Princeton Hockey Players Organize Equipment Drive For Those In Need

Princeton, NJ -- A pair of Princeton Youth Hockey Association players recently organized a drive to collect equipment for Hockey in New Jersey, an organization that gives children the opportunity to learn and play hockey free of cost.

Dante Aralihalli and Paul Tedeschi, both seniors at Montgomery High School and members of the Princeton Youth Hockey Association 18U AA Orange team, partnered to create the No Limits Hockey Equipment Drive, the association announced this week.

As the youth hockey season was getting underway, they placed donation bins at ProSkate Ice Arena and Barnabas Health Hockey House and publicized the drive throughout the Princeton Youth Hockey Association.

The donations came pouring in.

After the bins were removed, emails still came in from families wanting to donate equipment, and arrangements were made for Aralihalli and Tedeschi to collect the equipment from the families.

After months of collecting, sorting and bagging of equipment, the boys were ready to make their delivery to Ice Hockey in New Jersey. They rented a van for the trip to Charlie Hedger Ice Rink in Jersey City, where they were met by a hoard of kids eager to help unload the van.

“At that moment, I couldn’t begin to describe how proud I was of Dante and Paul for creating No Limits Hockey and all the wonderful families who contributed to the effort,” said Judith Johnson, Dante’s mother. “It really was amazing to see kids from such diverse backgrounds brought together by a common interest – hockey.”

Hockey in New Jersey’s mission is to inspire youth to develop life skills, succeed academically and create positive relationships through the sport of hockey. Program manager Mike Liu was on hand to receive the equipment donations and thank Dante and Paul for their efforts.

“He told us how equipment donations such as this allows kids who would never otherwise have the opportunity, the chance to learn to skate and play hockey,” Johnson said. “Their program also provides nutritional support, off-ice physical conditioning and educational support like SAT prep classes. They are truly deserving of all the support groups like PYHA can offer and I hope the next generation of Tigers will continue to support Hockey in New Jersey.”

The Princeton Youth Hockey Association is a member of USA Hockey and the New Jersey Youth Hockey League.

It is a Tier II travel hockey program fielding teams from 8U through 18U, in addition to a learn-to-play-hockey program called Tiger Cubs that is designed for players between the ages of 4 and 7.

The Princeton Youth Hockey Association is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that is privileged to call historic Baker Rink at Princeton University its home rink.

The attached images were provided by the Princeton Youth Hockey Association