James Chirico, a Yonkers resident, honors student and junior at Iona Prep High School, has created a hockey equipment drive to benefit players with special needs who want to play hockey but who cannot afford to purchase gear. James has been collecting gently-used and outgrown hockey equipment including sticks, gloves, pads, skates and pucks (but not helmets) for a non-profit organization called the New York Raptors, a special-needs hockey team in Westchester.
To enlist the support of the community for his project, James contacted local Westchester businesses, asking to use their locations as drop -ff points to help this worthy cause. James’ equipment drive is currently running during hockey season with drop-off locations at Pure Hockey, 310 Main St., New Rochelle; and Hockey Products Pro Shop at the Westchester Skating Academy, 91 Fairview Park Drive, Elmsford.
To date, James has collected between 300 and 400 pieces of donated equipment with a goal of collecting more than 500 pieces before his equipment drive ends in mid- to late-February. James is storing the used hockey equipment in his basement and sorting all pieces by size, for children or adults.
The NY Raptors is an organization that focuses on helping young people with special needs through the teamwork and physical and mental skills needed for ice hockey.
“I chose to work with the NY Raptors not only because I like hockey and volunteer as a coach and a referee for them, but because I have two younger special-needs cousins who I am close to,” said James. “Being a hockey player, this project means a lot to me and I know I’ll be helping a lot of families whose children want to play hockey, but don’t have the necessary means.”
James has been playing hockey for several years and is a member of the Vipers Midget minor team and a varsity player for Iona Prep. Community service has always been important to James and as a kid growing up playing hockey, when he attended St. Anthony’s and now Iona Prep, the sport has been important in teaching him the value of teamwork.
As James says, “By donating, you’ll be giving this gear a second life and you’ll be giving the players at the NY Raptors a chance to enjoy the sport.”
The NY Raptors is a special ice hockey program designed to bring the thrill of hockey to players of all abilities. Special hockey is a unique program open to children and adults with developmental and other disabilities who are unable or ineligible to participate in other organized hockey programs due to their disabilities. The players’ disabilities do not affect their ability to play good hockey and have a great time. The enthusiasm and dedication of these players and their coaches is without equal.
The NY Raptors are members of USA Hockey, Special Hockey International, and American Special Hockey. The team is classified as a 501(c)3 charity.
