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O F F T HE D R AW 6 // APRIL/MAY 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM O VER THE PAST 23 YEARS, the Fort Dupont Ice Arena has opened its doors to more than 20,000 local youngsters, including a number who live in some of Washington, D.C.'s most econom- ically depressed neighborhoods. Thanks to the generosity of many in the nation's capital, the future looks bright for those kids as the Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena reached its goal to kick start the con- struction of the new two-sheet facili- ty on the grounds of the existing rink in the Anacostia section of the city. W h e n t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t released its 2020 budget it said the FFD needed to raise $1,300,000 to PHOTOS BY Ty Newberry; Getty Images COMMUNITY "I am pleased, and thankful, to confirm that FDIA has now raised $1,309,610 from over 400 supporters..." Generous Friends Pitch In To Help Fort Dupont Rink O F F T HE D R AW begin the construction phase of the new rink. According to a March 6 let- ter sent from FFD Board Chairman Willem Polak to D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser the group met that goal and then some. " I a m plea sed, a nd t ha n k f u l, to confirm that FDIA has now raised $1,309,610 from over 400 support- e r s w i t h c o n t r i b u t i o n s r a n g i n g from $5 to $250,000! The kids will get t heir new r in k!" Pola k sa id in his letter. (USA Hockey Magazine chroni- cled the need for a new rink at Fort Dupont in the April/May 2019 issue.) According to Ty Newberry, the rink's executive director, the $1,300,000 is part of a $5 million capital campaign dedicated toward the construction of the new facility with the remaining construction cost being allocated in the city 's budget for the 2021 fiscal year, which begins in October. The project can now move forward with the final design phase and solic- iting bids from construction compa- nies to begin work on the grounds of the existing rink. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is the proud home of the Fort Dupont Cannons, the oldest minority hockey club in the country, which is run by recent U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Neal Henderson. " We a r e ve r y e xc i t e d a n d c a n 't w a i t t o e x p a n d o u r p r o g r a m s ," Newberry said. P An artist's rendering of the new two-sheet facility at the Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Washington, D.C. NHL Golden Knights Honor Fallen Youngster k When the Vegas Golden Knights faced off against the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 26, they brought the memory of a special youngster with them into their Western Conference showdown. Less than two weeks before the game, 12-year-old Alex Bush was killed when he and his sister, Charlotte, were struck by a truck on their way home from school in North Las Vegas. A goalie with the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights team, Alex had a passion for the game and the position, not to mention the Golden Knights. To honor Alex's memory, the team wore helmet stickers shaped like a goalie mask with Alex's initials and his number 29, which was the same number as his idol goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.