(PHILADELPHIA, PA – December 2, 2009) – The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation (ESYHF) traveled to Newark, NJ on Saturday, November 28 to compete against the Newark Americans from the Hockey In Newark program. The game was held at the AmeriHealth Pavilion at the Prudential Center in downtown Newark, where the New Jersey Devils play their home games.

The ESYHF team, known as the Wolf Pack, is comprised of 19 young men and women, ages 14 through 18, from the Greater Philadelphia Region. The 19 youngsters earned this unique opportunity through their dedicated commitment to ESYHF programs that emphasize excellence both on the ice and in the classroom.

“To provide opportunities for those who otherwise could only dream of such possibilities is an integral part of our mission,” said Ed Snider. “We are gratified to be able to bring such dreams of this most deserving group of boys and girls to fruition.”

“We have seen tremendous growth in many of our young participants both athletically and academically,” said ESYHF President Scott Tharp. “We’re very excited to send this diverse group of students to Newark to take part in such a wonderful life experience which will, no doubt, result in everlasting memories.”

In an exciting game that featured strong physical play and end-to-end action throughout all three periods, Newark scored with less than a minute left in regulation time as the Wolf Pack pulled their goalie in favor of an extra attacker. After the game, both teams lined up for the traditional handshake and became acquainted with each other off the ice during a pizza lunch.

Following lunch, both ESYHF and Hockey in Newark players made their way to a luxury suite inside the Prudential Center as guests of Mr. John Pagoumian, who generously provided the two teams with tickets for the New Jersey Devils home game versus the New York Islanders.

Both the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation and the Hockey in Newark program are members of the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative. For a complete listing of programs in the “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative, visit hockeyisforeveryone.nhl.com.

Philadelphia Flyers founder, Ed Snider, created the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation as a personal commitment to teach children important life lessons. The program, which utilizes ice hockey to bring inner-city children together, stresses the importance of education, teamwork, and character development.

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation uses the sport of ice hockey to bring a diverse population of children together, enabling them to enjoy a top-notch sports experience coupled with an array of educational activities and character development. Snider created the Foundation in 2005 with 500 participants. The program has rapidly grown to include over 2,500 participants in just its fourth full season.

The mission of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation is to use the sport of hockey to help educate young people in the game of life. The program incorporates on-ice and off-ice activities, stressing citizenship, academics, and life skills. ESYHF services are targeted for boys and girls who otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn to skate or to play ice hockey. The Foundation provides equipment, ice time, and experienced coaching at no cost. The Foundation partners with the Philadelphia Department of Recreation and the School District of Philadelphia to bring its programs to 10 sites throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region to children from over 100 public schools.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009