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Phantoms players visit Frank Ohl
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Youngstown Phantoms players Cody Strang (left) and Justin Stevens (right) visited Frank Ohl on Jan. 20 to teach fourth-grade classrooms about the importance of school, while also imparting some knowledge about hockey.
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In Terri Rasor's classroom, the cramped space allowed for the few students sitting on the floor to get an up-close look at hockey stars Strang (left) and Stevens (right).
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Jake Stevens (left) and Cody Strang (right) took a moment to pose with Joshua Emery, who is a "stick boy" at Phantom games and smooths out the ice. Emery's family is also hosting Strang in their home.
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Students in Terri Rasor's fourth grade class were eager to ask questions to the Phantoms players about their equipment, fighting on the ice, and when Stevens and Strang started playing hockey.
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Jillian Maskal (hand raised), a student in Melanie Pfau's fourth-grade class, asked Stevens and Strang about the weight of their hockey equipment.
By SARAH FOOR
Players from the Youngstown Phantoms visited Frank Ohl Jan. 20 to teach the children about hockey, answer questions and tell the children about the importance of school.
“I love when the players read to children of this age — fourth or fifth grade — because their questions are really great,” said Luci Franklin, director of Business operations for the Phantoms. “Usually the go-to question is, ‘Have you been in a fight on the ice?’ Kids at this age ask how the players got started and how their equipment works — really wise stuff.”
Phantoms players Justin Stevens and Cody Strang visited the fourth-grade classrooms of Melanie Pfau and Terri Rasor, among others, and read the book “Z is for Zamboni” by Matt Napier, which taught the children about hockey in a A-B-C format.
The players paused between letters to explain some words further. After Stevens read the letter G for Gretsky, he paused to educate the students.
“Wayne Gretsky is the best hockey player in the history of the game. He was born in Brantford, Ontario, and I was, too. I think I was meant to play hockey,” he added.
After the book was finished, the players donated a signed copy to each classroom, and then answered questions from the students. Through their answers, Strang and Stevens admitted that they indeed have been in a few fights on the ice, and that both have lost a few teeth from particularly hard hits.
Although the talk and story were relaxed and humorous, Strang and Stevens did take some time to get serious.
“School might be really hard sometimes, but you have to push through,” Strang said.
“You’ll be more successful if you stay in school and get good grades,” shared Stevens.