P.S. 212 students get a handle on hockey

P.S. 212 staff and students welcomed two members of The Brooklyn Aviators, Andrew Owsiak, the assistant captain of the team, and Ken Trentowski, defenseman, into their gym earlier this month for an experience that was both entertaining and instructive.

The children at the Gravesend school, located on Bay 49th Street, were captivated by Owsiak and Trentowski. Many of the children looked forward to the opportunity, never having played hockey before. They were taught how to hold a hockey stick, how to dribble a puck, and how to fend off an opponent.

The Brooklyn Aviators have been actively a part of the community since being founded in 2009, said team members. “It’s always nice to get out and give back to the people who come support our team. The best part is introducing the game to kids who have never played or even seen the game before.” said Owsiak.

During the lessons, students paired up with the two players for a combination of pro tips and practice. Owsiak commented, “They seem to be very interested in learning the skills and they ask a lot of questions about the game.”

The children eagerly asked questions later on in the day, after their drills were over. “The teachers at the school were very helpful and it was a nice atmosphere to be in. Overall it was a great experience and it was great to see kids wanting to play the game that have never been around hockey before” said Owsiak.

Team Executive Jun Okada couldn’t be more excited about the Aviators being a part of P.S 212 and educating the children about hockey as well as influencing them to be a part of something better.

“We have been to the Brooklyn Public Libraries and have also been to many schools like PS 212 to spread the awareness of hockey as well as physical education for the next generation of Brooklynites and New Yorkers,” he said. “We look to continue this trend for the remainder of the year, and look to build on the same partnerships for many years to come.”

According to Okada, the Brooklyn Aviators believe being a part of the community dynamically, including partnering with local organizations, can positively affect the lives of the children.

To that end, the team is hosting a blood drive on Saturday, March 3. Each donor will receive two tickets to that night’s game. More information is available at www.brooklynaviators.com.