Ann Arbor Rockets Receive the Surprise of a Lifetime

DETROIT--The Ann Arbor Rockets special hockey team had their dreams come true Thursday afternoon as they got to skate like the pros at Little Caesars Arena.
In conjunction with the NHL and the NHL Players' Association, the Red Wings launched their annual Hockey is for Everyone initiative by inviting the Rockets to Detroit for what the team thought would be a chance to simply watch an NHL practice.

But with the help of Warrior Hockey, the Red Wings had a surprise waiting for the Rockets players after practice.
Led by Hockey is for Everyone ambassador Justin Abdelkader, nine Red Wings players met with Rockets players, coaches and parents after practice to give them some words of encouragement. As the players lit up with excitement from being face to face with their idols, the Rockets were escorted into an auxiliary locker room where they received more than $12,000 of brand-new hockey equipment, courtesy of Warrior.
Each Rockets player had their name personalized at a locker stall with their own equipment bag underneath. Abdelkader and Red Wings teammates Dylan Larkin, Gustav Nyquist, Darren Helm, Jimmy Howard, Frans Nielsen, Dennis Cholowski, Martin Frk and Thomas Vanek helped the Rockets put on their equipment and helped them pick out their very own stick.

"Oh my gosh, it was amazing," Abdelkader said. "It's just great to be able to interact with them, and obviously partnering with Warrior and giving the equipment away, I think they were all really excited. It was a great way for us to do this giveaway. It was awesome."
Once they were properly dressed, it was time for the Rockets to hit the BELFOR Training Center ice to take a photo with the Red Wings and break in their new gear.
Rockets coach and co-founder Jacqueline Kaufman said it was a day her players will never forget.
"This really means the world to them. It's exciting," said Kaufman, a University of Michigan pediatric neuropsychologist who helped launch the program in 2011. "The Red Wings are great role models for them. Getting to see what it looks like to do a practice where they're doing basic drills and scrimmages, I think it's really good for them to see that."
The Rockets, comprised of 30 tough and enthusiastic athletes ranging from age 8 to 40, joined the program from all over southeastern Michigan. The team competes in the American Special Hockey Association, which provides an accessible opportunity for people with a variety of physical, developmental and/or cognitive disabilities to participate in competitive ice hockey in a safe and encouraging environment.
"I think it's really important," Kaufman said about the Hockey is for Everyone initiative. "Previously, kids who had disabilities weren't able to participate in hockey, and now there's programs popping up everywhere. In Michigan, we have four programs that are really growing. It's a really exciting time.
"To play is a fundamental human activity, and everyone should be allowed to play. There are too many community sports that don't recognize that just with slight modifications, everybody can participate, so it's super important."
This is the third consecutive season the Red Wings have partnered with Warrior for a donation to a special hockey team in Michigan as part of the Hockey is for Everyone initiative. In 2017 at Joe Louis Arena, the Michigan FAR Flyers received the equipment donation, and last season, the Motor City Stars got the surprise of their lifetimes.
"Hockey is for Everyone is a vitally important platform for the Detroit Red Wings as we work to further elevate diversity and inclusion within our sport," said Red Wings director of community relations and Detroit Red Wings Foundation Kevin Brown. "Through the Hockey is for Everyone lens, the team is focused on supporting year-round initiatives and programming that help promote a welcoming environment for all -- on the ice, in the stands and in the locker room."
Larkin said he loves the Hockey is for Everyone initiative and hopes inclusion in hockey continues to grow.

"It's very important," Larkin said. "In our community and every community where there's a rink, it's important for people to know that no matter where you come from or who you are, you can play the game. It's a game that everyone can love. Truly today, you could feel that, and to share what we do and our passion for this sport feels really good."
Abdelkader agreed.
"We want to make hockey a game that's for everyone," he said. "To be able to give some equipment away and help them out, that's a huge part of it. We're just happy and excited to be here and help."
As Michigan natives, Abelkader and Larkin feel especially connected to the metro Detroit community and are excited to give back as much as possible.
"It's very important," Abdelkader said. "This is our community. This is the community that supports us and gives us so much. To be able to give back means a lot. The kids were all excited and fired up."
Larkin said seeing the Rockets players' excitement brought back fond memories from when he was an eager young athlete.
"It's something that's great for the community. Today is a great reminder of what it's all about," Larkin said. "To see how excited they were and excited to watch us practice and jump on the ice after is what hockey is all about.
"It was great to spend some time with them and help them get dressed. Just their excitement waiting by the door to get on the ice brings you back to when you were a kid wanting to get out there as soon as you could."
Hockey is for Everyoneefforts throughout the 2018-19 season culminating in the team's annual Hockey is for Everyone celebration on Sunday, Feb. 17 against the Philadelphia Flyers.