Ice Hockey in Harlem Making a Difference in the Metro NY Community

Seventeen-year-old Vaneshka Caraballo couldn’t contain her excitement when she got her acceptance letter to Buffalo State University.

At her weekly Ice Hockey in Harlem practice at World Ice Arena, she was thrilled to tell the good news to her mentor Malik Garvin, the program’s executive director.

“Being able to go to a college that has hockey was one of my biggest goals,” said Caraballo, who is in her 10th year in the organization. “I want to make the girls’ hockey team. This program made that dream possible.”

Ice Hockey in Harlem provides ice time, hockey equipment and training to kids, empowering young leaders, students, and athletes since 1987. New to this season, the program expanded to include 10 kids from Elmont in partnership with the New York Islanders, with the support from Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky. Kids from Manhattan and Elmont alike take a bus into Queens and practice every Tuesday. The newcomers fit in with the group at large right away.

“I have seen all the Elmont kids have so much fun from day one and embrace the sport and embrace the challenge,” Garvin said. “Week after week, they continue to improve and the represent themselves, the community, and both organizations extremely well.”

The Islanders Children's Foundation donated tickets to Ice Hockey in Harlem at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. The group from Manhattan were treated to watch an Islanders game and be visited by Captain Anders Lee and Anthony Duclair afterwards.

Duclair met Todd Levy, the chairman and co-founder of Ice Hockey in Harlem, before the season and stayed in touch since, eager to help any way he can.

“It’s always a good time to give back to the community, especially with underprivileged kids,” Duclair said. “Ice Hockey in Harlem is doing some great work out there. Anything I can do to help, whether it’s to say hi or talk to these kids. I’m looking forward to doing some more work with them in the future.”

The Islanders have been working with Ice Hockey in Harlem for several years, making donations and giving seats to kids to attend games. In 2023, the ICF made a $50k donation in support. Aside from monetary support, the kids in the program have also been getting hands-on instruction from a player beloved by Isles fans. Marshall Warren, the Laurel Hollow native who signed with the organization in 2024, has coached between 60-100 kids, making personal connections with each individual kid. His mother, Lisa, is on the Ice Hockey in Harlem board, so it has always been a natural fit.

“After I skate with them and hang out with them, I always get a sense of gratitude,” Marshall Warren said. “It’s so special. It’s been really cool to have the opportunity to build relationships with these kids. And my family has been friends with Todd Levy and Malik Garvin for years, so it’s seamless.”

Levy and Garvin have a GM and head coach dynamic. Garvin runs day-to-day operations, while Levy oversees the nonprofit and helps raise funds. Levy is also on the board of the Islanders Children’s Foundation, so the new partnership combines two worlds he’s passionate about. Levy and Ledecky shared the same vision for the partnership, and deeply believe in the core mission of the program.

“It’s an invaluable experience for these kids to be playing,” Levy said. “The Islanders are helping pay for this, which is incredible. We’re hoping this program in Elmont grows. Our goal is to grow that program, with our kids, and be one seamless program.”

Levy, a New York City native, grew up as an avid hockey fan but didn’t have enough resources to continue playing when he became a teenager. He eventually started a pilot program with 10 kids, which has now grown to 200 total participants in the non-profit organization that he had the vision for.

“I had to stop playing, and it was my favorite sport,” Levy said. “I didn’t have the opportunity to play hockey when I was younger, and all of a sudden, I saw this opportunity and wanted to give it to these kids.”

Hockey has grown in popularity since he was a kid, but it’s an expensive sport and ice time is hard to find. One of Ice Hockey in Harlem’s main objectives was making the sport free of charge for all participants, removing one of the biggest barriers to entry for new players to get involved in hockey.

“Sticks now cost $350. That alone is a huge price to pay,” Levy said. “$800 for skates. Each kid that participates in this program is probably wearing $2,000 worth of equipment. The partnership between these two organizations is allowing these kids to play for free, which is really important.”

Maya Lawes’ son, Ethan, has found more confidence since he joined the program this season as one of the Elmont additions. As a mother, she fully appreciates everything this program provides.

“It’s a total relief,” Lawes said. “I never would have dreamed we’d be able to afford it had this program not come along. To have everything provided free of charge, and the coaches here are super dedicated and are excited to be here. They do motivate the kids and provide encouragement. It’s a blessing.”

Sometimes, all it takes is an opportunity and a little encouragement for a kid to try skating and find a lifelong passion.

“The first time I got on the ice, I was petrified,” Caraballo said. “I’m in skates and touching ice is the newest experience for a child. It took a parent to tell me to try and find out how fun it is. The moment I touched the ice I never stopped skating.”

Throughout the years, Garvin ran a program with an equal emphasis on education and hockey. He organized trips to colleges all around the United States to introduce the career possibilities for the kids in the program, opening their eyes to the wonderful possibilities in store for them.

"They'll visit a college or prep school and hear from guest speakers," Garvin said. "Then they think, ‘hey I can do that.’ And they start to chase that dream.”

Caraballo has looked up to Garvin for a decade and it’s clear that she aspires to be just like him. In addition to her goal of making Buffalo State University’s hockey team, she’s planning on majoring in business administration or sports management to get a grasp of what it takes to run a non-profit.

“I saw someone putting so much hard work into making this program grow,” Caraballo said. “It was really the main reason why, little by little, I started loving this program more. I saw him involved with the kids, going on the ice and showing us how much fun it could be.”

The future of Ice Hockey in Harlem is bright. Caraballo for one, has her sights set on being a part of the future of the program by giving back and providing an inspiring example for the next generation. She’s just one of the hundreds of kids the organization positively impacts every season.

“Without Ice Hockey in Harlem, I wouldn't be me,” Caraballo said. “This program shaped me as a person. Being with the kids and teaching them what I went though is the best experience I could ever have. Working with these kids means everything to me. They learn something new every day and they have fun doing it.”