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NewsletterNuggets, Avs, Rapids, Mammoth team up for KSE Youth Day
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They played hoops, booted kicks and went home with Avalanche hockey sticks.
All in all, a pretty cool way to spend one of the final days of summer.
About 75 boys and girls ages 8 to 14 took part in the second-annual Kroenke Sports Youth Day at Northridge Park in Highlands Ranch. Proceeds from the event will benefit community youth sports teams through grants given by Kroenke Sports Charities.
Former Nuggets player Mark Randall, Colorado Rapids players Steven Emory and Chris Sharpe and Colorado Mammoth players Connor Martin and Jarett Park helped the kids learn the basics of basketball, street hockey, lacrosse and soccer. Colorado Avalanche mascot Bernie also was on hand to help out and sign autographs.
“It was awesome,” Randall said. “It’s a unique opportunity for kids to come out, have some fun and learn different sports. There were kids there who had never picked up a lacrosse stick or never thought about picking up a hockey stick. They had a blast.”
The participants, several of whom came from as far as Broomfield, Evergreen and Lafayette, received T-shirts, lunch, a hockey stick compliments of the Avalanche and two tickets to a game of their choice.
Doug Fulton, senior manager of fan development for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, received great feedback from parents following the event, which was sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods.
“The day was very well-managed and my son had a BLAST!!” one parent wrote. “He did not expect to get a hockey stick at the end of the event; that made his day!! Thank you and you'll see us again next year. We told other friends of ours too!!”
Because of the event’s success since its inception, Fulton said KSE is considering having two camps next summer.
“We’re very excited about the response we’ve had to Youth Day,” Fulton said. “Not only do the kids have fun learning and playing each sport, making new friends and meeting our players, but the money we raise helps support youth sports teams and programs for kids with disabilities and gets kids to games that otherwise couldn’t afford it.”
