By Jacob Heid

STEVENS POINT — Interacting with the community is one way to give back if you are a college athlete. 

The annual tradition of Pointers hockey skating with second graders continued on Jan. 16 at K.B. Willett Arena but came with a few changes. 

The UW-Stevens Point Men’s and Women’s hockey teams both joined the fun of skating with area first and second-graders from Bannach Elementary School. 

“It’s always been second grade. This year it’s first and second because we’re not doing pen pals,” said second-grade teacher Kris Kunkel. 

Ann Ninnemann, the women’s head hockey coach, explained this is the first year being a part of this tradition but loves what it’s about. 

“This is the first year that our program has been back at the Willett, so this is the first year that we have done this big group skate with Bannach,” she said. “There are a lot of young kids here we recognize that come to our games, which I think is great. Our players love the engagement with the youth, with the community.” 

“How do kids not bring a smile to your face?” Ninnemann also said. “I think it’s fun both ways. [The students] like to have the college hockey players here, but I think our college players enjoy it just as much working with the young kids.”    

This group skate tradition started back in 1986 when then Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) Head Coach Jack Stoskopf brought up the idea of elementary students skating with the high school team. 

That carried on to Wil Nichol, who took over for Stoskopf and brought it to UW-Stevens Point when he became head coach in 2007. 

It brings excitement to the players and students every year.

“[The kids] are more than excited,” Kunkel stated. “I had kids that wanted to know when they got to school, ‘was the goalie going to skate with them,’ I mean, there are a lot of kids from Bannach that come to the hockey games and see the players.” They were all in their places. Everybody had their snow pants; everybody had their money, you know, it was wonderful.”

After its first year participating, the UW-Stevens Point women’s hockey team wants to continue being a part of it. 

“Yeah, I think it’s going to be great,” said Ninnemann about continuing to do group skates. “If we can do more, that’s even better. I think it’s good for our players to give back and understand how many people actually look up to them and view them as somebody prominent in the community.”