ICE Value School Program
April 13, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Winnipeg Ice News Release
Reading the play.
It's a critical skill for any athlete, an ability that can be developed and one that helps good players become the best players they can be.
Similarly, the ability to read is a difference maker in life - a skill that lifts people to bigger and better things.
With that in mind, the Winnipeg ICE aren't just grooming the next generation of high-end hockey players but also serving the community they call home by promoting reading and positive values in area schools with the Reading with the ICE program presented by Taylor McCaffrey Lawyers.
READING WITH THE ICE
Veteran defenceman Nolan Orzeck is one of a number of ICE players who have given their time to connect with local classrooms.
The Calgary-product not only visited schools to read and make an impact during the 2019-20 season, but helped keep the program alive when the pandemic struck by taking part in a virtual version of the program.
"It was awesome. I did them all last season in Winnipeg, so just to do it again (virtually) and keep it going this year - kind of in a different way - it was lots of fun, "said Orzeck of the Zoom-type get-togethers. "The kids love it too. It gives them something other to do than their school work, so they like it."
This season's visits were built around a story told from two different points of view using Ari's Awful Day/Mainer's Move by Thom Van Dycke and Jermaine Loewen.
"It's a story about a kid that moves to a new town and doesn't really know anyone so he goes to the hockey rink to meet some new friends, and turns out to be a pretty good hockey player. So, he makes lots of friends there," said Nolan by phone from his University of Regina dorm room. "And, the other side of the story was Ari's Awful Day. A kid from the town, he was "the guy", the best hockey player there and then Mainer comes around and steals the show. So, he kind of has a bad day. But at the end of the day, they become friends. It's just a cool story because it's related to some kids growing up playing hockey."
Heck, when you're promoting kindness, acceptance, diversity and friendship you're talking about something that relates to any arena.
OVERTIME
The ICE-school connection grows after sharing the special story.
There's Q-and-A time, a chance to reinforce the themes in the book and show young people that the student-athletes they may look up to are just like them.
"After we read the stories, we ask them questions. Like, 'what they can do (to help)?'. Or, if somebody's having a bad day, one of the questions we ask is 'what can you do to make it better?'. And, the kids all give their answers - and they all have good answers. Just to be able to ask them how they would handle things related to the story is pretty cool."
And the role model aspect isn't limited to between ICE players and local students. Orzeck appreciates what WHL-grad, and Manitoban, Jermaine Loewen is doing by turning his own experiences into books to help kids manage life's lessons.
"It's pretty cool, that a guy that played in this league is making books and writing stories," said Nolan about Loewen's ability to give back. "I think it's awesome."
Successful people are often goal-setters, and Orzeck fits into that group, in fact he's already looking forward to a time after the pandemic when getting back into classrooms is possible again.
"Next year, it'll be my last year, so I'd love to go out and go to a couple more schools and read with the kids," said Nolan admitting he gets as much out of the visits as the kids do. "We're there, we're playing hockey and anything we can do for the community I'm all for it - just to see the smiles on the kids faces makes it all worth it."
Western Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2021
- WHL Announces Kelowna Rockets Cleared to Resume Team Activities - WHL
- Hofer Earns First Pro Victory with Utica - Portland Winterhawks
- Wheat Kings Run Away with 8-3 Win over Warriors - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Tuesday Loss to Brandon at the Subway WHL Hub - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Kaid Oliver to Honour Grandfather and Oil Kings Alumnus 'Ace' Bailey - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Look for Revenge against Thunderbirds - Tri-City Americans
- WHL Announces Changes to Regular Season Games - Medicine Hat Tigers
- WHL Announces Weekly Schedule - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- WHL Announces Schedule Changes for Oil Kings - Edmonton Oil Kings
- WHL Announces Changes to Regular Season Games - WHL
- ICE Value School Program - Winnipeg Ice
- CHL Announces Cancellation of 2021 Memorial Cup - WHL
- April 13 Preview: Brandon Wheat Kings vs Moose Jaw Warriors - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Broncos Meet Blades for Third Time this Season - Swift Current Broncos
- Armstrong Nets Four to Push Cougars past Giants - Prince George Cougars
- Armstrong's Four-Goal Effort Lifts Cougars over Giants 4-1 - Vancouver Giants
- Hurricanes Stifle Rebels' Performance with Third-Period Goals - Red Deer Rebels
- McClennon Leads the Way as ICE Beat Pats 3-1 - Winnipeg Ice
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