In keeping with its mission to support the development of youth and amateur hockey, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that the McConnell Education Foundation will award grants tonight to 34 Columbus-area high school hockey programs for the 22nd consecutive year. A group of nearly 800 players, coaches and families will be in attendance at the Blue Jackets-Capitals game to celebrate High School Hockey Night.
The McConnell Education Foundation has offered philanthropic support for high school hockey in greater Columbus for the past 21 years with the cumulative donation reaching in excess of $1.4 million. Grants will support clubs from the Capital Hockey Conference and the Ohio Scholastic Hockey League.
This year's programs receiving grants include high school varsity and junior varsity teams in the Capital Hockey Conference representing Bishop Watterson, Columbus Academy, Dublin Coffman, Dublin Jerome, Dublin Scioto, Gahanna Lincoln, New Albany, Olentangy, Olentangy Liberty, Olentangy Orange, St. Charles Preparatory School, St. Francis DeSales, Thomas Worthington, Upper Arlington, Worthington Kilbourne and Olentangy Berlin.
Additional varsity and JV programs in the Ohio Scholastic Hockey League awarded grants include the Athens Bobcats; the Columbus Ice Hockey Club (representing Columbus City Schools and Columbus Recreation and Parks Department); Hilliard Wildcats; the Newark Generals; Northeast Storm (representing Bexley and Johnstown); PHA Prowlers (representing Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Pataskala, Canal Winchester) and the Westerville Warcats.
Also being honored are CHC members Cincinnati Moeller, Cincinnati St. Xavier, and Springboro, as well as the OSHL's Dayton Stealth.
To recognize these programs, high school varsity captains representing the recipients' respective teams will take the red line during the performance of the US national anthem before the game.
