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Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Teammates Build Bonds with their Communities

11/13/2018, 7:30am EST
By Alex Roessler

On November 10th, as the nation celebrated USA Hockey’s national Try Hockey for Free Day, members of several Pittsburgh Penguins Elite teams were on hand to help introduce the sport to tons of youngsters. Members of the 12U Black, 2004 Elite and 16U Boys teams volunteered their time to do assist in every step of the process from trying on the gear to helping the kids take their first strides on the ice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. With a sold out co-ed session followed by a girls only session, the Pens Elite teammates were a huge asset in allowing the program to run smoothly.

Try Hockey for Free Day is an important date on the USA Hockey calendar as thousands of new players are introduced to ice hockey each year. USA Hockey and the Pittsburgh Penguins work together to grow the game in Western Pennsylvania and that growth has been evident at first in the existence but now in the quality of the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite organization. For that reason, it’s fulfilling to see players from the Pens Elite organization giving back while also helping to grow the game in the region.

Helping out on the ice with Try Hockey for Free Day is not nearly the only way that Pittsburgh Penguins Elite players are volunteering their time to help their community. Recently, the 2005 Black team assisted in the Light of Life rescue mission that provides shelter and food for the homeless. The 10U Black and Elite teams were a huge asset in the USA Hockey Blind Hockey Summit that recently took place at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. The event, which saw Team USA face off with Canada in a three game series, required a lot of organization and volunteers and the 10U’s provided the much needed help.

The 2006’s provided assistance for World Vision, an organization focused on working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation. The 16U Girls worked with Hockey Sticks Together, a foundation that provides funding and assistance to several special hockey organizations around Pittsburgh. The girls went out on the ice with the kids and were able to help make their practice session a special one. The 15U Boys team volunteered at the Pittsburgh Penguins 6.6K Run and Family Walk. The annual race benefits the Mario Lemieux Foundation as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.

As an extension of the NHL Penguins, the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite organization believes in giving back to our community. As such, each team is required to complete a minimum of one community service project each season. Each team has the chance to positively impact their community each season and further cement the organization’s charitable footprint in the city of Pittsburgh.

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