Dallas Stars spread hockey with under-represented communities – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

When the Dallas Stars are within the postseason, Al Montoya mentioned everybody wins, particularly the group.

Montoya is the primary Cuban-American to play within the NHL and is at the moment the Dallas Stars Vice President of Cultural Progress and Technique. Montoya is keen about rising the Stars and the sport of hockey with under-represented communities each regionally and internationally.

“We simply got here again from a visit to Mexico Metropolis and we might be going again there quickly,” Montoya mentioned. “For us, that is actually a possibility to essentially present what we have been doing and get our message throughout.”

That message is that hockey is a recreation for everybody. Their mission is to carry that message to kids who might not in any other case have had entry.

“We launched a Be taught to Play program. It is a six-week program for youths from 4 to 10 years outdated in Mexico Metropolis. We began it in April and they’ll graduate from this system in Might. This can be a probability for them to be launched to the sport that we love a lot and provides them that probability to play,” Montoya mentioned.

50 youngsters are a part of this system, in partnership with the Nationwide Hockey League.

Domestically, Montoya has labored with the Boys & Women Membership of Better Dallas to companion within the free Future Stars initiative, introducing hockey at faculties and amenities throughout the area. The Future Stars program has grown from two areas in 2023 to 9 areas in 2024. The applications obtain assist and gear to implement weekly youth hockey applications in underserved communities.

The group added the Stanley Cup Playoffs present an enormous enhance in fan engagement and group outreach. The amplified consideration and consciousness have elevated the fundraising efforts of the 50/50 raffle at residence video games. Fifty % of the jackpot proceeds raised profit the Dallas Stars Basis, nurturing and enriching the lives of North Texans by means of Youth Hockey, Neighborhood Engagement and Well being and Schooling.

The Dallas Stars are within the second spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche.