Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1475892
K eith Veltre hates cliches, but it truly did take a village to get hockey in New Jersey's sled pro- gram to where it is today. As the co-founder of an orga- nization he created in 2003 with his college roommate Dennis Ruppe, Veltre is proud of how far things have come. It all started with a phone call to U.S. Sled Hockey Team general manager Dan Brennan asking about starting a sled program for inner-city kids in Newark, specifically the John F. Kennedy school. Brennan directed him to Alex DePalma, a long-time volunteer who is the USA Hockey special hockey repre- sentative and driving force behind promoting disabled hockey at the state level. One of the biggest hurdles with starting any program is the price of sleds, which can cost $600 or more. It was not long afterward that DePalma received a call from J.J. O'Connor, the for- mer chair of USA Hockey's Disabled Section, asking him if he would be willing to host the annual NHL Sled Classic. With a long history of supporting sled hockey, members of the Atlantic District teamed up with the New Jersey Devils to welcome 27 teams to the Ice Vault in Wayne, N.J., for one of the most successful tournaments in the 11-year history of the event. The event also raised money to purchase additional sleds, but it was nothing compared to the generosity of local business leaders and the state's construction industry who ponied up $50,000 to purchase an additional 10 sleds in addition to supporting the other disabled disciplines throughout the Atlantic District. The Devils also stepped in to provide equip- ment for the players. Those additional sleds represented more than just opportunities for kids to get on the ice. They gave each player a feeling that they had a personal stake in the game. "Their faces when we gave them their own sleds, and I'm getting chills now, is something I'll never forget," Veltre said. "It was ownership and it was like, 'wow, this is mine. This is for me.'" Since then, Veltre, who also serves as the supervisor of athletics for Newark Public Schools, has worked with the district super- intendent and the city of Newark recreation, to donate the ice time for the sled hockey program to meet every Wednesday. " We have the perfect marriage of every- one coming together and such a supportive superintendent who can't do enough for our programs throughout the whole district," he said. "I'm blessed and the kids are blessed to have someone like that." Additionally, the support of local two-time Paralympic gold medalist Jack Wallace has been instrumental for the success of the pro- gram. Veltre said the kids really gravitated towards Wallace, as he was someone to look up to and who started out as a kid in New Jersey with a big dream. "I like to think that there's a kid in Newark who wants to play hockey, and I want them to know that they could excel at this sport, but it's just sled hockey instead of hockey," Veltre said. "These kids can see someone like Jack and say, 'wow, I can take this as far as I want.' And our kids are so talented, it wouldn't shock me the least that they did. "Honestly, in the 20 years of hockey in New Jersey, we've had some unbelievable stories with our kids; this has been one of the best things we've ever done. And the most rewarding." P O F F T HE D R AW 8 // AUGUST 2022 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Alex DePalma Grateful Sled Team Effort Provides Opportunities For Inner City New Jersey Kids To Discover The Thrill Of The Ice SLED HOCKEY VIDEO: SLED RACE By Caleigh Burchfield k New Jersey kids are enjoying their time on the ice thanks to the generosity of dedicated volunteers and donors from around the state.