By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
When Cole Bardreau was growing up, first in the Cayuga County city of Auburn, then in Fairport, the household budget didn’t include a great deal of discretionary income.
Which can create challenges when the hockey-playing son is really good at the game he loves.
The sport is crazy expensive to begin with, from the never-ending need for skates for growing feet to all the other equipment necessary just to get onto the ice.
Then factor in the cost of ice time that players are required to share, and all of a sudden this recreational venture costs well into four figures every year.
And that’s if you’re just an OK player. If you’re really good, and earn a spot with a top-tier travel team, then costs really climb, what with hotels, and team apparel, and meals on the road and even more ice time.
“It’s outrageous how expensive it is,” Bardreau said. “It’s $1,000 for a pair of skates. Over $200 for a new stick.”
And not every family can afford it. Which is why Bardreau spearheaded the formation of HockeyBuddies.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose purpose is to help meet the financial needs for families that couldn’t otherwise afford to have a son or daughter playing the sport.
The organization’s first major event is the Charity Cup on Saturday, a day of live music, food vendors, a silent auction, and a meet-and-greet with around two dozen current and former professional players from the area, capped by a game featuring those players.
Festivities start at noon at the Rochester Ice Center in Perinton and the game will be at 3 p.m. Brian Gionta, Nathan Paetsch, David Farrance, Dalton Smith, Matt and Phil Lane and Nathan Sucese are among the players scheduled to participate.
“I’ve always felt very indebted to the Rochester community,” said Bardreau, who is preparing for his eighth season of professional hockey and fourth in the New York Islanders organization.
“Rochester was so welcoming and so giving to me and my mom (Debbie). One family paid for my airfare to a tournament. Different families would let me bunk up with them on road trips.”
He couldn’t thank them enough, and throughout a development path that took him to the USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, Cornell University and eventually pro hockey, Bardreau knew he needed to pay it forward.
“I’ve always wanted to give back and help kids who aren’t as fortunate,” said Bardreau, the CEO of Hockey Buddies. Matt Lane, who grew up in Greece, is the chief marketing officer; Reece Wilcox is the chief operating officer; and Anthony Stolarz is head of fundraising. Bardreau, Wilcox and Stolarz are former teammates with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
“All of us are super grateful for the support we received, and me and Matty have always kind of spit-balled how we could give back,” Bardreau said. “Hockey has been great to me; the people I’ve met, the places I’ve gone.”
Hockey Buddies sponsored a 9-year-old from Fairport last season, and money raised through the Charity Cup will enable the organization to support even more kids next season.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children 12-and-under. The silent auction will include signed team jerseys from the Islanders and Anaheim Ducks, and signed Buffalo Sabres jerseys of Gionta and Alex Tuch, and a Vegas Golden Knights jersey signed by Jack Eichel.
Visit HockeyBuddies.org for to buy tickets, or for more information on the event and the organization.
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