Number of Participants: 40
Hours Donated: 2
Value of Time Served: $676
Event Amount Raised: $7,200
Event Type: Civic & Community
Sport: Ice Hockey
School: Syosset Senior High School
Date: April 27, 2024
Location:
Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center
Stewart Avenue, Bethpage
NY
About:
On a random Saturday night in 2022, after a long day of hockey games and homework in between, we found ourselves dozing off with ESPN on the television. Hockey was on so of course we had one eye open but it wasn’t a game, it was a piece about University of Michigan Hockey, a coach that was there before we were born and a hockey player named Scott Matzka. We learned he got sick and the disease was ALS. We saw him in a wheelchair, with a breathing tube and then a montage of pictures of his wife and two little kids. We looked at each other and just said, “We’ll help him.”, and drifted off to sleep. Over the next couple of days we learned Scott’s full story and how he had died a few years ago. With heavy hearts we started to discuss what we could do and it didn’t take long to decide we would play our game in his honor. We can get a rink, get our high school team and an opponent on board and charge $10 admission because Scott wore #10 at U of M. By doing this, we hope to help families affected by ALS with their home remodeling or healthcare costs. We play hockey seven days a week and sometimes the grind gets to us, but Scott’s story reminded us how lucky we are that our legs can skate, our hands can stick handle and our arms can shoot and score. ALS took that away from Scott and the opportunity for him to teach his kids to skate and play like our dad did. There’s no rhyme or reason behind who gets ALS-no pinpoint able cause and more devastatingly, there’s no cure. That’s why we decided to use our game for good to raise money for ALS families and awareness. We take a lot for granted as humans moving through this world generally, and playing hockey specifically, so our hope is that our endeavor inspires enough gratefulness, empathy, humility and compassion to make a meaningful impact within the ALS Community. We have organized this game every year since then and have raised over $37,000.
Joe and Jake Gagliano
www.the364.org
PS Joe has since gone to college so this year Jake organized the game on his own. Each game takes three – four months to produce (300 hours). Through the volunteer organization the brothers founded in 2021, The 364, they recruit volunteers and market the game to raise the most money possible and attract attendees. They have been thankful to have Howie’s Hockey Tape provide the commemorative pucks and jerseys each year.
