Leave the raking to them

COEUR d'ALENE — Hockey youths traded in their sticks for rakes and their ice skates for work boots Saturday during the Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy’s 2015 Rake-A-Thon.

Wearing their blue, red and white jerseys, more than 30 players went door-to-door in local neighborhoods to spruce up yards and help residents get their leaves and pine needles in order for leaf pickup, which begins in Coeur d'Alene south of Sherman Avenue today.

“It’s awesome so far, we’re raising a bunch of money," said Michael Jensen, 17, of Coeur d'Alene, while working in a yard in the Fairway neighborhood. "We’re just having a lot of fun out here. It’s nice to be giving back to the community."

Michael, who plays defense for the Prep team, has been enrolled in the Coeur d'Alene Hockey Academy for three years. He said he loves the rush of playing hockey, which he plans to pursue as a professional player. He said the team aspect is "fun, just to come together as brothers," and spending the day with his teammates raking to raise some money was worth the sore arms. He said most people were donating at least $15 per yard.

“I just really love giving back to the community, because then people get to know us more and then they can come to our games and support us,” he said. “That just gives us the opportunity to come out and do more things for them, go out and sign pucks for kids maybe someday and just get ourselves out there.”

The Coeur d'Alene Hockey Academy is a nonprofit that is dedicated to developing the academic and athletic growth of student athletes as they participate in practices and games. Its principles are preparation, work ethic, integrity, attitude, accountability and respect. The academy, located at Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d'Alene, allows players access to the facility and locker rooms for the entirety of the 10-month school year, and many out-of-town players billet with team and local families as they attend area schools and participate in the hockey program.

The players are working to raise $120,000 to help sponsor education and hockey tuition. All of the proceeds go to the Coeur d'Alene Youth Education and Athletic Foundation, Inc., which is a nonprofit that promotes and provides a high quality education for student athletes in North Idaho as well as gives them an opportunity to excel athletically.

Head varsity coach Dustin Donaghy of Spokane explained that specifically, the funds will be used for gym equipment, travel costs and scholarships and grants for students who academically excel but financially struggle. He said it's a positive thing that these young men are working for their funds.

“It’s really about the whole experience, being a young adult,” Donaghy said. “They learn a little bit of work ethic and what it’s like to actually support your community. We’re not just an academy — we’re Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy, and we want to represent Coeur d’Alene the best way possible … we want Coeur d’Alene to know that we’re a family and we’re here to help in any which way we can and that we’re here for the right reasons.

“We just want the community to know that we’re here to support and do whatever we can to make Coeur d’Alene better."

Cooper Schroder, 17, of Coeur d'Alene, plays right wing for the Prep team. He hauled a leaf-stuffed black garbage bag over his shoulder like a hockey-playing Santa Claus. He set the bag down to discuss the Rake-A-Thon.

“I’m kind of proud of our team,” he said. “We’re just kind of reaching back to the community for helping us out. A lot of us have scholarships and the community helps us with that. It’s nice to give back.”

He said he has loved hockey since he was little and he also hopes to play professionally. He said people were warm and welcoming to the players as they introduced themselves and worked for the donations.

“I think it’s a really good (cause) because we’ve been handing out billet fliers, trying to get people to do billeting,” he said. “To billet, you pay to do yard work and everything, so it’s really a good deal for them. We need more host families.”

For information, to donate or to have your yard raked by a team of hockey players, call 665-1331 or visit www.cdahockeyacademy.com.