York College ice hockey makes memories with York Polar Bears at charity game

The York College ice hockey team’s connection with the York Polar Bears goes all the way back to the beginning. Today, it runs deeper than ever.

York College coach Rick Guinan got his club team involved almost immediately after the Polar Bears organization, which provides children and young adults with developmental disabilities with the opportunity to participate in hockey, was established in 2016. Spartan student-athletes mentor Polar Bears year-round and form bonds that remain strong outside the sport.

On Sunday at York Ice Arena, the organizations shared the ice for their third annual charity game. It was a heartwarming event for all in attendance.

“The smiles on the kids’ faces when they come off the ice and they’re giving you a high five, it’s just amazing,” Guinan said. “And they’re giving you a big hug after the game. It’s just extremely satisfying that we’re using our sport … to help others who have overcome some great challenges.”

The money raised from the game will be split 50-50 between the two teams and will be used to assist with tournament fees, jerseys and equipment, ice time and more. The 2023 game raised $15,000 in total, and the organizations hope to exceed that figure when the final number comes in later this week.

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At the start of each season, York College players register through the Polar Bears — Steve Wagner, a Spartan assistant coach, is now the organization’s president — in order to attend and mentor kids at practices. At each York College home game, a selected Polar Bear serves as the Spartans’ honorary captain, joining the team in the locker room and on the ice before the game.

“As soon as I saw that organization (in 2016), I knew that we definitely had to get involved with our college athletes mentoring and helping out with the Polar Bear kids,” Guinan said. “There’s so many great life lessons that are learned through their participation there, and it’s good for both ends. It really makes our kids think about how lucky they are, and to see what kind of challenges others face and how you have to persevere, and to use the game to give back to their community.”

If you ask Nathan Buss, of the youngest Polar Bears, to name his favorite hockey team, his answer is York College. And his favorite player is junior left winger Evan Kays, who’s become like a big brother to him through years of mentorship. Buss and his family have traveled to watch Kays play not only for the Spartans, but in a men’s league in Maryland.

And when York College hit the road in late February for the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League tournament in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, there was a box on the bus filled with snack bags packed by Buss’ family. Nathan even left handwritten messages.

“Whatever we’re doing is making a difference,” Guinan said, “and that’s why we’re doing it.”

The Polar Bears have grown enough to support two separate teams this year — one for more advanced players and another for beginners, allowing players of differing abilities to work on different sets of skills. Skaters of all levels, including York College players, were scattered across both rosters on Sunday.

“We tried to give them the opportunity to score goals during the game and give them the puck and help them throughout the course of the day,” Guinan said.

Being a club team instead of a varsity squad presents plenty of challenges for the Spartans. Ice hockey practices are scheduled around players’ classes instead of the other way around. The team has a lengthy break during the winter while students are away from campus. Games and weekly practices are sometimes held as late as 9 or 10 p.m. because that’s when the Spartans can rent out the rink. It’s an expensive sport and a big time commitment on top of being a college student.

As long as a Polar Bears practice doesn’t conflict with a game, however, at least a couple of Spartan players will have taken the time to be on hand and help out.

“After the first time they go, you really don’t have to twist their arm to show up again,” Guinan said.

Guinan, who has served as a high school teacher and athletic trainer for 37 years, is retiring from both Central York High School and York College this summer. Wagner is also leaving the Spartans’ hockey program. But there’s no question that the partnership between the two sides will continue for years to come.

“It’s just really, really great that we can make these connections and make these relationships work,” Guinan said.

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