Princeton NJ Non-Profit Press Releases

(TRENTON, N.J.) — Trenton Ironhawks Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Chuck Weber traded the rink for the gym on June 16, dropping in on Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County for an afternoon with local youth that was anything but ordinary.

Weber got right into it — on the floor with Club members, sticks in hand, showing them moves and mixing it up in a gym that, for a little while, had all the energy of game night. For a coach who lives and breathes the game, the afternoon offered something different: a chance to bring hockey directly to local youth right in the Ironhawks' own neighborhood.

The Ironhawks rink at CURE Insurance Arena sits just around the corner from the Centre Street Clubhouse, and Weber said the closeness made the visit feel like a no-brainer. The team and the Club are practically neighbors, and stopping by was a chance to act like it.

"This location is right around the corner from the rink, so there's a great opportunity to build a connection between the Ironhawks and the Boys & Girls Club," Weber said. "We're excited to give the kids in this local community their first taste of hockey."

As the Ironhawks prepare to take the ice in Trenton this fall, Weber's visit reflected the team's commitment to the city from the start. For the Club members who spent the afternoon with him, it was a chance to interact with someone at the top of his field and to see firsthand what passion for a sport looks like up close. Weber served as an assistant coach of the Trenton Titans in 2001, making this return to the city a sort of homecoming.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County President and CEO Reginald J. Coleman said afternoons like this one are at the heart of what the Club does, providing opportunities for young people and surrounding them with positive influences.

"We're thrilled to have the Ironhawks as part of our community and look forward to creating meaningful experiences for our Club members," Coleman said. "Their support is about inspiring young people, encouraging them to try new things, and showing them what's possible when we all come together."

Weber didn't come empty-handed — he also brought a donation of hockey equipment and invited Club members to attend the Ironhawks' opening night, ensuring the afternoon was just the start of something bigger.