Urban Hockey Association

The second season of the New York Rangers youth street hockey program run through the NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation begins the first week of December. This year our Street Hockey NYC organization is partnered with this city-wide intro to hockey program to provide volunteer hockey coaches to the 21 different locations in all five boroughs. The program has more than doubled in size from last year, and our 30 (and growing) volunteer coaches will lend their hockey know-how to help teach NYC kids the basics of the game.

Just as the NHL has their annual NHL Fights Cancer program in November, BTSH got a jump on the big league, though in a much more modest manner. Butchers member Ben Bloom organized the selling of Cancer Awareness wrist bands at the games in Tompkins Sq. Park on Oct. 16, 2011, and raised some money for a cause that BTSH has supported for many years.

On Saturday October 1, 2011 a women’s street hockey tournament will be held in Tompkins Sq. Park to benefit Girls for Gender Equity. This will be the second year that BTSH and MOFO member Dana Kravis organizes this event. The rain date for the tourney is Oct. 8.

GGE’s mission statement states “Girls for Gender Equity is committed to improving the physical, psychological, social and economic development of girls and women. Through education, organizing, and physical fitness, Girls for Gender Equity encourages communities to remove barriers and create opportunities for girls and women to live self-determined lives.”

Team Four, tourney champs

A charity street hockey tournament was held on April 9, 2011, organized by UHA board member Rachel Greene, which raised over $5,000 for the Rose Charities organization, with the funds earmarked for Japan disaster relief. This was the sixth year of the tournament, which has raised about $22,000 in total for charity.

Thanks to all the members of BTSH, Mofo Hockey, 2BHL and others who participated and donated, including Fishmarket bar and restaurant, which donated 25% of receipts at the post-tourney party. Thanks also to the Parks Dept. for the event permit, to the neighborhood residents for allowing us to use the basketball courts, to the volunteer staff, to the volunteer referees and to the other organizations and individuals who donated prizes for the raffle.

On Presidents Day weekend, the UHA in partnership with the Canadian Assn. of New York held the 5th annual Central Park Canadian Invitational charity ice hockey tournament, to benefit youth hockey programs in New York City. The chief program for which funds were raised, again this year, was Ice Hockey in Harlem. Over $20,000 was raised from tournament entry fees, sponsorships and raffle, marking a new record for the tournament!

NHL official Brad Kovachik in action at Lasker Rink

This year the NHL Officials charity Zebras Care lent us NHL Linesman Brad Kovachik, who officiated a few games along with the volunteer refs, which was not only a thrill for the refs but for the players as well! While Lasker Rink has been host to the NHL’s Senators, Flyers and Penguins of late, as far as we know this was the first time NHL stripes hit the Central Park ice!