The New York Islanders’ development camp had already been humming along on Tuesday, but the best part of the day came after practice.
More than 20 children from Special Olympics New York joined Islanders prospects on the ice, turning a standard camp session into something a lot more personal. The kids were between six and 15 years old and came with different skating backgrounds, which meant the scene around the rink had a little bit of everything: some youngsters moving freely on their own, others using blue skating aids with players right beside them.
For nine-year-old Emerson, it was a first. He doesn’t usually warm up to new experiences, but this one started to click the moment he got a welcoming reception from the prospects and laced up skates for the first time.
Wearing a helmet and skates, Emerson was helped by Tomas Poletin and Gleb Veremyev as they moved him around the ice. Poletin stayed close, skating with him and even handing him a stick to use near the net.
Veremyev added a little extra fun by picking him up and spinning him around in circles. Before long, Emerson was smiling, laughing and clearly having the time of his life while his mom, Dena Civello, watched from the stands.
“He’s usually not into doing new things. It’s scary for him, a lot of times he’s reluctant,” said Civello.
“But when we walked in and the way everyone greeted him, he was comfortable and sensed the welcoming energy. He came right in, put his skates on, and had so much fun today.”
The players said the day meant something to them, too. Poletin called it a chance to help kids who don’t always have the same ease on the ice that the prospects do.
“It’s always great to give back to the fans and especially to these kids, it's not as easy for them as it is for us,” Poletin said. “It’s always great to help them with anything.”
Danny Nelson said the experience gave the players a chance to step back from the usual grind and enjoy why they play in the first place.
“It's a chance for us to slow down a little bit and kind of realize why we do it,” Danny Nelson said. “It’s cool for people who come to games to be with us and have that experience. It was awesome.”
Veremyev said the group also loosened things up by jumping into popular dances and social media trends with the kids, including the “six seven.”
“We were doing trends and stuff like that with some of the kids, it was funny,” Veremyev said. “Just putting a smile on their face and getting away from all the seriousness, just being a child again.”
That part stood out to Rebecca Moran, who watched her three children - Oliver, Ashton and Jeremy - enjoy the afternoon. She said they already like staying active, skating in winter and swimming in summer, but the one-on-one time with the players made this different.
“This is such a great opportunity for them to have one-on-one time with athletes,” Moran said. “All the parents here felt assured that the kids would be taken care of on the ice, and have fun. Not just handling them skating-wise, but behaviorally.”
For the prospects, the day also brought a reminder of what it feels like to be the kid looking up at the people on the ice. Veremyev said the goal was simple: give the children something to remember.
“I remember being a little kid myself, anytime you’re able to get on the ice with older kids or people you look up to, it’s really cool,” Veremyev said. “Perhaps they’ll go to bed thinking about it, I know I did. Hopefully we gave them a good experience to take away from.”
By the end, Emerson had gone from nervous to beaming, and his first time on skates became the kind of memory that sticks.
“It’s really heartwarming to see these professionals be here for our kids,” Civello said. “To be welcomed by everybody here, it means a lot to our community.”
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