The start of a new school year is already a cause for excitement among students. But at Glen Ames Senior Public School in Toronto’s east end, the excitement was compounded on Sept. 8 by a visit from some NHLers promoting a new educational tool called Future Goals.
Representatives of the National Hockey League and its players’ association descended on the Williamson Road school in the Beach neighbourhood to engage the students in their new program.
Among those visiting was Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Reilly.
“When I was a kid, we never had this.” Reilly said. “I think that the league is doing a great thing being able to help these kids relate what they’re learning to sports. Whether it’s hockey or it’s something else, it’s pretty cool and I think they’re enjoying it, which is the main thing. It’s a great thing to be a part of.”
Dion Phaneuf, Tyler Seguin, Sean Monahan, and Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin also spent the majority of the afternoon with the students using the new teaching tool.
Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik Sedin believes Toronto is a perfect place to launch this program.
“Whenever you can use something outside of school to learn, I think it’s awesome,” he said, “and for it to be hockey is exciting for us, especially in a hockey-crazed city like Toronto. It’s great.”
Future Goals successfully combines sport with students STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and math). The NHL believes the integration of hockey into the education system will provide a fun and resourceful teaching method for kids across North America.
