Youth hockey players support Kids Kupboard during annual Outskating Hunger event

PALMER — Local youth hockey players gathered at the MTA Events Center in downtown Palmer to raise funds and awareness for Kids Kupboard during the 2023 OutSkating Hunger event Friday, Dec. 29.

Palmer Moose Hockey went head-to-head with Valley Thunder 10U 2023-2024 with young Pioneer Amateur Hockey Association 8U players also participating in various activities.

"It went really well," event organizer Joe Warren said.

This annual charity match focuses on supporting Kids Kupboard while keeping local youth hockey players active and getting them involved with the community. Warren said it was touching to witness so many youth hockey players coming together for a common cause.

"It's pretty cool to watch," Warren said.

In addition to the charity match, the event featured a free spaghetti dinner. 100 percent of the admission sales and the spaghetti dinner donations went to Kids Kupboard.

Kids Kupboard is a local nonprofit dedicated to feeding local children in need across the Mat-Su Valley. Warren said it's a very important cause to support.

"It's a pretty amazing program that they've got there," Warren said. "At the end of the day, their mission is amazing."

Attendees threw stuffed animals onto the ice during the Teddy Bear Toss in the first intermission. The donated stuffed animals were distributed to the Palmer Fire Department which gives them to local children affected by emergency situations.

Warren said this event was a great way for younger hockey players to spend time with high school players and look up to them as positive role models.

All the participating youth hockey players helped out in a variety of ways throughout the event such as collecting the stuffed animals during the Teddy Bear Toss.

"It's pretty inspirational for them," Warren said. "They've got huge hearts. It's exciting to see those kids get involved."

According to Warren, various community members and local organizations invested time and resources to make the Outskating Hunger event possible such as Mat-Su Health Foundation who was an event sponsor and the Palmer City Council who donated the rink time.

"It was an idea and it took off with tons of people involved… I think it's great. It's pretty cool how easily something like this comes together," Warren said. "Everyone wants to chip in. Everyone wants to help. It's always 'we.' It's never an 'I.' It's like hockey; you can't do it by yourself. It takes the entire team. They pulled together and made it happen… We want to keep this event going for years to come. I hope this sticks around for a long time."

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com