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Saint Patrick Hockey Club assists Shriners Hospital
The Saint Patrick High School Hockey Team: Freshman, Michael Alex (60634) sophomores Liam Connolly (60305), Davin Cotter (60656), Hayden Kammier (60631), Jack McGoorty (60707), and Michael Sullivan (60634); and juniors Brian Connolly (60305), Nick Ganshirt (60630), Rocco Giampietro (60634), Zachary Kogut (60618), Mark Lukaszewicz (60634), Ryan Nyborg (60634), Nicholas Passas (60634), Asael Orozco (60644), Erik Wachal (60176) and Zachary Wollenschlager (60160). | Contributed photo
Updated: November 27, 2012 12:33PM
CHICAGO — Saint Patrick Hockey Club is making room on its calendar outside the rink by giving back to the community.
About 15 members of this year’s team visited the Shriners Hospital for Children – Chicago on Oct. 15 to help with a landscaping project. Members dug up an old garden, replacing it with a wheelchair accessible garden for patients.
“I wanted the boys to go beyond the world of hockey,” said current parent and assistant Team Manager Peggy Tomzik. “It was inspiring to see our boys give up a school holiday and spend their day working so hard. I was very proud of them.”
After digging up old plants, raking, and preparing the ground, the boys also deep-cleaned the hospital’s cafeteria.
The Shamrocks toured the hospital with a Shriners’ representative and learned about the patients and families that the facility serves.
“The boys learned that there are children their age who don’t have the opportunities they do and that there are kids with physical limitations,” Tomzik said.
The team will continue its community service throughout the season by helping to load trucks on Dec. 2 for the Toys for Tots toy collection campaign and volunteering for a fundraising initiative in February with St. Mary of Providence in Chicago.
The Saint Patrick High School Hockey Club began its fifth season in September and has joined the varsity level of the North Central Hockey League. All players are Saint Patrick students and include one freshman, five sophomores and 12 juniors.
