The Philadelphia Flyers have intervened to assist two young girls in saving a much-loved Pennsylvania hockey rink from being converted into a pickleball court. Natalie Van Druff and Lilly Walter took it upon themselves to advocate for the preservation of the rink, and their efforts did not go unnoticed.
When the local township announced its intentions to repurpose the hockey rink, Natalie and Lilly were resolute in their determination to save it. The two friends were taken aback by the news and recognized the need to take action to safeguard a place where they had spent numerous hours playing hockey, rollerblading, and simply enjoying their childhood.
In an unexpected turn of events, the Philadelphia Flyers, who had been monitoring the girls’ campaign, decided to offer their support. Upon learning about Natalie and Lilly’s mission, the Flyers’ Charities team promptly took action to endorse their cause.
Blair Listino, President of Flyers Charities, was impressed by the girls’ resolve and immediately recognized the significance of their cause. After receiving media coverage about their efforts, Listino promptly mobilized his team to devise a plan to assist Natalie and Lilly in their mission to preserve the hockey rink.
The Flyers extended an invitation to Natalie and Lilly to visit their training center in Voorhees, New Jersey. During the visit, the girls had the opportunity to meet forward Garnet Hathaway, who presented them with a generous £200,000 cheque to finance the necessary repairs to restore the hockey rink to its former glory.
Natalie, thrilled by the unexpected turn of events, shared, “Me and Lily were just like, ‘Oh my God, this is real life.’ We were just really, really happy. There’s no words to describe the feeling that we felt.” Meanwhile, Lilly described the experience as “absolutely amazing,” even mentioning an unexpected visit from the Flyers’ mascot, Gritty.
With the financial assistance from the Flyers, Natalie and Lilly now have the means to restore the hockey rink. In addition to refurbishing the rink, the girls will be able to install new hockey nets, a penalty box, boards, tiles, and other necessary improvements to ensure that the rink is in top-notch condition for future use.
Blair Listino commended the girls for their dedication, stating, “To see little girls dig in and put in this effort is truly amazing.”
The heartwarming story of Natalie and Lilly’s successful campaign, combined with the generous support from the Philadelphia Flyers, serves as a reminder of the positive impact that individuals and organizations can have when they unite for a worthy cause. With the hockey rink on course for a much-needed makeover, the community is eagerly anticipating the return of a beloved local landmark for all to enjoy.