November 30, 2022 | Stories
In September, hundreds of fans filled INTRUST Bank Arena for the first-ever National Hockey League (NHL) game in Wichita – including young hockey fans who were surprised with admission to see their favorite teams on ice.
“When receiving tickets, the kids were incredibly thankful,” said Wichita Youth Hockey Association (WYHA) Coordinator Sabrina Pfeifer. “Their reactions were all pure excitement and joy.”
This generous act sprung from WF fund holder Nicholas Hunt’s passion for hockey and desire to offset the costs for kids to enter and enjoy the sport.
“The closest NHL team locations are in Dallas, Denver and St. Louis,” said Pfeifer. “A handful of parents commented that without this gift, their child would not have been able to attend the game.”
As a charitable partner and resource, WF staff worked with the Association to collectively turn Hunt’s charitable goal into a reality. With a gift from the Nicholas H. Hunt Fund at WF, the Association provided kids and adults with arena seats to watch the match between the Arizona Coyotes and the St. Louis Blues.
“To experience an NHL game live was one of the highlights of my life growing up,” said Hunt. “We have a rich history of hockey here in Wichita. The fact that the game was in our hometown only made sense to expose those kids to some of the best hockey the world can offer.”
