Columbus Ice Hockey's John Haferman is finalist for Willie O'Ree Award

The Columbus Blue Jackets and National Hockey League announced that Columbus Ice Hockey Club's John Haferman has been named a finalist for the 2019-20 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, presented annually "to an individual who - through the game of hockey - has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society". Fans can learn more about Haferman and the other finalists and vote for the winner by visiting NHL.com/OReeAward beginning today through Friday, July 24.

Haferman has served for the past 20-plus years as the Executive Director of the Columbus Ice Hockey Club (CIHC) and the Director of Hockey for the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department (CRPD). He has spent the past 30 years serving the City of Columbus and growing the game of hockey through 28 recreation centers operated by the city. In 1999, he co-founded the non-profit CIHC and has made it his mission to provide youth from diverse communities and extenuating circumstances in central Ohio the opportunity to develop core values through hockey and use it as a vehicle to open doors and excel in all aspects of their lives.

The CIHC, led by Haferman, has helped introduce approximately 30,000 boys and girls from ages 5-18 from underserved neighborhoods in central Ohio to the game of hockey. On average, the programming for 3,000 youth through CIHC's Learn to Play Hockey, Learn to Skate, and hockey team programs are made up of more than 65 percent being minority and more than 25 percent female. Besides ice and street hockey, the CIHC provides programming for club participants in the areas of conditioning, academic support, violence prevention and community service. Under his leadership, the club has distributed more than $300,000 in scholarship funds.

The club is one of 39 of the NHL's "Hockey is for Everyone" programs and is affiliated with the Blue Jackets organization. Haferman uses hockey to build equality within communities, including wounded veterans, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ populations.

During the past year, Haferman has expanded the reach of the CIHC into support of adaptive hockey. In the fall of 2019, a unique "Try Hockey For Free" clinic designed specifically for individuals with various physical and developmental impairments that prohibit them from playing hockey in the traditional sense was created and carried out. The program, which was offered to individuals of all ages who have visual impairments, led to the creation of a new hockey organization. Haferman is currently working on ways to improve the efficacy of the adaptive pucks that are embedded with a bell so players may follow the sound.

The Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award honors former NHL forward Willie O'Ree, who on Jan. 18, 1958, became the first black player to compete in the League. O'Ree, who lost sight in his right eye at a young age, went on to play professional hockey for 21 years. His perseverance is unrivaled, and his impact on the game and the lives of young players still is felt today. For more than two decades, O'Ree has served as the NHL's Diversity Ambassador, traveling across North America to schools and hockey programs to share his story and experiences as well as to promote messages of inclusion, dedication and confidence. O'Ree has used hockey as a platform to build character and teach life skills and has used his influence to foster positive values through the sport.