FLINT, Mich. – Rico Phillips made a career out of putting out fires, but for more than a decade, the now-retired Flint firefighter has been putting kids on ice.
He runs Flint Inner City Youth Hockey, a nonprofit that teaches kids to play hockey.
“Are you ready to skate today? You are going to have some fun with us,” Phillips said as he welcomed a new group of participants in the program last January.
As the participants sat with their parents, Phillips alluded to the life lessons that would come out of the experience.
“That ice is a hard surface,” Phillips said. “It’s slippery. You are going to fall down. It’s ok”.”
Phillips, the nonprofit’s founder, teaches Flint kids between the ages of seven and 12 how to skate and play hockey.
“Most kids here in Flint don’t identify with ice hockey, and so we know that if we get them on the ice and we teach them the skills of ice skating and eventually the skills of playing hockey, it’s a skill that nobody can take from them,” Phillips said.
During the introductory meeting last January, he encouraged participants to take advantage of the opportunity to play hockey.
“I want you to take on this experience with me to really embrace what you are getting,” Phillips said. “Ice hockey is one of the most expensive sports.”
It’s the 10th consecutive year for the free program that runs from January through March.
“From the first week for most of them, it’s pure anxiety,” Phillips said. “They’re scared from anything from falling and hurting themselves and looking goofy.”
When Phillips played hockey growing up, he didn’t see many faces like his.
“I had a dream that others would have the same opportunity that I got late in life, but I wanted to offer it earlier in life,” Phillips said.
Kaiden Perkins, a former program participant, recalls his time in Flint Inner City Youth Hockey.
He now considers Phillips a mentor.
“He has helped me a lot,” said Perkins. “And all that free gear he gave me, that’s nice of him.”
He inspired his younger brother, Kaison Perkins, to lace up this year for the program.
“I like to skate,” said Kaison. “I like to shoot, and I like to do the drills.”
“Every time he comes home, I ask if he is doing good and stuff,” Kaiden said.
Susan Kronner, Kaiden and Kaison’s grandmother, is thankful for the program.
“These kids, it is important for them to have something to do and to have something positive to focus on,” she said.
The program always ends with the Big Game, the participants split up into two teams and compete against each other.
“I want you to practice all the skills that you learned, it is time to show off everybody,” Phillips said before the players hit the ice last March. “Remember, this is for fun. We will keep score, but the score really doesn’t matter.”
Phillips said what matters is the kids succeeded in trying something new. He knows some will continue playing hockey, but many won’t.
“I certainly hope as many kids that can play hockey will play hockey,” Phillips said. “I guess I am just a realist to know they won’t be able to. There are a lot of barriers that are still involved. We help our kids get through some of those barriers.”
Kaiden developed a love of the sport and has continued playing hockey, and Kaison plans to do the same.