Dayton Gems Visit Blairwood Elementary School on Tuesday

Published on November 22, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Dayton, OH - The Dayton Gems professional hockey team, a proud member of the Central Hockey League, spent the afternoon on Tuesday trading in their usual post practice regimen for the opportunity to visit with Dayton- area elementary school students, discussing such important character traits as sportsmanship, teamwork and living a healthy and active lifestyle.

Accompanying Gems head coach Brian Gratz to Blairwood Elementary School on Dayton's west side were Chad Langlais, Ben Winnett, John Kennedy, Charlie Townsend and Ryan Hohl. Of course, the Gems furry mascot Blade was also on hand, and helped both introduce the Gems as well as participated in the question and answer session.

"This was another great opportunity to provide a personal link with our team as well as use this as a chance to reinforce positive life messages to the youngsters" noted Gems Director of Community Relations JT Szabo, who along with Blairwood teacher Alexis Gentry, helped coordinate Tuesday's assembly.

After an introduction by Gratz, who gave the students a brief lesson on the Gems and a few hockey basics, each player covered a different topic while addressing the large assembly held in the school's gymnasium. From schoolyard basics like sportsmanship and teamwork to more contemporary topics like eating healthy and staying active, the Gems message was well received by the grade school students.

One of the first questions posed to the classes was one in reference to all of the Gems in attendance having gone to college, to which every student in the room indicated that it was their academic goal to follow suit. Kennedy, a graduate from RPI, told the assembly of his lifelong goals of becoming a professional hockey player and becoming an engineer, ultimately receiving an ovation when he revealed that he had completed both of those goals together in the past year.

While time wouldn't permit every question to be answered, the students used their opportunity to fire back at the Gems with inquisitiveness ranging from basic hockey rules all the way to personal follow-ups with the individual players careers, goals and topics discussed. A small reward for participating, the players handed out Gems wristbands to those who posed or answered questions during the hour-long assembly, and Blade become a hit with the kids before leading the group out of the auditorium and back to class.

The Dayton Gems prepare to get back to work tomorrow when they play host to the Quad City Mallards on Cassano's Italian Ice inside Hara Arena at 7pm. The first 500 fans through the gate on Wednesday night will receive a Gems stress ball in honor of the holiday season.

Tickets to this Wednesday's game are now available by calling the Gems ticket office at 275-7777 or by visiting www.DaytonGems.com. Discounted tickets are also available for groups of ten or more, and include special group perks. Call 275-7777 for details.

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