Hitting The Sleds
CRANBERRY TWP — Every player on the team would have received a $35 gift card.
But the Butler Valley Dawgs' U-14 team found a better way to spend its surplus of $750.
The 17 players — and their parents — voted to donate the money to charity. Team manager Amy Bowers made some phone calls to possible suitors for the cash and hooked up with Amy Brown, executive director of the Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey organization.
The Mighty Penguins practice at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. The organization consists of 76 players from throughout Western Pennsylvania— all handicapped — comprising four teams. The age range is 4 to 64.
“We got to talking and thought it'd be a good idea for our team to come to a Mighty Penguins practice, get on sleds and work with their players for a day,” Bowers said.
That day was Monday at the Lemieux complex. The $750 check was presented that day as well.
The Butler Valley Dawgs have 200 kids and 12 teams in its organization, ranging in age from 5 to 18. Rob Bowers coaches the U-14 team and is president of the Dawgs' organization.
“This is a good experience for our kids — very humbling,” Coach Bowers said. “Our kids are all strapping themselves into these sleds and are discovering that version of hockey isn't so easy.”
Sled hockey players use two short sticks with no curve on the blade.
Cayden Bowers was one of the Dawgs players who took to the ice while strapped onto a sled.
“I don't mind being strapped in,” he said. “It's just that you're so low to the ice. It's a little intimidating.”
But Cayden, like his teammates, was happy to be there.
“I love the community of hockey,” he said. “Everybody helps everybody else. When the Humboldt (Broncos) youth team had the tragic bus accident in Canada last year (killing 16), that affected all of us.
“Hockey is such a great game. Everyone should have the opportunity to play it. I'm very happy to help out with the sled hockey group.”
Brown said none of the Mighty Penguin players pay a dime to be part of their organization. Their sled teams travel all over the country to play in tournaments.
“We're taking four teams to the Florida National Disability Festival April 4-7 to compete down there,” Brown said. “We host an event here each October, but most of our big competitions are out of town.”
The closest sled hockey organization to the Mighty Penguins is in Johnstown. The teams participate in tournaments in Columbus (Ohio), Grand Rapids (Mich.) and other cities.
One sled alone costs $800, but Brown emphasized handicapped players and their families are not charged a fee to join the organization.
“We've been around for 21 years,” she said. “We started with two teams and 25 players and have grown from there. We depend on funding and donations to keep our program accessible to all players.
“That's why gestures like this from the Butler Valley Dawgs are so much appreciated.”
And it's worthwhile on both ends.
“Our kids are getting so much out of this. It's an eye-opening kind of thing,” Amy Bowers said.
