PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Pens announced today the creation of a nine-week summer training program for Black youth in the Pittsburgh area.
The Willie O'Ree Academy starts June 15 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township and is free to those already skating in the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League.
There will be a pair of training sessions a week-one on the ice and one off the ice. There will be monthly meetings throughout the year for educational programming and mentoring opportunities.
"We have a number of diversity programs that we will be rolling out in the next few months, but this one is special because it honors Willie's legacy while creating unique growth opportunities for Black youth already playing hockey," said David Morehouse, president and CEO of the Penguins. "They're skating for amateur and high school teams throughout the region, but they don't really know each other. The academy gives them a chance to meet, get together, skate and train as a unit in the summer and, maybe most importantly, share experiences. We appreciate the fact that DICK'S Sporting Goods has stepped up again to help us in this important initiative."
Several former NHL players including Pens executive Trevor Daley will join hockey and trainings staffs from the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Sounds like current Pens defenseman PO Joseph will be a part of it as well.
"The second I heard about it," Joseph said. "I was really pumped about it. The more people we can touch by talking about it. Hopefully it will spread like a spider-web. If we can just touch one, but the more the merrier."
The programs will also include exposure to Pens and other NHL executives, corporate partners. There are plans for social events including Pens games viewing parties and access to a Pens practice.
"It started with him," Joseph said of the importance of honoring O'Ree's legacy as the first Black hockey player. "He's the reason why it's so open-minded with black players in the NHL. We can't thank him enough for everything he did for us. He opened the windows for us to come through."
