Hershey Bears Players go Back to School…Kind of

Hershey Bears Zach Miskovic, Andrew Carroll, and Jacob Micflikier pose for a photo with the 2nd grade students of Nye Elementary

Students at Nye Elementary in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania are use to reading a story with their mother or father, even their brother or sister. But Wednesday afternoon was a bit different, as Hershey Bears players Keith Aucoin, Ryan Potulny, Garrett Mitchell, Andrew Carroll, Zach Miskovic, and Jacob Micflicker came to the school to read to first and second graders.

Many of the players have read before to kids, but not all in Hershey. “We did it back home in Juniors” said Bears forward Garrett Mitchell, who is playing his first full season with the Bears. “For us, it’s awesome. It gets us out in the community. The kids want to see us doing normal things like reading, so when we have the chance to sign up and put a sheet up, it’s always full. Guys want to do it, so it’s something good for us”

Jacob Micflikier remembered when he was a kid back in Winnipeg. “It’s always fun for me. I grew up idolizing sports guys like the Winnipeg Jets when I was a young kid. Always having guys come to schools and read to us was kind of a big experience. Anything I can give back a little bit and see the look in some of the kids faces and get to enjoy the experience, it’s fun for me.”

“It’s great to get to see their smiles and the excitement for the kids, nothing’s better. It puts a smile on your face,” defenseman Zach Miskovic said. “It’s exciting to read to the kids. The attention that they give you and all the questions and stories…more stories they get to tell you, so it’s fun”

More photos from the day (All photos by Kyle Mace. Click to enlarge)
Keith Aucoin introducing himself to the kids

Keith Aucoin getting ready to read Snowmen at Night

Not sure why the teacher did not read and Aucoin assisted, because he is one of the best of all times at helping

Coiner finishes the book, much to the amusement of the monkey in the background

Potulny shows an illustration in his book

That is one big sneeze

Time to get artsy…

Garrett Mitchell takes questions from 1st grades

Mitchell listens closely as a student asks a question

Surprisingly, there were no questions about fighting!

Zach Miskovic with the quote of the day “My favorite color? Well, red,” as he pointed to his hat. “I also like blue and yellow. I like smiley faces.”

Zach Miskovic tells the kids about who is on the team and their first names

Jacob Micflikier is interviewed

Mitchell also being interviewed