Hill Hockey Helps giving back to PAL
Hill Hockey Helps giving back to Pottstown programs; hosting free clinic in Sept.
Vincent Petrone experienced the positive influence an older athlete can have on younger athletes. Now, he’s returning the favor.
Petrone is a senior forward at The Hill School and the founder of Hill Hockey Helps. Hill Hockey Helps is a philanthropic organization managed entirely by The Hill School’s boys’ and girls’ ice hockey teams. Now in its second year, Hill Hockey Helps endeavors to help the local community through the game of ice hockey.
Originally from Orlando, Fla., Petrone says he got the idea from a similar program he observed growing up.
“My old school was a K-12 school,” said Petrone, “and the high school football players were assigned to lower-school classrooms. They’d visit the kids, spend time in their classrooms and encourage them to come out to the football games.
“It was great. The kids really looked up to the football players, and they’d come see the games. Then they’d see those players in class the next week. I was impressed by how an older kid could have an impact like that.”
On Sunday, September 17,
players in the Pottstown Police Athletic League (PAL) will enjoy a free DEK hockey clinic at West Pottsgrove Elementary School (25 Grosstown Road, Pottstown) hosted by Hill Hockey Helps.
From 9 a.m.–noon, players will enjoy a clinic where Hill School players will host mini games and teach different skills to the youth players. T-shirts, food, and other items will be available for purchase. DEK hockey is similar to street hockey, but played on an outdoor hockey rink, and is just one of several athletic programs offered by the Pottstown PAL.
Last year, Petrone approached Hill School head ice hockey coach Chris Bala with his idea. With Bala’s advice and guidance, the program was soon off and running, with the local Pottstown Penguins organization the first to benefit.
“(The Penguins) practice out of our facility,” Petrone said, “so we’d go out on the ice, skate with them and lend a hand at their practices.”
“I was completely supportive of the idea,” recalled Bala. “That’s a considerable
part of our mission and what we encourage – not just for the hockey program, but anyone on campus – the idea of giving back and contributing through the community.”
The efforts didn’t stop there. Hill Hockey Helps organized a Goal-a-Thon, where individuals could contribute a designated amount of money for each goal scored by The Hill School. By season’s end, the Goal-a-Thon raised over $3,000 for the Penguins’ organization.
This season’s Goal-aThon will benefit both the Pottstown PAL and the Penguins’ organization. In addition to the DEK hockey clinic, the Hill School hockey team and Hill Hockey Helps plan to host PAL Night during their home game against rival Lawrenceville on January 6, 2018. The team will wear custom PAL jerseys, and plans to invite a local police officer to drop the puck for a ceremonial opening faceoff.
But with the area still enjoying summer weather, the organization’s focus is on the September DEK hockey clinic. Many of the DEK hockey players, Petrone says, will move directly into their ice hockey campaigns with the Pottstown Penguins after the DEK season concludes. The clinic marks the unofficial kickoff – or faceoff, in this case – to hockey season.
For Vincent Petrone, entering his senior year at Hill School, it’s another chance to further the mission of his Hill Hockey Helps organization, one he hopes will continue to make an impact in the Pottstown community long after he graduates.
“Obviously, we’ll be looking for someone within the program to take a leadership role with Hill Hockey Helps,” said Bala, “whether it’s an incoming freshman, or one of next year’s seniors. But I think it’s important to Vincent to see this program continue to grow, and I think he’ll continue to be involved in the future.”
“I’d like to stay involved,” Petrone confirmed. “I’ll be handing the daily management of the program to a rising senior but I’ll still be available to help guide that person, or anyone else who runs the program in the future.”
To learn more about Hill Hockey Helps or to pledge a donation for Goal-a-Thon, contact Vincent Petrone at VPetrone@thehill.org.