blackhawks clinic at the Marquette Pk Fieldhouse. Kids are being shown the nuances of hockey. pic.twitter.com/FlL0ESw9Tc
— Evan F. Moore (@evanFmoore) April 13, 2016
Adrienne Curry, After School Matters' Chief Program Officer, says the idea to partner with the Blackhawks came from an employee who is a volunteer hockey coach.
"Since the team is opening a community ice rink soon, this was a good time to reach out," Curry said. "When we partnered up with the team, we decided to do a clinic first. We showed the 'Soul On Ice' movie beforehand."
Team officials showed participants the nuances of hockey, such as how to hold a hockey stick along with playing in a floor hockey scrimmage.
#Blackhawks clinic at Marquette Park. pic.twitter.com/JZwncgfEEo
— Evan F. Moore (@evanFmoore) April 13, 2016
After the scrimmage, team officials gave out the "Hat Trick" DVD and commemorative book detailing highlights of the 2014-15 season, in which the Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup in the past six seasons.
Kimberly Camara, a senior at Hubbard High School who played in a hockey game for the first time, scored a hat trick (three goals) in the scrimmage.
"It was amazing. They showed us how they pass the ball to each other. I can't believe I did that," Camara said. "I was excited. It was a thrill. It was nice of the Blackhawks to come out and show us how to play."
Curry believes the clinic was a good start to get kids interested in the sport of hockey.
"We're not expecting everyone to walk out of here and play in the NHL," Curry said. "Since the Blackhawks are so popular, it is important for youth in our neighborhoods to have an appreciation for the sport."
Victoria Flores' two sons, Nathan and Emilio Mendoza, participate in the weekly hockey program at Marquette Park. She says that her sons enjoy the game anyway they can.
"You don't get a lot of this in the parks anymore. My sons play in the alley at home. Any chance they get, they want to play," Flores said. "They enjoy watching games as well. They were pretty excited about being in the clinic. They wouldn't stop talking about it [laughs]."
