ACU Roller Hockey will participate in a charity game Saturday benefitting Hendrick Children’s Hospital.
The game will be between ACU Roller Hockey and a team comprised of Abilene and Dyess Air Force Base hockey players. The game will begin at 2 p.m. at the Jimmy Hoffman Arena at Cal Young Park on T&P Lane.
The hockey team, funded by the ACU Students’ Association, was granted $2,450 from the 2014 budget, making it one of the most expensive SA-sponsored sports teams outspending ACU Lacrosse by $450.
“We are one of the most funded groups in SA, and, since we are funded by others, we wanted to give back to the community,” said Ryan Podany, junior information technology major from Willow Park. “It’s just one charity game, but there’s not really a lot of hockey in Abilene, and it’s a good and fun way to raise money.”
Podany is the goalie and president of the roller hockey club.
The charity will generate donations in a few different way, said Jonathan Spencer, the team’s head coach.
The first will be in the form of open donations, such as passing a basket around. The second will be from facilitating a chuck-a-puck competition in which contestants throw a foam puck onto the rink. The puck closest to the center will win the grand prize. Third, the team will host a silent auction, auctioning off items such as an ACU hockey jersey.
“The Mayor’s Council for Physical Fitness donated proceeds to purchase the foam pucks which will be sold for $10 each,” Spencer said. “The winner of the contest will win prizes donated by over 25 sponsor companies.”
Sponsors also donated items to go into gift bags for the children who participate in the Mission Hockey clinic.
“The kids will receive gift bags full of free stuff like day passes to the Abilene Zoo,” Spencer said. “They really like those.”
This isn’t the hockey team’s first attempt at charity. Previously, they participated in a food drive with Hendrick Children’s Hospital in which they raised about 400 cans of food, he said.
“Last year, we went and hung out at the Hendrick children’s home,” said Timothy Holt, digital entertainment technology major from Plano. “We got to see some of the kids and built them a goal out of PVC pipe and net. We tried to have a fundraiser for them, but it kind of fell through.”
Despite the failure of their attempt, the team has high hopes for attendance.
“We expect a good turnout,” Holt said. “The food drive wasn’t bad for our first try. We’re expecting up to 200 people and with the chuck-a-puck and silent auction. I’m hoping to raise at least $2,000, but anything generated goes to a good cause.”
