Philadelphia Flyers Charities have made a significant donation to the efforts to refurbish a local hockey rink after two 11-year-old girls saved the rink from becoming pickleball courts in October.

Philadelphia Flyers Charities have made a significant donation to the efforts to refurbish a local hockey rink after two 11-year-old girls saved the rink from becoming pickleball courts in October.

The New Hanover Community Park ball hockey rink was in danger of being turned into pickleball courts before local girls Lilly Walter and Natalie Van Druff, who frequently played hockey together at the rink, brought forward a petition to save it. The pair also spoke at the township's recreation committee meeting to further their cause. 

While the committee decided to keep the space a hockey rink, it was undoubtedly in need of an update. Walter and Van Druff used a ball hockey rink in Gloucester Township—which had also been renovated in partnership with the Flyers in 2021—as a reference for the New Hanover Township municipal meeting.

Flyers Charities heard about Walter and Van Druff's tireless efforts to create a quality hockey rink for their community and, in turn, donated $200,000 to help the rink get hockey nets, boards, flooring, benches, and penalty boxes, replacing the original asphalt surface and chain link fence enclosing the space.

The check was presented by Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway and Gritty while the girls visited the Flyers Training Center.

"When we learned of Lilly and Natalie's remarkable initiative to preserve their community's beloved ball hockey rink, it was an unequivocal decision to rally behind them," said Blair Listino, president of Flyers Charities. "One of our main pillars is growing the game of hockey and their determination to make a difference exemplifies that. With this donation, we are thrilled to help them create a space where their passion for the sport can thrive and their neighbors are inspired to embrace hockey."

"This experience has been so amazing," said Natalie Van Druff. "I'm so grateful that the township approved our proposal for our dream hockey home. I'd also like to thank Flyers Charities for donating $200,000 to make it happen. I never would have thought that we would build a hockey rink with our favorite hockey team!"

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