Flint, Michigan – Rico Phillips spent more than a decade fighting fires during his career, and is now retired. flint Firefighters are keeping children on ice.
He runs Flint Inner City Youth Hockey, a nonprofit organization that teaches hockey to kids.
“Are you ready to skate today? Come have some fun with us,” Phillips said when welcoming a new group of participants to the program last January.
While participants sat with their parents, Phillips hinted at the life lessons to be learned from the experience.
“That ice has a hard surface,” Phillips said. “It's slippery. You'll fall. It's okay.” “
Phillips, the nonprofit's founder, teaches Flint children ages 7 to 12 how to skate and play hockey.
“Most kids here in Flint don't identify with ice hockey, so we need to get them on the ice and teach them ice skating skills and ultimately teach them the skills to play hockey. “We know that's a skill that no one can learn from them,” Phillips said.
At an introductory meeting last January, he encouraged participants to take advantage of the opportunity to play hockey.
“I want you to go through this experience with me to really embrace what you’re getting,” Phillips said. “Ice hockey is one of the most expensive sports.''
The free program from January to March will be offered for the 10th consecutive year.
“For most people, the first week is pure anxiety,” Phillips said. “They're scared of falling and getting hurt and all that and looking stupid.”
When Phillips was playing hockey, you didn't see many faces like him.
“I had a dream that other people would have the same opportunities that I had later in life, but I wanted to offer it earlier,” Phillips said.
Former program participant Kaiden Perkins remembers his days in Flint Inner City Youth Hockey.
He now considers Phillips a mentor.
“He helped me a lot,” Perkins said. “And all the equipment he gave me for free was a blessing to him.”
He encouraged his younger brother, Kyson Perkins, to join the program this year.
“I love skating,” Kyson said. “I like shooting and I like training.”
“Every time he comes home, I ask him how he's doing and things like that,” Kaiden said.
Susan Kroner, Kaiden and Kaison's grandmother, is grateful for the program.
“It’s important for these kids to have something to do and something positive to focus on,” she said.
The program always ends with a big game, where participants are divided into two teams and compete against each other.
“I want you to practice all the skills you've learned. It's time to show everyone,” Phillips said before the players took to the ice last March. “Remember, this is for fun. We're going to keep score, but the score doesn't really matter.”
Phillips said the important thing is for kids to try something new and be successful. He knows that while some people will continue playing hockey, many will not.
“We want all the kids who can play hockey to play hockey as much as possible,” Phillips said. “I think because I'm a realist, I know they can't do it. There are still a lot of barriers. We help kids overcome those barriers. .”
Kaiden has developed a love for ice hockey and continues to play it, and Kaison plans to do the same.
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