For more than 20 years, the McConnell Education Foundation has given out grants each year to those high school hockey programs in hopes of developing and growing a hockey culture in central Ohio.
With this year's donations
, the foundation has contributed more than $1.6 million in support of the prep hockey scene.
"The only way you are going to grow a hockey city is if you give back to minor hockey and the high school programs," former Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash said.
While teams were welcome to bring their full squads to the game, a pregame reception featuring team captains and leaders was hosted by Blue Jackets vice president of operations and development JD Kershaw. It included a special guest in Nash, who is now back in Columbus working in the team's front office as the organization's director of player development.
Players and parents alike were excited to hear from the team's all-time leading scorer as Nash discussed his career with the Jackets and provided words of wisdom for the young players.
"It was cool listening to someone you have looked up to your entire childhood," RJ Stoller from Thomas Worthington High School said. "Rick Nash was the guy that made me a Blue Jackets fan and got me into playing hockey. Hearing him talk about something that I am a part of was really special."
Nash embodies the Blue Jacket culture the organization is striving to build, as well as the ties to the central Ohio hockey scene. In addition to the growing high school and junior ranks, the Blue Jackets currently have three hometown players on the roster, including Columbus native Jack Roslovic, Dublin native Sean Kuraly and Columbus-born rookie Cole Sillinger, who no doubt inspire youth hockey players in the area.
As cool as it was to hear from the legendary Nash, the event was also a great team-bonding experience for the players, according to Grant Hendrickson of Olentangy Orange.
"It was awesome to listen to Rick Nash talk about his hockey journey because he was one of my favorite players when I was younger," Hendrickson said. "But the night was also special because we got to hang out with your team and build our off-ice relationships and talk with kids from other schools."
Thanks to the McConnell family and the support from the Blue Jackets organization, high school hockey programs will continue to grow in central Ohio so long as there are people like Nash that kids can look up to.
