WORCESTER—The Railers are perennial winners of the ECHL’s Community Service Award and one of the main reasons is their Skate to Success program.
The hockey club’s flagship community initiative introduces fourth graders from Worcester Public Schools to the joy of ice skating. Since its launch in 2017, the program has gained national recognition, reaching more than 5,000 students to date and teaching more than 2,000 fourth graders annually from 27 local schools.
Sessions are held every Tuesday during the hockey season at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center, provided at no cost to the students or their schools, thanks to the generous support of sponsors.
Students participating in Skate to Success are outfitted with skates, helmets, and a personalized jersey to take home. Guided by Railers coaches, players, and staff, students receive one-on-one instruction as they take their first steps on the ice. For many, it’s their first time visiting an ice rink, creating a memorable and exciting experience.
The program concludes with lunch, a high-five sendoff, and a parting gift: an autographed Railers folder and a voucher for a free future skate session. Students often leave with a newfound enthusiasm for the sport, having embraced the challenge of trying something completely new.
This week’s visitors at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center were some 70 students from the Elm Park Community School. They learned about skating and its big brother, hockey, from a pair of Railers linemates, Anthony Repaci and Jordan Kaplan.
The program is sponsored by UMass Memorial Health. Participating sponsors include the Worcester Business Development Corporation, Fallon Health, M&T Bank, Bay State Brewing Company and Locke Lord.
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