In addition to creating good hockey players, PAL Hockey strives to help our players become good citizens. Toward that end, our organization has all of our teams select a community service project for all their players to participate in. Through doing for others, our players learn valuable life lessons that will serve them well in their years to come. See below for a description of each team's project for the 2021-2022 season as well as links to pictures.
8U GOLD AAA JR ISLANDERS - The team participated in the 30th Annual Toy and Fund Holiday drive for the John Theissen children's foundation in November. This year the holiday drive is in memory and honor of Roberta Thiessen and Anthony Mariano. The team did an amazing job and collected so many toys that they had to make 2 trips! The collection box was at the rink at all of the team’s home games for a month and a half. Special thanks to the away teams who brought lots of toys when they came to play us at our home games. Great job to all the players, parents and coaches...PHOTO
8U SILVER AA PAL - The team collected toys for families in need this past holiday season. The St. James Community Toy/Gift Drive adopted local families. Our players collected toys during November to drop to the Food Pantry and all toys were delivered to specific families in need. Great job to all the players and parents on this community service event...PHOTO
8U SILVER AA SOUND TIGERS - The team came together to raise money to give gifts to a local child from Miller Place this Holiday. Zach is from Miller Place and is an 11-year-old boy with brain cancer. His only Christmas wish was for an Air Hockey table. The team stepped in to raise funds and were able to buy him a real one. They didn't stop there, and they did even more by organizing a local parade to go past his house complete with a police escort, the local fire department, Santa who delivered all the gifts, an exotic car club and snow to top it off. The team raised over $9,000 in gifts and we couldn't be prouder of their involvement to make this wish come true for this little boy. Huge thank you to all the players, coaches, and parents for getting involved and showing the kids what giving is all about…PHOTO
10U AAA MINOR JR ISLANDERS - The team participated in the United Cerebral Palsy 5K Walk & Wheel on October 2, 2021. To show their support of inclusive communities and opportunities for persons with disabilities on Long Island the team raised over $2,500! Way to go, Squirt Minor! @teamup4community @jrislanders @palicehockey #palicehockey #palicehockey2122 #communityservice #hockeygivesback...PHOTO
10U AAA MAJOR JR ISLANDERS - The team did a virtual meeting to learn about The Inn and what it does for the community. They ran a collection drive for 3-4 weeks of toiletries, diapers, paper goods and hat/gloves for kids, adults and families. The team then got together at Northwell Ice and put together close to 50 family kits with a ton of extra items to be boxed. The INN was founded in 1983 as a single soup kitchen run by a small group of concerned volunteers. Working at a church in Hempstead, the volunteers discovered that not only were there large numbers of hungry people on Long Island, but that individuals working together could make a difference in their lives. As a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization, The INN provides a broad variety of essential services to assist those challenged by hunger, homelessness and profound poverty. We partner with those in need in a dignified and respectful manner to help them achieve self-sufficiency.Their mission is to transform lives by addressing hunger, homelessness and profound poverty through awareness, action and generosity. What a wonderful way to show the players the meaning of community service. Many thanks to the players, coaches and parents...PHOTO
10U AA PAL - The team, along with the 12U AA Blue Knights and the 14U A Silver Knights, teamed up to do an amazing community service project together. They completed a cleanup of the Suffolk County Parks Department, Smith Point Beach. Service like this is essential to keeping the Long Island beaches clean and safe for wildlife and patrons. Efforts just like this one, help keep the beaches pristine and available to be used year-round, while helping the Parks employees who work hard every day to make the beaches safe and accessible for all to enjoy. The hours completed by the players and coaches were greatly appreciated by the Parks staff. This was an amazing job by the event coordinators for putting this together and organizing; as well as the coaches, players and parents for making the trip to help get this completed. This is a wonderful example to the kids to show them what it takes to do good things in the community...PHOTO
10U AA SOUND TIGERS - The team raised money for the Companions in Courage organization by having a bake sale outside of Northwell Ice Center. The Companions in Courage Foundation was originally founded by NHL Hall of Famer, Pat LaFontaine in 1997. They are recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and eligible to receive donations. In just the last five years their efforts have gone to raising funds to build interactive playrooms in hospitals throughout North America. Through innovative communications tools, these playrooms replace the isolation of a hospital with a connection to family, friends and celebrities during each hospital stay. By virtue of their location (primarily in major metropolitan areas), children’s hospitals tend to be safety nets to the most vulnerable in our society. On average, these facilities devote almost half of their care to children of low-income families. Their “Lion’s Den” rooms were designed by Edwin Schlossberg and his renowned ESI Design team in New York City. Their mission is quite simple. No child in the fight for life or health should ever have to go through it alone. At Companions in Courage Foundation, we are here to give courage, friendship, compassion and support to those children and families who are overcoming illness and life-threatening obstacles. Great job to all the players, parents and coaches on the outstanding job on this bake sale...PHOTO
10U A PAL - The team raised $3,045.00 to go directly to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. With the funds raised by the team, the impact to RMCH will continue to positively give support to families and children. Since 1974, The Ronald McDonald House has provided the best treatment for a sick child that is far from home; which helps the families not have to worry about where to stay. At a Ronald McDonald House, families can stay together, rest and recharge to remain strong for their child, interact with families going through similar experiences, enjoy home-cooked meals and receive compassionate hospitality from staff and volunteers — all just minutes from the hospital where their child is receiving care. We thank the players, coaches and the parents for supporting our community service efforts this season and every season. Great job to everyone on raising this money and showing the players how important it is to give back...PHOTO
12U AAA MINOR JR ISLANDERS - TBD
12U AAA MAJOR JR ISLANDERS - The team raised $875 to to donate to the Long Island Rough Riders Sled Team. They also got to practice with them and see what makes them a truly amazing organization. Long Island Sled Hockey, Inc. is an organization made up of 51 physically and/or mentally disabled athletes between to ages of 10 (our two youngest players) and 21+ (our oldest is 72) who participate in a wonderful sport called sled hockey. They have been competing since 1995 and were incorporated as Long Island Sled Hockey, Inc. on December 31st of 2003. Their team name "RoughRiders" was chosen in honor of President Teddy Roosevelt. Without corporate sponsoring they rely on personal donations to help defray the expenses to each athlete. We love the Long Island Rough Riders and appreciate all of our own players, parents and coaches who have chosen this as their community service project year after year. Bryan Blomquist was an amazing person who ran this organization for more than 25 years, always accessible to talk to and help us with our community service efforts. His family and his players are still in our thoughts and prayers, we will remember him and never forget all that he did. Great job to this team and amazing accomplishment raising this money for them...PHOTO
12U AA PAL - The team, along with the 10U AA Blue Knights and the 14U A Silver Knights, teamed up to do an amazing community service project together. They completed a cleanup of the Suffolk County Parks Department, Smith Point Beach. Service like this is essential to keeping the Long Island beaches clean and safe for wildlife and patrons. Efforts just like this one, help keep the beaches pristine and available to be used year-round, while helping the Parks employees who work hard every day to make the beaches safe and accessible for all to enjoy. The hours completed by the players and coaches were greatly appreciated by the Parks staff. This was an amazing job by the event coordinators for putting this together and organizing; as well as the coaches, players and parents for making the trip to help get this completed. This is a wonderful example to the kids to show them what it takes to do good things in the community...PHOTO
12U AA SOUND TIGERS – The team donated their time to Island Harvest, helping them in their mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. Their work directly supports a wide network of community-based non-profit organizations, as well as individuals, veterans, families, and seniors directly in need of support. Island Harvest is among the region’s foremost agencies in emergency response readiness for food, product, resource distribution and support, and is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Island Harvest is proud to earn consistent four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, an indication of quality in the non-profit sector...PHOTO
12U A PAL - The team participated writing letters to soldiers through Operation Gratitude. There is nothing more thoughtful and personal than a handwritten note inside a beautiful handmade card. Every care package we send not only includes handwritten letters from grateful Americans, but also blank greeting cards for our service members' own personal use. We invite you to put your paper crafting skills to work making blank cards that our deployed troops can then use to write home to their loved ones. Operation Gratitude is a nation-wide nonprofit dedicated to providing people across our great country with opportunities for hands-on volunteerism to say ‘thank you’ to our Military, Veterans, and First Responders. Many thanks to the players, coaches and parents for helping put together this community service event to teach the players about the soldiers who work hard day and night for our country...PHOTO
14U AAA MINOR JR ISLANDERS - TBD
14U AAA MAJOR JR ISLANDERS - The team sold holiday wreaths to raise money for the Lee and Aidan McMahon foundation. They raised over $3,300 for the foundation this holiday season with help from some players on the PAL 12U AA and 14U A teams getting them to their goal. The hours they spent selling and promoting this organization is essential to its success as a charity to help in its overall mission, helping families who are affected by the death of a loved one or who are going through an illness such as biliary atresia or liver disease.
The Lee & Aidan McMahon Foundation was founded by the McMahon brothers, Mike, Joe and Tom, in loving memory of their mother Lee McMahon, who passed away from brain cancer in 1999 and Aidan McMahon, beloved son of Joseph, who passed away in 2002 at 13 months of age from biliary atresia, and complications from liver disease.
The mission of the foundation is to be able to provide support and make a difference to the charities that have special meaning to the McMahon family. Funds raised for the Hospice Care Network will be earmarked for the Children’s Bereavement Program, helping children cope with the passing of a loved one. Funds raised for the American Liver Foundation will go towards helping in the ongoing fight against biliary atresia, and other liver diseases. Fantastic job by all the players, coaches and parents who helped make this fundraiser a success...PHOTO
14U AA PAL - The team raised money by participating in the Polar Plunge in Smithtown to raise money for the Special Olympics of New York and the I'm Not Done Yet Foundation. Special Olympics New York, where, everyone is included. Athletes with intellectual disabilities can challenge themselves in fair and even competition. Win or lose, they develop their own character, make friends and find unknown wells of determination within themselves. I'm Not Done Yet is helping adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and survivors live their lives as fully as possible by helping adolescent patients with serious, long-term, and chronic illnesses transition from pediatrics to adulthood. Amazing job to all the athletes, parents and coaches for putting this together and having the kids participate. They really got themselves involved to see first-hand out to raise money and give back to those in need...PHOTO
14U A PAL - The team, along with the 10U AA Blue Knights and the 12U AA Blue Knights, teamed up to do an amazing community service project together. They completed a cleanup of the Suffolk County Parks Department, Smith Point Beach. Service like this is essential to keeping the Long Island beaches clean and safe for wildlife and patrons. Efforts just like this one, help keep the beaches pristine and available to be used year-round, while helping the Parks employees who work hard every day to make the beaches safe and accessible for all to enjoy. The hours completed by the players and coaches were greatly appreciated by the Parks staff. This was an amazing job by the event coordinators for putting this together and organizing; as well as the coaches, players and parents for making the trip to help get this completed. This is a wonderful example to the kids to show them what it takes to do good things in the community...PHOTO
14U AA SOUND TIGERS - The team completed community service in November by collecting and sorting books for the @thebookfairiesny. The Book Fairies of NY, is a not-for-profit organization that collects reading materials for people in need throughout metropolitan New York. The reading materials foster literacy and academic success, provide a respite from personal struggles, and nurture a love of reading across age groups. Great job to all the players on giving back to the community...PHOTO
15U AAA JR ISLANDERS - The team raised $2,500 to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to achieving the end of breast cancer. We provide critical funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis, and survivorship. Since the founding in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, BCRF has raised a billion dollars to fuel its mission to be the end of breast cancer. Through a unique and streamlined grants program, we seek out the brightest minds in science and medicine and give them the necessary resources to pursue their best ideas. This enables researchers to make discoveries and design new approaches to address all aspects of breast cancer—and do so in record time. Great job by the players, coaches and parents for putting together this community service event...PHOTO
16U AAA JR ISLANDERS – The team did an outstanding job on community service with three major events. They had a Food Drive at the Inn, a NYPD Jersey Game for 9/11 & Pink Jerseys for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with dedications to loved ones who have been affected by breast cancer. So many of these organizations use this money raised by each of these events to bring awareness to what they do to help those affected, money directly to families to help with disease and to help with loss. The food drive goes directly to individuals who are in need local to so many of the communities we live in. Working these events in their busy game and practice schedules goes to show you how well they understand the need to give back to our communities and we applaud them for going above and beyond. Thank you coaches, players and parents for helping them achieve these amazing events...PHOTO
18U AAA JR ISLANDERS – The team donated their time to Island Harvest, helping them in their mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. Their work directly supports a wide network of community-based non-profit organizations, as well as individuals, veterans, families, and seniors directly in need of support. Island Harvest is among the region’s foremost agencies in emergency response readiness for food, product, resource distribution and support, and is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Island Harvest is proud to earn consistent four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, an indication of quality in the non-profit sector.
The team didn't stop there with their generous community service efforts - they also gifted a signed P.A.L. 18U jersey to the family of the injured Jake Thibeault. Jake played for the Boston Jr. Bulldogs during the 2021-22 season before being injured.
The time spent helping and spreading positivity in the community is what makes our hockey players truly caring individuals. A big shoutout to the players, the coaches and to the parents for helping show our players what it is to give back...PHOTO
