The sale and relocation of coyotes is negatively impacting the Valley of the Sun in a number of ways. Lindsey Frye wants to make sure that doesn't affect youth hockey.
The president and co-founder of the Arizona Kachinas has established the Matt Schott Arizona Hockey Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit organization honoring the former Coyotes hockey development director who passed away in December 2021. The Foundation's goal is to support all youth hockey programs – boys. and girls at all levels in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
“That’s a bit of a redundant title,” Frye said with a laugh. “But every word means something. One of the things that was on Matt's bucket list before he passed away was that he wanted to leave a legacy. Help grow the game here in Arizona. The fact that it was a question mark for him is crazy to me, considering what he's done to make it happen, but to me the word Foundation has meant a lot to the Coyotes over the past 28 years. It also symbolizes the year.
“It's a building block. It's the base of the pyramid. It's a learning play program. It's a continuous play program. It's a school program. It's a physical education curriculum. Everything else at the bottom of the pyramid. We want to make sure that all of these opportunities still exist.”
During the NHL's presence in the Valley, the league supported youth hockey through the Industry Growth Fund (IGF) to the tune of approximately $500,000 annually. Finding alternative sources of funding isn't the only concern for Valley youth hockey coaches.
“For the past 10 years, the Coyotes have had a play-learning program, and the NHL supported and funded that program, so the rink doesn't have to worry about getting kids into the building. ,” said Frye, who also serves as chairman. Coyotes hockey ambassador. “That's big. This brings 700 hockey players to the rink every year.
“People asked me, 'What happens if the coyotes go away?' What's the impact? Well, things like educational play might be shut down. And 700 kids a year… If that goes away, the rink may not feel it in the first or second year, but eventually the amount will start to increase.”
At a press conference announcing the team's sale and relocation to Salt Lake City, Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo said the dormant franchise will continue to support youth hockey. Frye hopes the Coyotes can help alleviate the NHL's losses, but believes youth hockey leaders need to step up as well.
“What we're trying to build with this foundation is not going to impact coyotes. If anything, I see it as complementary or additional,” Frye said. I did. “But when the actual cost to learn how to play is $500, that's a lot for a kid to try a new sport. The NHL was able to bring that down to $250. Now that the NHL is gone, my goal is to is to create an endowment of $10 million that will contribute between $450,000 and $500,000 annually with interest to support youth hockey throughout the Valley.
“We will run those programs. We will keep those programs alive and the goal goal is to make grants to programs or grants to local programs for local links and various local growth initiatives. So we can do that with a $500,000 grant.
“It would be great if we could build a fund beyond that, but the goal is to get it to a sustainable place. And close your eyes and fast forward five to 10 years. NHL teams come back and this fund… There's already a $500,000 budget in the state to fund the growth of youth hockey, and my goal is to make sure we continue to accelerate growth no matter what. That’s it.”
Frye is joined in the foundation by former Coyotes Jason Demers, Greg Adams, Darcy Hordichuk and Michael Grabner. She is also reaching out to a number of business and community leaders, including the late Leighton Accardo's mother, Carly Accardo, Schott's mother, Sherry, and her brother, Trevor. There are other names associated with the foundation, but they remain private at this time.
“I've approached a lot of people, and what I'm looking for from them is not money,” Frye said. “This isn't like Lindsay Frye riding a horse and saying, 'This is what we're going to do.' We need a million dollars from you.'” I added these people to my team. If we build the right team, some of them could be potential investors, but others just have great connections or a certain skill set. – I strongly believe that we can generate momentum and continue this work.”
(Getty Images)
For the Chandler native and 2014 Olympian, youth hockey is personal. She wasn't even 4 years old when the Coyotes arrived in the Valley in 1996.
“Everything good I've ever had in my life has come through this sport,” she said. “If the coyotes hadn't come here, I wouldn't have believed Chandler.” [Polar Ice at the time] It would have been built. I probably wouldn't have had the chance to play and my life would have been completely different.
“I want to make sure that we give that opportunity to other people, not just the girls, but everyone. If you look at when Matt started with the Coyotes, the growth and trajectory that he's had when he's been involved. It's amazing how much he sacrificed and put into growing this hockey community, which I never really put two and two together until I started working on this. I know him firsthand. He was literally in the hospital still answering emails. I'm going to protect what he built.”
Mr. Fry will begin promoting the foundation in early May, promoting ways to support it. Learn more about.
Top photo from Getty Images
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