IN Peters Township December 2019/January 2020 | Page 43

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E arlier this year, Printscape Arena at Southpointe proudly announced a new hockey team in town— the Southpointe Grizzlies! The team was formed to educate and encourage individuals in Washington and other nearby counties with developmental disabilities— including autism, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injuries and rare genetic disorders—who would like to participate in the game of ice hockey. As a new local expansion franchise, the Southpointe Grizzlies are joining three existing local teams that serve nearly 180 special athletes across the region funded locally by Hockey Sticks Together. Hockey Sticks Together was organized to provide leadership, strategic direction, fund development and organizational resource support to nonprofit special needs and inner-city hockey programs in western Pennsylvania. The Board of Directors, coaches and volunteers encourage the continued development of dependability, self-confidence, improved concentration, improved balance and motor skills and personal accountability and socialization. “These attributes help the athletes become successful both on and off the ice,” says Scott Fazzone, President of Southpointe Grizzlies Special Hockey. “And most importantly, the program is offered with minimum to no expense to participants so that everyone can enjoy the game of hockey. The goal is to create a fun but structured environment for the players in order to provide a positive experience for them and their families. Additionally, we hope to inspire a passion in the players so that they have the drive to continue learning and benefiting from the sport of ice hockey.” Fazzone is a Peters Township resident and works as a construction engineer for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. He has two sons who play hockey— Nolan and Reid. He founded the team earlier this year because Reid, who has developmental disabilities, loved watching his older brother play hockey. Reid was fortunately able to try special hockey with a local organization in Allegheny County. After seeing the positive impact that program was having on the community, Fazzone felt compelled to try to grow the sport. He knew there had to be others in the Peters and Washington County area who would benefit from having their own team closer to home. Billy Hinton, head coach for the Grizzlies, is also from Peters and is a 1998 graduate. He played varsity hockey for four years during his time at Peters—serving as team captain—and went on to play for Northwood Prep in Lake Placid and then NCAA Division III hockey at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Two of Hinton’s three daughters play hockey, with his middle child, Vienna, age 7, currently playing for the Southpointe Grizzlies. “The Grizzlies is a one-of-a-kind program in our area,” says Hinton. “Overall, it’s an amazing gift of exercise, teamwork and skilled instruction to children in the community who may have an interest in hockey but never had the opportunity to play. The Grizzlies boast a fairly large staff of eight coaches with hockey backgrounds and at least a dozen additional on-ice volunteers to ensure child safety and continuous development.” In addition to Fazzone and Hinton, board members from Washington and Allegheny counties have been instrumental in getting the organization started, including other Peters residents, Angela Thompson and Nicole Flaherty, Esq. The team started practices in September and currently has 17 players on the roster. They range in age from 5 to 21 years old, and the only requirement to join the team is that all players have some type of developmental disability. With sessions held at Southpointe each week, new members are encouraged to join at any time. For more information, visit southpointegrizzlies.com or contact Scott Fazzone at [email protected]. n >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PETERS TOWNSHIP ❘ DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 41