The Erie Otters announced on Friday that they are partnering with ERIEBANK and the Erie Youth Hockey Association to provide scholarships for kids to play hockey.
“We jumped at the opportunity to help provide this grant to lower-income families in the Erie community to help break the stigma that hockey is too expensive to play,” said Erie Otters director of business operations and fan experience Darcie Chabola.
Based on financial needs, there are opportunities for kids to have full scholarships awarded to help families pay for the expenses associated with playing hockey.
“This initiative goes beyond teaching hockey skills—it provides students with opportunities to develop teamwork, leadership, and communication abilities that will serve them throughout life, said ERIEBANK, regional president Katie Jones. “As a community-focused organization, ERIEBANK is passionate about Erie and the surrounding region. We are honored to support programs that empower local youth and help them succeed both on and off the ice.”
The scholarship is open to all children, regardless of age, who want to play hockey. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is August 21. Awardees will be notified on August 31.
“It’s a phenomenal opportunity that we just haven’t had before,” said Erie Youth Hockey Association’s board director Bob Catalde. “From an Erie Youth Hockey standpoint, this is cutting edge. This is something that we have been looking to do for quite some time, and now all the pieces are put together. It’s going to make Erie the hockey town we always wanted it to be.
The full details and how to apply for the scholarship can be found here.