After making his way across the Atlantic for a season in Norway, Jimmy Kilpatrick knew he wanted to keep his role in HP4K alive in any way possible. His team, the Stavanger Oilers, have visited over 60 schools and spoken to around 6000 students in the past six years on their after school program tour.

Teaming up with Norwegian comedian, Kristian, the Oilers’ boys talk to the kids about setting goals for their future, making the right things a priority in life, choices, and the consequences that may or may not come from those choices.

On this year’s agenda Jimmy and his team will visit seven schools, one a week until the end of the season. They’re calling this year’s program a project with an “international twist”. Usually Kristian and the local Norwegian players would speak to the kids but Jimmy wants to be able to add his experiences and what he’s learned along the way.

After the visit with the kids the team makes it possible for everyone to be bused out to the next day’s home game where they get to sit with the team’s fans known as the “Roughnecks”. These are the fans who are known throughout the European hockey world. The drums are constantly going, cheers and chants are in unison and perfected over years.

“The kids are given a team sweatshirt along with being able to sit with the Roughnecks. It’s a great experience and it’s a great influence that I hope we can continue to spread,” said Kilpatrick.

*Pictures coming soon!

HP4K and the Cincinnati Cyclones made a trip to Symmes Township Library this July. Dan Eves, Matt Macdonald and Dustin Sproat spent the afternoon reading some children’s hockey books and of course – a fan and player favorite – Dr. Seuss, to the kids and talking about the importance of reading education.

“We didn’t just talk to them about education and reading, but also the importance of being a good person and teammate,” Eves said, “The kids really seemed to understand our message.”

The DinoMights are into yet another summer of hockey training. The organization focuses on helping urban youth devlop physical, academic, social and spiritual excellence through their summer camp.

Member T.J. McElroy is hard at work again. “Working with DinoMights is the highlight of the summer. Most of the kids are beginners and just learning how to skate, but they have so much fun and bring so much energy; it is really a great time for everyone involved.”

For more information on how to get involved with the DinoMights program, click here.

Read all previously related stories to the DinoMights here: HP4K Supports DinoMights Initiative

The last day of school is usually one that most kids wish they could skip altogether. However, the 2010-11 school year ended with a bang for Loveland Middle School in Loveland, Ohio, making the kids think school might actually be the coolest place they could be on a hot June day.

Cincinnati Cyclones and HP4K members were special guests at the school’s end-of-year Field Day. Barret Ehgoetz, Matt Macdonald, Scott Reynolds, and Dustin Sproat were all in attendance; along with the voice of the Cyclones, Nick Brunker.

The guys were treated to some of the talents of the 7th and 8th grade Tigers with a Dutch Auction. Students competed against each other to see who had the best dance moves and who could burp the loudest. Even whether they could whistle with a mouth full of crackers or who did the best impression of their teachers.

Later the guys, alongside the school’s coaches, battled the students in a tug-of-war. Despite their valiant efforts they lost out to the students.

The day concluded with the members talking to the kids about reading education and the HP4K program Stick to Reading.

Loveland middle schoolers all agree this school year could not have been wrapped up in a better way.

“It was nice to get out and spend some time at a school we had not yet been to in the Cincinnati area; especially on the last day of school when everyone is in a great mood. The kids were very creative in their tasks in front of a tough panel of HP4K guest judges during the Dutch Auction. They were way too much for us in the tug-of-war and we all had a great time.” – Scott Reynolds

This November, Elmira became the most recent city to have an HP4K afterschool program running in it. Following the lead of cities like Stockton and Cincinnati, Elmira is thrilled to have their hometown Jackals helping out each week at the Southside Community Center.

Pam Noviello, Executive Director of the Southside Community Center, said, “I just couldn’t believe how into it all the kids were, I’ve never seen them that excited and attentive for anything. I am thrilled with this partnership and the possibilities.”

The Jackals players and HP4K members echoed the same sentiments. “The whole program ran so smoothly,” said Jackals defenseman Jody Pederson. “The kids had a great time and so did we.”

This is something that both the players and the Southside Community Center staff hopes will happen every week.

“This isn’t just something that we’re doing once,” said Brennan Turner, “this is something that we plan on doing every week. The only way we won’t be here once a week is if our schedule won’t allow it, but I can’t see that happening too often this year.”

Pederson and Turner were joined at the event by fellow teammates Zane Kalemba, AJ Perry and Oren Eizenman. The program included a skills session where the kids learned how to stickhandle, pass and shoot, and culminated in a game in which all of the children participated.

As the year progresses and the Jackals continue this program, we are sure to see some bright young talent come out of the Southside Community Center, and that’s something that everyone can get excited about!

Click here to see more photos of the floor hockey action.

HP4K member, T.J. McElroy, is donating his time and talent this month as a volunteer coordinator for DinoMights, a Minnesota organization dedicated to helping urban youth develop physical, academic, social and spiritual excellence.

“Basically, I’m in charge of two volunteer shifts at Augsburg Ice Arena in Minneapolis,” McElroy told us. “I’m getting groups together to help inner-city first graders tie their skates and then get them out on the ice for the first time.  These learn-to-skate sessions introduce the kids to DinoMights and many of them will officially join the program this fall.”

DinoMights is also affiliated with the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone program, an initiative that provides support and unique programming to nonprofit youth hockey organizations across North America that are committed to offering children of all backgrounds opportunities to play hockey.

“What’s cool about it is that it’s much more than a hockey program – it’s a family and a way of life.  The high school graduation rate for kids that go through the DinoMights program is 85%, as compared to the 55% average seen by the Minneapolis Public Schools.”

DinoMights is funded in part through contributions from the Kelly Phillips Charitable Foundation.

“The Foundation was started upon the passing of a hockey player who was dear to me and so many people who knew her,” said McElroy. “We are volunteering with DinoMights to carry on her legacy as a giver and a leader.”

For more information on how to get involved with the DinoMights program, click here. To see a photo gallery of T.J. McElroy helping out with the program this spring, click here.

Marcoux at Hoover (Michael McCollum/The Record)

The Stockton Record’s Sports staff has taken notice of HP4K’s California contingent and recently ran a story highlighting the guys’ involvement at Hoover Elementary School.

Reporter Scott Linesburgh interviewed HP4K members Daryl Marcoux and Oren Eizenman about their weekly road hockey clinics with groups of students in third through sixth grade:

“It’s a lot of fun, and this is about the kids,” Marcoux said. “They are great, and they really enjoy themselves learning the game.”

“We have as much fun as they do, trust me,” Eizenman said. “It’s really gratifying. The whole idea is to do something in the communities where we play and make it fun for the kids.”

Click here to read the full-text article, then check out the accompanying video for some live action footage and funny commentary from the kids.

HP4K members/Cincinnati Cyclones players recently partnered with a youth hockey team from the Cincinnati Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) to give a group of underprivileged children from the Cincinnati area a unique opportunity to learn about hockey.

Dozens of kids, including members from the US Bank Boys & Girls Club in Avondale and the Buenger Boys & Girls Club in Newport, KY, came out to participate alongside local youth hockey players.

HP4K members (Jason Jozsa, Jimmy Kilpatrick, Doug Krantz, Chris Morehouse, Scott Reynolds, Dustin Sproat and Mark Van Guilder) helped the children suit up with skates, sticks and helmets, and taught participants how to skate, pass and shoot. 

“It was the first time many of these kids had ever been on the ice,” Sproat commented. “HP4K is about positively impacting the lives of children in our community and events like this allow us to spread the spirit of giving back beyond our professional members to youth hockey players, introducing our mission to a new generation. We love working with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, an amazing organization we want to continue to support in any way possible.”

A pizza party and autograph signing followed the event — everyone involved had a blast — and we look forward to making this a regular HP4K event.

Click here to check out a photo gallery from the event.

HP4K members/South Carolina Stingrays players recently spent time with children at an afterschool program in Dorchester, SC.

Spencer Carbery, Johann Kroll, Matt Scherer and others helped with homework, played board games with the kids (including some pretty competitive Connect 4), and organized a kickball clinic.

Click here to check out more great photos from the afternoon.