FOUNDATION NAMES JAN KOZIARA MANAGER OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS

Ike Richman

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, created by Flyers founder Ed Snider as a personal commitment to teach children important life lessons, continues its rapid growth with the addition of a fourth Philadelphia-area ice rink and a new Manager of Hockey Operations.

Due to overwhelmingly popular demand for ice time, the Foundation has partnered with a fourth Philadelphia-area skating rink, the Rink at Old York Road in Elkins Park, PA, to provide ice time to additional youth in the Northeast section of the City of Philadelphia.

“The Rink at Old York Road is in a perfect location as we strategically align our programs with neighborhoods and schools which require ice time,” added Foundation Executive Director Jim Britt. “The staff at Old York Road Skating Club has been tremendously supportive of our program and we are grateful that they are on board with the Foundation.”

The Foundation recently named Jan Koziara, a former coach in the Central Park Ice Hockey Program in New York City, as Manager of Hockey Operations. Koziara, who most recently was a Principal Consultant with PA Consulting Group of New York City (2000-2006), is relocating to Philadelphia to help the Foundation develop and lead on-ice and off-ice activities, as well as coordinate volunteers and educators. He will also contribute to the strategic initiatives of expanding the rapidly growing Foundation.

“Since its introduction last October, we have seen incredible interest from participants, sponsors, donors and participating hockey rinks,” added Britt. “In our on-going efforts to reach as many individuals as possible and provide them with true educational experience, it was necessary for us to bring Jan on board as our new Manager of Hockey Operations.”

Koziara also served as an Assistant Ice Hockey Coach at Tufts University (Medford, MA) from 1998 until 2000, the same school in which he attended and received his BA degree in l998 and his MA in 2000. Koziara is a native Philadelphian, who learned to play hockey at the Rizzo Rink in South Philadelphia, PA. He and his fiancé, Chelsea, are planning a September wedding.

Established by Philadelphia Flyers founder Ed Snider in October of 2005, The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation provides new opportunities for inner-city children to participate and learn the game of ice hockey. The Foundation partners with the School District of Philadelphia to fund the cost of adding ice hockey instruction as part of the School District of Philadelphia’s physical education curriculum for 800 elementary school students from 25 Philadelphia public schools. The Foundation is in four Philadelphia-area ice skating rinks, including the Class of 1923 Rink at University of Pennsylvania; Wissahickon Skating Club in Chestnut Hill; the Rink at Old York Road in Elkins Park, PA; and the Polonia Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Northeast-section of Philadelphia, PA.

Thursday, February 22, 2007