PENGUINS HELP TO MAKE HOLIDAY BRIGHTER

Standing at 6-6 and 230 pounds, Joey Mormina certainly cuts an imposing figure on the ice.

The imposing defenseman has shown he’s not one to shy away from a fight, having dropped the gloves six times last season while a member of the Albany River Rats, and three times through his first 20 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

He took the gloves off again in late November, but for a much more delicate outing than a hockey game.

Mormina, Connor James, Ryan Stone and Chris Minard (along with their significant others) joined a group of special friends to create holiday ornaments for the 19th annual Parade of Trees, hosted by the Grotto Pizza at Harvey’s Lake. The Parade of Trees sees local business and organizations showcase decorated trees at the Grotto, and customers can then vote for their tree of choice with a one dollar donation. All money raised for each tree is given to that organization, and put to a charity of that group’s choice. The tree that raises the most money at each location receives an additional donation from Grotto Pizza.

The Penguins Booster Club has been involved with the event for the past several years, and this season decided to put their efforts toward helping children with Down Syndrome. The Booster Club recruited the Penguins players to help out a group of children inflicted with the disorder in making this year’s ornaments.

“It looks like the players are having a very good time, they’re very crafty and making a lot of ornaments,” said Vicky Silva, President of the Penguins Booster Club. “The children, the smiles on their faces say everything. They’ve really enjoyed the players being here. They’ve also enjoyed Tux being here, and I think it’s a great cause.

“We love seeing the children having a smile on their face. Especially these kids, they’re special kids. They’re really lovable, and we like to do anything we can to help out in the community.”

Mormina and his wife, Anne, were among those doing the cutting, pasting and painting, and couldn’t have enjoyed the experience more.

“It’s definitely a chance for us to get back to a time when we’re five or six years old, making Christmas decorations. We don’t really get a chance to do it that often now, and I don’t have any kids yet, so it’s kind of preparation for that,” he said. “That’s really what it’s all about…putting smiles on kids faces. This makes their week, it makes their month. It’s such a big night for them, it’s really a big night for us too.”

James and Stone had a little competition going on at the far end of the table, trying to see who could come up with the most creative and festive tree hangings.

“It’s a lot of fun. We came in here and I think we’re getting taught how to make these crafts from these kids,” James commented. “I’m looking over at Stoney’s, and what he’s making is not very good. But it’s fun, and the guys are enjoying it. It’s nice that we can help out.

“Any time you can give back, it’s nice to. And especially, a thing like tonight, it’s a lot of fun too. It’s nice to get the recognition around the holidays, but it’s something you wish you could do all year round. The more awareness, the more stuff we can do to help out, the better it is.”

Silva said that the Booster Club has done well at the Parade of Trees over the years, regularly finishing near the top of the donations list. This season they want to come in at the top of the trees.

“We’re going to be decorating the tree [this] week, we’ll be using the ornaments that they’re making tonight,” she said. “We’re trying to win this. Every year we’ve come in second or third place, so we want to be first this year.

“The winner gets a portion of everyone’s profits, and all the money that’s donated goes right to a charity locally.”

Maybe a small portion of the money raised could go toward funding some art lessons for the Penguins players.

“We’re not the best at arts and crafts,” said James, “but we’re trying and having a lot of fun.”