Penguins Foundation provides hockey equipment to area schools

PITTSBURGH — A first-of-its-kind program from the Penguins Foundation is aiming to provide hockey equipment to local elementary schools.

Pens-Fit is delivering goals, sticks and other equipment to about 250 elementary schools in Allegheny County.

Kids at Neil Armstrong Middle School in Bethel Park got to test out the equipment Friday in a pickup game with Ice Burgh and Stanley Cup champion Phil Borque.

“Just watching the excitement in the kids’ eyes is great. Some kids probably never picked up a hockey stick before, and in five minutes they’re having the time of their life,” Borque said.

Each set of hockey gear is worth about $1,000.

“I’m really excited because it promotes our physical education program and some of the values like teamwork, collaboration, working together and lifelong fitness,” Armstrong Middle School Principal Michael Brookie said.

The Pens Foundation said they hope to expand the program to 600 schools in 10 counties.

WPXI