Seven young inner-city hockey players from the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation have earned an opportunity to participate in a National Hockey League experience and travel to New York City on Tuesday, September 8, to visit the NHL store with newest Philadelphia Flyers defensemen Chris Pronger and Boston Bruins goalie and Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas.

The participating students were selected as members of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation Champions program. Here is a list of the players and their home rinks: Michael Chism - Cobbs Creek/Penn; Eddie Kulb - Tarken/Penn; Gabe Jackson - Cobbs Creek; Gillian Jackson - Cobbs Creek; Kashiem Jones - Cobbs Creek/Penn; Steve Owens – Scanlon; and Matt Woods – Flyers Skate Zone at Northeast.

“These youngsters have truly excelled both on and off the ice, as well as fulfilling a commitment to participate in service projects within their communities,” said ESYHF President Scott Tharp. “We are thrilled to have them represent the more than 2,500 participants of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation at this exciting event.”

The Flyers and Bruins will meet in the NHL’s Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Friday, January 1, 2010. The Flyers will open the home portion of their 2009-10 regular season with three games at the Wachovia Center on Tuesday, October 6 vs. the Washington Capitals; Thursday, October 8 vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins; and Saturday, October 10 vs. the Anaheim Ducks. Tickets for all Flyers home games will go on sale on Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m. through PhiladelphiaFlyers.com or by calling 1-800-298-4200.

Philadelphia Flyers founder Ed Snider created the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation in 2005 as a personal commitment to provide young inner-city children with the opportunity to play hockey.

The Foundation has experienced rapid growth and uses hockey as its hook to gain and hold the attention of its young people, bringing inner-city children together and resulting in positive youth development.

The mission of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation is to use the sport of hockey to help educate young people on how to succeed in the game of life.

Friday, September 04, 2009