PRAIRIE GROVE -- Freezing temperatures and strong winds did not deter members of the University of Arkansas ice hockey team from their annual trek to volunteer at Prairie Grove Senior Activity and Wellness Center. This is the fourth year team members have raked leaves outside the center.
"I'm just so grateful that they choose to come here to rake our abundance of leaves," said Linda Willkie, director.
Willkie met Brian Gallini, Ice Hogs coach, at a Hog Eye Marathon benefit dinner and from there, a relationship began between his players and the senior center. During the team's winter training camp, Gallini sends his student athletes out in small groups to volunteer at different places. They also help at LifeSource in Fayetteville, volunteer for Heart Health Walk in Springdale and volunteer with NWA youth ice hockey league.
"First and foremost, we believe in developing them as young men first and good hockey players second," Gallini said. "I want them to make contributions to something bigger than themselves. All this is not much in and of itself, but it is a step toward doing that."
The Razorbacks play other SEC teams with home games at the Jones Center in Springdale. The season runs from the third week in September to mid-March. Currently, they are ranked second in their region and are 16-7. Gallini has been coaching the Hogs since 2009 and previously coached the University of Pennsylvania hockey team. Gallini also is a professor and associate dean of U.A. School of Law.
The players said they enjoy volunteering at the senior center. They also have gone inside to play card games with the seniors.
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General News on 01/21/2015