Game On Magazine - April 2017 GameOn-Apr2017-P001-144-ONLINE | Page 40

THE EXCITEMENT OUR YOUNG
FAN BASE HAS FOR OUR PLAYERS
IS OFF THE CHARTS, THE SMILES,
QUESTIONS, THE HIGH FIVES...
“It embodies what we believe is
the back bone of our community
relations department by allowing our
players to go into the community and
meet kids from diverse backgrounds
and make the connections on and off
the ice.
“Reading is an important skill in
whatever you decide to do in life,
it develops the mind and helps
foster creativity and broadens the
imagination. The excitement our
young fan base has for our players is
off the charts, the smiles, questions,
the high fives -- it leaves our players
feeling pretty good about themselves.
“Hopefully the message they can
deliver about the importance of
school and reading sticks.”
40 GAME ON
2017 PLAYOFF EDITION
For Paulsen and the rest of the Jets
front office, this program brings the
players closer to their young fans
and there is nothing more thrilling for
a young hockey fan than to see the
best players in the world up close
and personal.
Kids are beyond excited to meet
the players, and our players love
spending time with the kids,” Paulsen
explained. “The kids relate in a totally
different manner to our players, they
don’t care how you did on the ice last
night, they want to know ‘What did
you have for supper?’ or ‘Who did
you play hockey for while growing
up?’ or ‘What do you like to read?’”
“Overall, it’s a great experience for
our players and especially for our
young fans and it continues to be
important for our us to get our guys
into the community and build our
relationships with the city’s young
fans. Hopefully we gain a few ‘Jets
Fans For Life’ because of these
school visits and because of the
personal connection our players get
to make with the kids.”