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Cambria County Youth To Get First Taste Of National Hockey League Support

November 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, Pa.- A new pilot program named Taste of the Game™ is being supported by the National Hockey League in conjunction with The Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL, The Roustan United Arena Solutions Team, Planet Ice Skating Center, and the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce John B. Gunter Leadership Program. Taste of the Game is a non-profit initiative, designed to introduce school children to the game of ice hockey in which they gain first hand experience on the ice.

"Taste of the Game™ will introduce kids to the game of hockey so they can develop a love for a sport. Hockey is a sport that has no age limit's, is for all genders and has no borders. Like chocolate, once kids get a taste of the game, it will last a lifetime", says Stephen Walkom National Hockey League Sr. Vice President.

The program has the students arriving at the UPMC Health Plan ice rink at the Cambria County War Memorial where they will be taken on a behind the scenes tour of the facilities, and get a chance to watch the Johnstown Chiefs practice. The real treat begins when the kids are escorted to the locker room and fitted with a full set of hockey equipment and then taken onto the ice for an instructional session with Johnstown Chiefs coaches and players. The Taste of the Game™ program takes place in the morning on a school day so students can return to the school by lunch time.

"This is a classic example of how several organizations can work in concert to bring value added programs to our community. This program will advance the sport of hockey participation and fan base, but also promote healthy living and a fun and exciting past time that can last forever", said Scott Branovan, President and CEO of Roustan United Arena Solutions

The Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce John B. Gunter Leadership Program will be involved in the community outreach aspect of Taste of the Game. John B. Gunter Leadership Program will be in contact with schools to introduce and explain the benefits of Taste of The Game.

"We were thrilled to get involved with "Taste of the Game"™ because it met all of our areas of interest. It allows us to work with area youth to promote healthy lifestyles, fitness, and teamwork and also to introduce youth to an activity that they may have never experienced. It also introduces youth and families to the Johnstown Chiefs and gives the team a new avenue to get involved with the community, thus helping the team to nurture community ties and positively affect the economy of the downtown region," said Jennifer Tiffany of the John B. Gunter Leadership project team.

"The Chiefs, along with everyone involved in Taste of The Game are excited about the opportunity to introduce and teach the youth of Johnstown and the surrounding communities the great game of ice hockey. Hockey is a fantastic sport that a person can participate in during their entire lifetime. The exercise and friendships you make from playing a team sport will be with you forever," added Chiefs head coach Ian Herbers.

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