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Phantoms play in smaller arena
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Unique Moore is shown here in this January 2011 photo with Youngstown Phantoms hockey player Adam Berkle. The 5-year-old died Monday in Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron, where she was taken after being pulled Sunday afternoon from Willow Lake Park campground swimming pool in Champion Township in Trumbull County.
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
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Youngstown Phantoms hockey player Matt O’Connor reads to Millcreek Children’s Center students Jor’Den Young and Monica Cash, both 3, during a visit Thursday. Members of the team read to kids, distributed stuffed animals and presented a $500 check to the center from the BJ Alan Corp.
By DENISE DICK
denise_dick@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown Phantoms hockey team members Adam Berkele and Stu Higgins led children at Millcreek Children’s Center around a classroom like a choo-choo train.
Berkele and Higgins were among six hockey players who visited the center Thursday to read to the children, distribute stuffed animals and present a $500 check to the facility from BJ Alan Corp.
After the two players finished the reading selections and gave out the toys, the 4- and 5-year-olds skipped around the room, hoisting the stuffed critters about their heads.
“Can I join in?” Higgins asked.
“Can I be the caboose?” added Berkele.
In another classroom, players Scott Mayfield and Ty Loney sat to work with Play-Doh and play blocks with the kids.
“I’m going to make a rabbit,” said Arkayla Clark, 5.
She rolled out the Play-Doh then used a rabbit cookie cutter.
“See,” she said, holding up her handiwork. “His name is Oslo.”
Tristan Mitchell, 4, used plastic scissors to slice the dough and make a cake.
Next door, Phantom Matt O’Connor read “The Dark, Dark Night,” to Xaniya Taylor, 4, and Imani Gowdy, 3.
When a character in the book feared a pond monster, Xaniya was the voice of reason.
“It’s just a shadow,” she explained.
“What’s making the shadow?” O’Connor asked.
“Him,” Xaniya said, pointing to a character in the book.
“Where’s the light coming from?” queried the player.
“Right there,” said Xaniya, referring to the illustration of a lantern.
Player Dylan Margonari read a book about hockey to another class.
But Jay’Den Young, 3, was more interested in Margonari’s own hockey playing.
“You’re a hockey player?” Jay’Den asked.
Margonari explained that he is.
“Where’s your stick? Where’s your helmet?” Jay’Den asked.
The players didn’t bring any of their equipment to the center.
Millcreek Children’s Center is a preschool for children age 3 to 5 serving the Youngstown area since 1976. Sister Jerome Corcoran is its executive director.
Bruce J. Zoldan founded the Youngstown Phantoms in 2003 as a part of the North American Hockey League Tier 2 league. The team of 16- to-20-year-olds plays at the Covelli Centre.