The military community has been one of our best sources of talent over the years, and the association is working on a plan to increase our outreach and recruitment in that community. We want to make sure that anyone who is interested in playing knows about the rink or our program. With the exceptional help of Cathy and George Cyhaniuk and several squirt families, that effort got off to a fantastic start this past Saturday April 14th.

      Every spring, Randolph AFB hosts a kids event for families on the base. Cathy and George arranged for us to have space among the dunking booths, face painters, bike daredevils and Adele imitators to show off our kids and the game. Squirt players Payne Stewart, William Hosey, Evan Granier, and Everest Schneider spent several hours at the base, teaching dozens of kids how to shoot and pass, cheering them on, and showing that the AF motto fly', fight, win applies to hockey too.

      All of the kids were amazing. David Stewart brought a net, a rampage banner, and the championship trophy. Julie and ... Brought street hockey gear. David, julie, ... and Cathy spent the day talking to kids and parents about our program and the various learn to skate and learn to play programs the rink offers, with very enthusiastic responses from kids and parents alike.

      All in all a great day. We all left feeling confident that we will see some of these kids at Northwoods. Thanks so much to the families who volunteered and to the Cyhaniuks for setting it all up. We hope to find similar opportunities at other base events and with incoming families as the moving season chugs along. Let us know if you are aware of another opportunity for us to do something similar, or if you have thoughts on other parts of the city that might make for good targets.