Players, Students Continue HocKEY Assist Program Success

Dec 4, 2019

For the second consecutive year, the Cleveland Monsters teamed up with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) to host an after-school program known as HocKEY Assist. Geared towards middle school youth, HocKEY Assist aims to empower, encourage and mentor students across Northeast Ohio through open dialogue and discussion.  

 

Founded by the Monsters Community Foundation, HocKEY Assist identified self-confidence, leadership and overcoming adversity as critical issues facing students today and built the program around those topics. The Monsters front office staff led the discussion groups at three CMSD schools this year with help from members of the Top Line Dance Team and several players including Marko Dano, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Nathan Gerbe, Bryan Moore, Andrew Peeke, Michael Prapavessis, Justin Scott and Calvin Thurkauf.

 

“The HocKEY Assist program gives our organization a unique opportunity to interact with local students on a more intimate level using hockey as a way to start the conversation,” said Ben Adams, Monsters Director of Marketing and Communications. “We are able to touch on topics relevant to what these kids are going through both at school and in society all while introducing them to the inclusive world of hockey.”

 

Reaching 245 participants over the last two years, players and staff members spoke to Northeast Ohio students about their own experiences in school, life and their professional careers to help involve everyone in the conversation. Personal experiences ranging from overcoming issues in the classroom to moving to a new country in order to play hockey served as personable moments to help find common ground with the students.

 

In order to get the conversations rolling, HocKEY Assist pulled sayings from influential people like Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey for the students to read out loud.

 

Each topic started with the students reading three quotes out loud to help lead a discussions about self-confidence and what a positive example of leadership looks like. All the group discussions concluded with the topic of overcoming adversity using the quotes to help guide conversations about learning from the challenges the players and students had faced in their lives.

 

Despite the serious nature of the topics, each session ended with a detailed Q &A with the players to learn more about the sport and their lives, as well as an autograph session. In addition to making connections in the schools, all the students had the chance to come to a Monsters game to see their new friends and form a high-five tunnel prior to the team hitting the ice.

 

"We’d like to give a special thanks to the Cleveland Monsters for the amazing experience. The students from Wade Park loved the pre-game activity at the school,” said Sondra Powers, Assistant Principal at Wade Park School.

 

“Talking with the players, dancers and staff about the issues facing today's youth was awesome. The students shared with me that they enjoyed the game and the visit to the FieldHouse, but the conversations and the opportunity to have their ideas heard and acknowledged was truly the highlight of the program. There are new hockey fans at Wade Park!"