Dec 19, 2023
What’s the first thing you do after a long day at the office?
For most, thinking about additional responsibilities is not top-of-mind. Let alone being excited for more. But the Bridgeport Islanders are a different breed.
Forwards William Dufour, Matt Maggio and Reece Newkirk, along with defenseman Vincent Sevigny, recently finished an extensive day of practice and team workouts only to surprise youth hockey players at the Milford Ice Pavilion.
“It means a lot to give back to the game,” Maggio said. “We live here in Milford and being able to come out and skate with these kids, and just try to help them practice good habits on the ice means a lot to us. We want to be role models in this community.”
The Islanders blocked off nearly 90 minutes in their schedule to skate with the Southern Stars youth hockey program this past Tuesday, but ended up spending more than two hours on the ice.
“Super awesome, super fun to see them smile,” Newkirk said. “We enjoy doing it for them, but I think I had more fun than they did.”
“When I was younger, I remember in Quebec City when pros came to practice, it was really fun so skating with them refreshing,” Dufour said. “We’re now in the opposite role, so it’s just nice to be here and be able to enjoy the time with them. They’re the future of our sport.”
“It was fantastic, it made the day of our kids, who look up to them as professional athletes,” said Michael Warhola, Southern Stars Pee Wee Maroon Team head coach.
Maggio, who celebrated his 21st birthday last month, remembers what it was like to skate in a similar program not long ago.
“I think it’s so important, you learn a lot of good traits, how to be a good teammate, how to be a good person, leadership, and stuff like that,” Maggio said. “At the same time, we want to grow hockey and make it one of the biggest sports in the world and if we can do that and make kids fall in love with hockey then we’re doing a good job.”
“It’s really cool because they play pro and everything, they go up to the NHL,” youth player Matt Crisci said. “It’s just a good experience, once in a lifetime, honestly.”
When asked what the best part of the night was, Maggio added:
“Probably watching Newkirk going 0-8 in the shootout against a 13-year-old.”
For more information on the Islanders’ 2023-24 youth hockey initiatives, click…
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