Over the last 20 years, the McConnell Education Foundation has awarded grants to high school hockey teams across the Columbus area, with the total reaching close to $1.7 million dollars in grants in the past two decades.
This year’s grants were awarded Dec. 7in a program held before the Blue Jackets’ game against the Buffalo Sabres. Coaches and players from 36 teams across Ohio were present at the annual High School Hockey Night game at Nationwide Arena.
At the event, high school teams across the Capital Hockey Conference and Ohio Scholastic Hockey League as well as the Columbus Ice Hockey Club were awarded grants to help support their seasons, and players from each team lined up at center ice for the national anthem.
“It’s great,” Lewis Center Olentangy head coach Mike Ross said. “I don’t think everyone knows how much these kids and their families have to contribute for them to play high school hockey. So, the money from the foundation extends to all these programs and goes a long way. It’s great to come down and hear from current and former players; they inspire the guys who are still playing.”
Blue Jackets defenseman Nick Blankenberg handed out the grants to the high school players. He also spoke during the program about his own unique experience playing high school hockey in Michigan and how it has helped shape him into the NHL player he is today.
Going into his sophomore year of high school, Blankenberg ended up not making any Triple-A hockey teams and thought that was the end of his hockey career. Even though Blankenberg was considering hanging up the skates, his mom and one of his friends ended up convincing him to try out for his high school team that year.
He ended up playing hockey at Romeo High School for three years, and he helped lead the school to its first-ever state championship in 2016. Playing high school hockey ended up being a blessing in disguise for Blankenberg because he “was able to fall in the game of hockey again with love.”
During the event, Blankenberg gave some advice to the high school players.
“There are going to be so many good and bad days, but try to find a happy medium of really just enjoying the process,” he said. “Also, don’t only look at the experience as becoming the best hockey player you can be but being the best person you can be because hockey is not going to be there forever.”
When asked what it means to him to be able to speak at the event, he said, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without high school hockey. Not that long ago I was in their shoes, so I think it’s pretty cool.” just to kind of help them out in whatever way I can and get to share with them a little glimpse of my story.”
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