He saw the need and started something special: Recent HHS-grad Schultz is working to spread his love for hockey Hockey

Easton Schultz knows the joy and enthusiasm that comes with playing hockey. Over the past two years, she has ensured that every child, regardless of their abilities, is able to experience the same feeling.

Schudz, who graduated from Hudson High School in June and was a member of the Hudsons 2021-winning state boys hockey team, recently received a donation of 25 brand new hockey equipment from the National Hockey League Players Association Goals and Dreams Foundation to Hudson. Special hockey program

The $ 20,000 device will help a program close to Schultz’s heart. Fractured during the second season of his second year two years ago, he was inspired by Isaac Witt, a younger school student with Down syndrome who loved hockey but never had the opportunity to play.

His parents never thought he would have a chance to play, and I was like, why not? Just because he has Down syndrome? Schultz recalled. And they said, Do you think he can play? And I definitely said! So we went to play that sport again and we got him equipment and threw him on the ice. And before you know it, he plays for the Hudson Hockey Association on the Mite team.

After seeing Witt thrive on the ice, Schultz thought, why not give all children of all abilities a chance to play? And before he knew it, he had word of mouth for 11 children of different ages and disabilities who were interested in hockey.

He got his Raider teammates to help the kids, and the Hudson Hockey Association added donated equipment and ice time, and two years later, the program’s numbers had grown to more than 30.

In the first year, it was a pretty small group, but a super, very tight group, a very funny group that really included the whole game of playing hockey and learning new things, Schultz said. And in the second year, there was a lot of improvement and fun. It just spread like wildfire. Through word of mouth. Everyone said you have to try this.

With the growing number, more challenges came – including finding enough equipment for all players. That’s when Schultzs High School coach – former Raider and NHL player Davis Drewiske – encouraged him to apply for a grant through the NHLPAs Goals and Dreams Foundation. In May, the foundation responded by donating 25 full sets of brand new equipment to the Hudson Special Hockey program.

Drewiske said he saw with his own eyes the joy of hockey, which brought the athletes involved in the Hudson Special Hockey event, but also saw the need for accessories.

Fortunately, with a donation from the NHLPA Goals and Dreams, we can keep these amazing athletes on ice playing the game they love, he said.

Schultz has quickly spread thanks to the success of the program and the acquisition of new equipment – especially with the Hudson Hockey Association and his high school coach Drewiske.

I just have a wordless thing to say to everyone who has helped me along the way, especially when I get this huge donation, he said. I mean, it’s almost tears. It’s just so amazing that I have such a strong community you can count on to help me build this program for these kids. It goes a long way. Every child has their own equipment – from head to toe – with a stick and everything. It’s just going to be huge.

Schultz will go to Iowa State University in the fall to study business finance, but he plans to make plenty of trips home each February and March to help with the program he founded.

He said while his youth and high school game days may be over, he looks forward to experiencing the joy and enthusiasm of the sport from another perspective.

I was blessed to be able to play hockey for as long as I did, he said. And I remember when I started playing when my parents watched me, how I was so happy to finally stand and skate. This just brings me back to the feeling maybe a little bit of how they felt. I’ve kind of seen it from the other side, and I’m not the one who plays and thrives, but the one who watches and thinks, all these people – the hockey community – gave this kid the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. And seeing them happily makes me happier in the end.

Schultz and Hudson Special Hockey will celebrate the donation of NHLPA equipment at a valuation event at the Hudson Civic Center on Wednesday, July 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. Food, games and other activities for children and their families.