Kelley Boys Athens Georgia YMCA 2022 Reunion

Peter Stoddard, Stoddard Media

Cobern Kelley was a frogman assigned to a US Navy submarine during World War II. When he was caught in a crossfire vs the Japanese he prayed to get out alive, in which case he would dedicate his life to serving youth back home in Georgia.

Kelley first served as an Athens YMCA part time employee in 1930. He became the full time Physical Director in 1942 and served in that role until his death in 1968.

On Friday night April 15, 2022 I, Peter Stoddard of Stoddard Media, attended an Athens Georgia YMCA Kelley's Boys reunion. They let me into the group because many knew Lewis Grizzard, and I was an Atlanta YMCA Boy.



The April 15 reunion was only the second time the group had gathered since Cobern Kelley died.

Over 200 men attended a tribute to Kelley, who shaped the lives of hundreds of young men for decades. Kelley was a 2nd father to many.

In addition to coaching and camping locally, he would take a school bus full of boys to California or Canada with only a single teenage counselor to assist.

On a trip to Canada Kelley drove from Athens to Pennsylvania before stopping so he could sleep. On trips anywhere a stop by a river or lake meant the boys would swim, usually without swim trunks.

When in Athens Kelley most often slept in a sleeping bag on a mattress at the YMCA Camp Pine Tops, the retreat he organized and built almost single handedly that sadly is no longer.

Kelley was rarely if ever late for anything. On the morning of April 11, 1968 Kelley did not show up for work at the Y. An employee named Filmore went to check on him at Pine Tops and discovered that Kelley had died overnight in that sleeping bag.

As so many did, Filmore loved Kelley. Many Kelley Boys speculate that Filmore may have called that the worst morning of his life.

Later that day every Athens school announced Kelley’s death to students. Many say it was as profound as when they heard that JFK died.



Among the Kelley Boy comments:

“I spent more time at the Y then at school!”

“The real beauty of Kelley was the spiritual qualities that he had. His love for God and Jesus was everything to him, and he wanted us to see and feel it as well. But he was wise enough to not push the concepts of his religion too hard on such young men. Instead he led by example.”

“Kelley was a real Gift From God. I still think of him and the things he taught us and helped us live what we learned. Thank you Kelley. Hope I see you again in Heaven.”

“I think we all remember that day (he died) and hearing the news. It was a life-changing event for most Athenians.”

I had no idea that Lewis Grizzard met Kelley or that he wrote one of many obituaries.



Kelley did not want to be interviewed or have his name in the paper when Lewis approached him months earlier, upon his return from a long summer road trip with a typical group of 70+ boys.

Lewis persisted but got only "yes" "no" answers to questions, and Lewis almost gave up writing anything. Then he got stories from two age 9 and 10 brothers sitting outside. The boys explained to Lewis what Kelley meant to everyone.

Some say that Kelley was the only male authority figure Lewis Grizzard's friend Jake Scott ever respected. That's young Jake on the left with an unknown camper and Kelley.

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Jake was an occasional field trip counselor, and Kelley gave him some freedom to go out on his own in the early evening. Campers who ran into Jake said he wasted no time in finding a pretty girl even at Niagara Falls.

No wonder Lewis liked Jake. Lewis no doubt liked Cobern Kelley.

(Jake Scott was an All American defensive back for UGA and a defensive back for the undefeated Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins. Jake was MVP of that 1973 Super Bowl.)

Kelley’s grave and the chapel he built are at the current 915 Hawthorne Avenue 1967 YMCA facility.



The day of the April 15 reunion many Kelley Boys saw that grave for the first time. Many had to fight back tears.

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) began in London England in 1844. Founder George Williams was dissatisfied with immoral behavior in the city. With other men and boys he met in his home for Bible study.

The first YMCA in the United States was founded in Boston in 1851.

The Athens YMCA was established in 1857 and is the third oldest in the United States. The Civil War disrupted operations, and the Athens Y resumed operations in the 1880s. In 1889 construction began on the first Y building at the corner of Clayton and Lumpkin streets.



In 1919 the second facility was built at the corner of Broad and Lumpkin, where the recently closed Holiday Inn stands. That building included a 1,200 square foot swimming pool, athletic fields and a basketball court in the gym that required a “distinctive shooting style”. Players had to shoot line drives, or the ball would hit the balcony that extended above the court.




It was in this facility that Cobern Fraser Kelley began influencing Athens boys with Christian values. Known to all simply as “Kelley”, that influence continues today.

Now that the Athens YMCA is coed, skinny dipping that was the norm for boys under Kelley's watch is obviously a thing of the past.

Today the Athens Y offers online workouts, group exercise, personal trainers, health and wellness programs, cancer wellness, swim lessons, lifeguard & CPR training to members of all ages.

In addition to the above, youth programs include after school programs, strength and conditioning, day camps, resident camps and a variety of programs for youth with special needs.

Since the Athens YMCA began in 1857 there have only been five people to serve as CEO. Shae Wilson-Gregg is one of those five. She began at age 19 coaching youth basketball in 1999 and worked her way up the ranks.

Shae’s first love was soccer, yet the Y needed a basketball coach. One serves where there is a need.

Compared to a country club, the Athens Y lacks only a golf course, tennis courts and perhaps fine dining rooms. The tennis courts that the Y once had were not used often. They have since been repurposed into high usage space for pickle ball and other activities. There are plenty of tennis options elsewhere in Athens.

For years Shae was the Youth and Athletic Director. Cobern Kelley’s title was Physical Director. Shae shared many of the same duties as Kelley, though she never let days long field trips with a busload of boys.

Shae never dreamed that the YMCA would be her career workplace, much less that she would be promoted to CEO. Today she can not imagine serving anywhere else.

If any YMCA member objects to prayer at that facility Shae reminds them that the YMCA is a Christian organization. Few complain.

Contact:

Peter Stoddard
Stoddard Media & Yankee Redneck Media
stoddardmedia@gmail.com
678-725-5889

Stoddard Brush with Second City Greatness

I do not know if Lewis Grizzard ever went to The Second City while he lived in Chicago. If he had he would have enjoyed political incorrectness, the likes of which he made famous shortly after his return to Atlanta in 1977.

Had he gone during his Chicago years he would have seen John Belushi, Gilda Radner, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtain, Eugene Levy and Bill Murray. Would he have related to them? Maybe not. But how could he not think they were funny.

Fast forward to 1996. I lived in Chicago and was in the trade show business with a global company called Giltspur. It primarily made exhibits but was the first to introduce innovative Marketing Services. I was the Chicago Giltspur account executive who at least somewhat understood Marketing Services.

For instance, at a Sherwin Williams national convention at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville we hired about 20 caricature artists to allow a division of Sherwin Williams enough time to deliver a chemical coatings message to Sherwin Williams store managers while they sat to have their caricatures done.

So I got a call from the Marketing Services honcho out of Giltspur Corporate in Pittsburgh to ask if I am available for a sales call the following week. She could not tell me who we were calling on, but I was available.

I welcomed any chance to sell something that was not reliant on our union carpentry shop that routinely blew budgets out of the water by virtue of their union mentality and frequent breaks so they could milk jobs into overtime. Don’t get me started.

The day before the sales call the Pittsburgh lady said we were calling on a Joyce Sloane at The Second City about the prospect of collaborating to do “business theater” for Giltspur clients at trade shows and special events.

My jaw dropped. I did not know Joyce Sloane real well by name but had heard of her. I missed very few Second City shows when I lived in Chicago. During my Chicago years the cast included Steve Carrell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and George Wendt. I was about to wet my pants. Okay, I did wet my pants, but they were dark pants.

So we go on this sales call and meet in Joyce Sloane’s office. I had no time to prepare anything and was not expected to present anything. If things clicked I would be the local liaison.

That day I could tell there was little chemistry between the very high energy Pittsburgh lady and the relaxed Joyce Sloane. Second City had an abundance of talent - not the already famous folks - who needed work. In my mind I could think of a half dozen of only my own clients whose jaws would drop if I could bring them Second City talent for some edgy entertainment.

But again, I detected a chemistry issue. I feared nothing was going to happen if things were left as they were after that meeting. Without asking or telling anyone I called Joyce Sloane and requested a one on one appointment. She readily agreed saying something like, “You didn’t say much the other day.”

When we hung up I wet my dark pants all over again. By this time I knew who Joyce Sloan was. And I had an idea.

That summer TS2, the trade show for trade show people, was to be held at McCormick Place in Chicago. Their programs were no doubt booked, but they would surely squeeze in a program involving national powerhouse Giltspur and Chicago powerhouse The Second City.

So I hand wrote a script. It included lines like, “How many teamsters does it take to hang a picture in a McCormick Place exhibit during show setup?” Answer: “None you moron. If the picture hangs with pinch cleats dat’s carpenters’ union work. If the picture hangs with velcro dat’s decorators’ union work.”

When I met with Joyce I asked her to spill about John Belushi sleeping on her couch, Gilda Radner crying on her shoulder and a whole lot else. I had early internet and dial up AOL and had done my homework. Joyce had probably told those stories a bunch of times but apparently did not tire of telling them. When I could tell my time might be running out - after about an hour - I made my pitch.

The Second City and Giltspur needed to pull off a coup at the TS2 that summer. We needed to do it fast, and I had the script the audience would love - except for maybe union members. The trade show people in the audience largely detested unions, who cost them tens of thousands of dollars each year, especially in places like Chicago where shop stewards would bicker on the exhibitor’s clock about what union had jurisdiction over hanging pictures any moron could hang if allowed.

Joyce looked over my maybe 10 page handwritten script as I sat silent. She grinned and actually laughed a few times, so I felt good. Then she put down the script and said, “I detest scripts.”

I may have wet my pants again, this time not in a good way. I waited, and Joyce explained. “We have tried shows with scripts before. They have always failed miserably. Our talent thrives on improv. Give them a concept and let them run with it.”

“But our new people need work. You know the trade show arena, and they do not. If this can work perhaps you can give them some latitude to not adhere to a strict script. Perhaps you can sit in on some try run sessions to make sure they do not step out of bounds.” I wet my pants again, we agreed to meet again and I bid a hasty exit before urine soaked her office guest seat.

Weeks passed but we stayed in touch. Joane departed for Second City Toronto, then a vacation maybe to Europe. We each recognized urgency to resume when she returned. I still told no one until I knew what to tell someone about anything.

My biggest client was AT&T Network Systems, soon a/k/a Lucent. Big budgets disappeared overnight. I was recruited by a company who did corporate hospitality at the Super Bowl, the NCAA Final Four, Kentucky Derby and more. In one of untold monumentally bad decisions in my career, I left Giltspur and sent Joyce a letter that I was leaving. Why did I not ask her for a job? Because they probably could not have paid me. Their staff was lean - all their money went to on stage talent. Still, I could have paid my own way given the chance and a telephone.

Not too long thereafter my now ex-wife and I left Chicago.

I never contacted Joyce again. At some point Joyce and others launched Second City Works.

Since moving back to Georgia I contacted the head of the current version of Wits’ End Players, Atlanta’s closest thing to The Second City. Dick Van Dyke got it started with the parents of the current head, who went to my high school. He kinda blew me off over lunch saying there was little market for “business theater” or whatever one wants to call it. “Think Wits”, as the outfit is now known, does “Brand Experiences” and other stuff that to me sounds a lot like business theater.

A Possible Afternoon With Larry & Lewis

I don’t know if I am the only one, but I have many dreams about hanging around with famous people. In most of the dreams I have a great interaction with the celeb or celebs, and they like me.  

Before waking up I think to myself “How cool will it be when I tell friends that Paul Newman and I talked about my old Datsun 280Z.” That dream came close to being true. Before moving to Chicago I got my 280Z worked on at “The Z Shop” in Chamblee. The owner Ben was a friend and possible business partner of Newman, who raced Datsun Z cars. Ben said Paul would kill him if he told me or any other customer when Paul was expected, but if I happened to be there Paul was an easy guy to talk to. I was tempted to go hang out and just wait on Paul but had a day job mismanaging conventions that made it not very practical.

Not long after Larry Munson left us in 2011 I dreamt that I hung out with Larry and Lewis. I still lived in the Redneck Riviera selling swampland, but on Saturdays for more than a decade I pulled off to the side of the road to hear Munson call UGA games on whatever radio station I could pull in - I think from Mobile.

Larry leaving us when old affected me as much as Lewis leaving us young way back in 1994. Many will likely attest to the same.

The dream went something like this. We were in someone’s living room, the three of us minding our own business in relative quiet. Maybe Larry and Lewis were reading something. Larry was not wearing headphones, but this picture works as well as any.

Out of nowhere Larry said, “Lewis, who is this other guy in the room?”. Lewis replies, “No idea. I thought you let him in.”

Suddenly having been noticed, I was at a loss for words, which never happens in my dreams. I pondered what to say to these two legends. I finally came up with, “Larry and Lewis, I am a 1979 UGA grad who loves the Dawgs as much as you did and loved both of you when you were alive, loved in a manly, heterosexual sense that is. I am not sure who let me in this room or how I got here. But I promise to behave and be quiet if you do not kick me out.”

Lewis said something like, “If you are going to behave and remain quiet we are a whole lot more likely to kick you out. Larry and I have little interest in quiet people who behave.”

I replied, “Okay, I grew up in Sandy Springs, having moved to Georgia in 1967 when I was age 9. Larry was new at broadcasting UGA games, and I was new to listening to them. When I went from reading the comics to the Atlanta Journal sports page I vaguely remember reading some of Lewis’s columns.  I was a Junior at UGA when Lewis came back from Chicago and after a short spell began writing humor columns. My fraternity brothers and I used to pass around the paper laughing at those columns, which at that time were in the Atlanta Constitution.”

“I do not want to get too far into the weeds, but I was pledge trainer to Danny Anderson, Loran Smith’s first cousin. Loran was kinda sore at Danny for not running track at UGA like Loran did. Danny wanted to have fun instead, and I trained Danny to have fun, something he is very good at today. He is President of a company that insures whatever they call the Gator Bowl, and he has a box at every Georgia-Florida game. Danny invites me to that box only during years when he knows I can not attend. Otherwise he will meet me tailgating, bum a cigar off of me before saying he must depart for the box with no room for me.”

Lewis chimed in, “You do talk a lot. Maybe the quiet you would be better. Larry and I were reading before we saw you broke in.”

I was going to explain that I did not break in, but that would be whining. I gathered Larry and Lewis had zero tolerance for whining. So I meandered and changed the subject with this:

“Lewis, remember the Run Lindsay Run play you missed because you had given up on the Dawgs? I was not there, but the same Danny Anderson and I went to the Auburn game at Auburn the following week. That was the one Dorsey Hill drove to straight from Jacksonville, or so you wrote. After the Dawgs victory I met Loran for the first time. Danny wanted to beat traffic out of wretched Auburn, but I insisted that we meet his cousin.”

Lewis again, “If you are going to keep yammering let’s hear about you not behaving. Larry and I might kick you out yet.”

Me again, “Danny and I did a lot of not behaving at UGA. But there is still a remote chance he might invite me to that box for a Georgia Florida game. I would do well to not incriminate Danny. How about New Years Eve before the National Championship game in New Orleans. Lewis, you were in the French Quarter selling Lucky Dogs. My hot date and I ate a bunch of Lucky Dogs but somehow missed the stand you took over. My date and I were scared to go back to our ‘kinda near the Quarter’ dangerous lodging, so we got very little sleep that night.”

Lewis again, “That’s a little better. Did you get NEKKID with that date, or were you too afraid to go back to that dive hotel?”

Me again, “Now Lewis, a gentleman does not kiss and tell or get NEKKID and tell. Do you really want me to answer that question?”

Larry now, “Lewis, the kid is right. Let’s mind our manners.”

Me again, “Thank you Larry. In 1984 I moved to Chicago, where I could not hear Larry, read Lewis or get any University of Georgia news, same as Lewis. But I loved Chicago for 14 years.”

Lewis again, “You LOVED Chicago?! We are for certain going to kick you out. My guess is you might be a closet Yankee.”

I held my tongue on that one. In particular I did not want to mention being William Tecumseh Sherman’s cousin.

Larry again, “Lewis, this kid seems to be okay despite years in Chicago. Remember, he pulled off to Redneck Riviera roadsides for a decade just to listen to scratchy me on the radio.”

Me again, “Thank you Larry. Since this is a dream let’s time travel to 2020. I found this 1986 you two celebrating a Dawgs victory over someone. It is the only photo anyone I know has of you two together. Do either of you have a photo box in Heaven?”

(OK, I embellished that paragraph. I had to show off this photo.)

Lewis again, “My ex-wives ended up with all of my photo boxes. Why did you not drop by and raise a toast with Larry and me?”

Larry again, “Lewis, in 1986 the kid lived in Chicago. Pay attention. Kid, did you ask Loran if he has a photo of Lewis and me? I would ask him like this. 'Whaddaya got Loran?' He likes that a lot and always answered to me with something clever.”

Me again, “Well Larry, I am not you, but I did ask Loran only weeks ago. He is still busy writing books. But that was 2020, and this dream is 2011. I have already embellished too much. It might be a good idea to skip Varsity Chili Dawgs before bed.”

Lewis now, “No, don’t do that. You need to bark at night. For that last comment I will forgive you for liking Chicago and maybe being a closet Yankee. Hey, has anyone written a book about me?”

Me finally, “Well Lewis, funny you ask … “

Then my alarm went off so I could go sell Redneck Riviera swampland. That is my story and I am sticking to it.

Gwinnett County is the Fortunate Home to Two Remarkable Healthcare Practices

Dr. Kerith Powell and Dr. Belinda Millington both grew up in the US Virgin Islands. They each saw the need there for general healthcare practitioners and decided to pursue that as their life’s mission. 

Dr. Millington got her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Atlantic University, with a major in chemistry and minor in biology. She attended graduate school to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic and a degree in Anatomy.

She continued her training and obtained an MD degree and Master's in Clinical Sciences from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.

“I trained at Atlanta’s Grady Hospital, one of the nation's elite teaching hospitals.” Grady is also one of only two Level 1 Trauma Centers in Atlanta.

Dr. Powell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Anatomy and a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Parker University in Dallas, TX.

Dr. Powell and Dr. Millington practiced in Chicago from 2000 to 2003. Dr. Millington served as Medical Director for a multi disciplined practice. Both doctors became frustrated with two facets of the practices where they served. Patients were not encouraged by others in the practice to get off of prescription medications. Emphasis was on treating the most patients possible to maximize revenue - not treatment that was best for patients.

Physicians would not reduce medications for symptoms they treated such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

In 2006 Dr. Powell accepted a faculty position at Life University in Marietta, GA, the world's largest chiropractic university.

While on faculty at Life University Dr. Powell was invited by Governor Nathan Deal’s office to represent the chiropractic profession at the Georgia State Capitol. He and Governor Deal's staff agreed on the need for chiropractic care in far more medical facilities across Georgia. 

In 2015 Dr. Powell purchased Dr. Chris’ Natural Remedies.

That same year Dr. Millington opened Lifestyle Pain Management & Wellness Center.

Both practices are based in Snellville, now next door to one another.

Each doctor focuses on “dis-ease” - not to be confused with disease. There are three causes of dis-ease: trauma, toxins and negative thoughts. Each of these can also cause misalignment in the vertebrae. The doctors’ comprehensive treatment approaches address physical, mental and spiritual wellness. The result is alternative complementary care that is both effective and affordable.

The doctors offer perspective in terms of “health percentage” over the course of a person’s life. Our health is 100% at birth, 0% at death. Most physicians only treat patients in the 0% to 20% health range. In other words, those at severe risk of death. Unfortunately, healthier patients are often admonished to “Come see us when it gets worse.”

Dr. Powell and Dr. Millington treat those in the 80% to 20% health range. With such care patients need not approach the 20% point so early in life.

No two patients are alike, and no two office visits for that patient at Dr. Powell’s or Dr. Millington’s practices are alike. One visit might address chiropractic. The next might address naturopathic. The next exercise and/or diet, and so on based on a patient's unique needs.

Dr. Powell states, not entirely in jest, “The more people we can treat, the less likely patients will be aggressive behind the wheel, the more pleasant they will be at the grocery store, and the nicer their kids will be to other kids at school.”

He makes no claim to cure notorious Atlanta road rage, but we can no doubt agree that is a lofty goal and would be a delightful outcome. What other healthcare professionals that you know of aspire to such a result that benefits the entire community?

Dr. Powell continues, “Taking medication for pain is like applying tape over a car dashboard warning light. The problem condition still exists though the patient may think it does not.”

Dr. Millington recently saw a patient with what she called a “widowmaker”, a heart condition without symptoms the patient might notice, but a condition that often causes instant death. She was able to quickly diagnose it and got the patient immediate life saving care.

Patients routinely travel long distances to the practices, with many even residing out of state.

The practices treat a large number of patients they never see. They recently completed a series of phone consultations with a patient in London, England and got that patient off of their prescribed medications. 

While physical exams can not be done by phone, Dr. Powell and Dr. Millington evaluate many conditions by analyzing x-rays and lab reports, making test kits available and more.

Dr. Powell does not accept insurance, as that would in fact drive up costs to patients. Insurance companies only pay a percentage of costs, so practices sometimes inflate those costs across the board, causing higher fees for patients who opt to pay cash or whose insurance does not cover treatment. Further, there is significant expense to a practice in administering insurance claims.

Dr. Millington focuses on primary care, pain management, personal injury and addiction. She accepts insurance for all services except addiction treatment. For addiction patients this assures a higher level of privacy, as insurance records are often shared with employers and others.

Other specialists on staff at Dr. Chris’ Natural Remedies include:

Dr. Chris Greene - nutritional response testing, Chinese medicine

Dr. LaRonda “Ronda” Ward - applied nutritional analysis, iridology

Dr. Jared Friebel - sports chiropractic

Shelves at the combined practices display over 2,600 products, such as whole food supplements, pharmaceutical grade vitamins, glandular, botanical and homeopathic treatments.

A Google search for “kerith powell belinda millington” reveals a remarkable 5 Star rating with over 285 reviews on Demandforce.com. Any business with a 5 Star rating and over 50 reviews is doing something special.

The practices serve patients of all ages, except Dr. Millington does not see pediatrics. 

What we have not yet shared is that Dr. Powell and Dr. Millington are husband and wife, having married in 1994. This engenders further accountability to their patients. They seamlessly refer patients to each other’s practices, with full disclosure, to assure that care is available and provided in the most expedient manner.

Contact Dr. Powell or Dr. Millington to get on the road to wellness today!

To learn more or schedule an appointment:

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Powell

Dr. Kerith Powell
1982 Main Street East
Suite D
Snellville GA 30078
770-979-5125

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Millington

Dr. Belinda Millington
1982 Main Street East
Suite C
Snellville GA 30078
470-395-3618

University of Georgia Hockey Ice Dawgs Boast a Proud History as UGA’s Most Popular Club Sport

The University of Georgia Ice Dawgs hockey team was established in 1987 by team founder Larry Hall and a group of students who wanted to start a new tradition in Athens. The Ice Dawgs compete in the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC) of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), and play under NCAA rules. Georgia faces-off against ten (10) SEC opponents including east division rivals Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Other opponents include cross-state rival Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State, and many of the other 38 teams in the South region of ACHA Division III.

The UGA Hockey Foundation is a 501-C3 Non-profit and provides students at the University of Georgia the opportunity to play high level hockey, the sport they love. With over 1,500 fans selling out nearly every home game, UGA Hockey is by far the most attended Club Sport at the University.

The Ice Dawgs have called The Classic Center home since April 9, 2014, in a 6-3 victory over Georgia Tech. The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,197 in what is now called the Akins Ford Arena, signifying the start of a new style of entertainment in Athens.

Before 2014 the Ice Dawgs had to travel to the Atlanta Ice Forum in Duluth, where games were played in front of few and without the atmosphere that exists at Georgia’s matches today.

It wasn’t long before the Ice Dawgs’ home established its value. During the 2015-16 season, their second full season at The Classic Center, the Ice Dawgs won their first South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference Championship.

They continued by winning two of the next three SECHC championships, as well as qualifying for back-to-back American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 3 National Championships in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

However, in late January or early February of every season, the Ice Dawgs have to move across the street to The Classic Center’s Foundry Pavilion, an outdoor venue that eliminates some fan attraction due to cold weather and less seating.

But soon enough, the Ice Dawgs won’t have to use the Foundry Pavilion.

In July 2019, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission added a proposal to provide $34 million toward the construction of a new arena at The Classic Center to the Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax 2020 project list. Voters approved the project — one with a larger permanent seating capacity of 5,500 — when they passed the SPLOST 2020 referendum in November.

This gives the Ice Dawgs a permanent home for games and creates a significant advantage for future players, as they won’t have to resort to practicing on the local YMCA field before the ice rink is put together. The new arena will remain within walking distance from North Campus.

The arena will also play a role in attracting potential players. It creates an advantage against other schools in the SECHC, like Florida, which practices and plays in Jacksonville, Florida, nearly 75 miles away from its campus in Gainesville, Florida.

“The arena is going to validate and put a big stamp on what we’re trying to build,” head coach Rick Emmett said. “Players from coast to coast will take notice about being able to play a club sport that has the facilities that we’ll have.”

The Ice Dawgs have created a new passion in the Athens area that can expand once the arena is built.

“The arena will certainly further the excitement for our fan base,” Emmett said. “People will want to come and see what the venue is all about, to be a part of that and see what our Ice Dawgs have to offer.”

Success on the ice also met with success off the ice. The team gives back to the community as well. When vying for the Thrasher Cup in Savannah, they visit and provide some smiles to kids in local hospitals. They raise funds for breast cancer research every year and partner with the military in a Teddy bear toss that provides cuddly toys to kids in need. This year the Ice Dawgs will partner with Nuci’s Space to provide mental health care and other resources to those in need.

The team has an operating budget of nearly $200,000. This goes to ice rink rental, equipment, travel, coaches salaries, recruiting and marketing. The school will provide the team $900 this year, up from $600 the year before. $900 only pays for about 2.5 hour of ice time! Many teams in the leagues get far more than that, up to $40,000 from their school. The Ice Dawgs get very little revenue from ticket sales, as most revenue pays for the ice time.

Come out and support the Ice Dawgs, a team that can make every Georgian dang proud!

Contact:

Julia Duncan ~ Marketing
julia.duncan@ugahockey.com
404-433-7991

University of Georgia Hockey Ice Dawgs to Host Annual Golf Tournament October 5, 2020 at The Georgia Club in Statham

On Monday, October 5, 2020 the UGA Hockey Foundation will host its annual Golf Tournament at The Georgia Club in Statham, about 15 miles west of Athens, to raise funds for the Ice Dawgs team. Each year the tournament grows in participation and enthusiasm. COVID will not change that, yet many plans are tentative for obvious reasons.



This year’s tournament will include new celebrities on a variety of levels. Diego Ugalde, founder of “The Trident Approach” training led by Navy Seals, will play golf.  Eric Vail, the Atlanta Flames leader in games played and goals scored will greet participants, play golf and donate items for raffle. Atlanta Flames and New York Islanders play by play announcer Jiggs McDonald has a UGA alumna daughter and might appear virtually, yet that remains tentative.

UGA alum Peter Stoddard, author of “Lewis Grizzard: The Dawg That Did Not Hunt”, will be on hand to dedicate and sign his book on UGA’s late, great humorist. Lewis wrote about sports in Athens, Atlanta and Chicago long before the Ice Dawgs got started. Yet he was a rabid fan of all Dawg teams.

At press time the event is still open for golfer registration, and there are many ways fans can attend, participate and contribute.

Spectators will enjoy food and beverage carts, a raffle for a $7,000 golf cart filled with goodies, a golf lesson by a Golf Digest “Best Instructor” nominee, Atlanta Flames paraphernalia and more. Those wishing to donate raffle items are encouraged to do so, even up until a week before the event.

Sponsorships are still available:
Hole Sponsors - $500 each
Tee Sign Sponsors - $250 each

Golf Teams - $500 per team / $125 per player
The UGA Hockey Foundation is a 501-C3 Non-profit and provides students at the University of Georgia the opportunity to play high level hockey, the sport they love. With over 1,500 fans selling out nearly every home game, UGA Hockey is by far the most attended Club Sport at the University.

Since playing in Athens the Ice Dawgs have won three of the last five SECHC championships, and just missed a fourth. They won three of the last four Enmarket Hockey Classic Thrasher Cups in front of sold out crowds at the 5,500 seat Savannah Civic Center.

Success on the ice also is met with success off the ice. The team gives back to the community as well. When vying for the Thrasher Cup in Savannah, they visit and provide some smiles to kids in local hospitals. They raise funds for breast cancer research every year and partner with the military in a Teddy bear toss that provides cuddly toys to kids in need. This year the Ice Dawgs will partner with Nuci’s Space to provide mental health care and other resources to those in need.

This event is a key to fielding a successful team. The team has an operating budget of nearly $200,000. This goes to ice rink rental, equipment, travel, coaches’ salaries, recruiting and marketing. The school will provide the team $900 this year, up from $600 the year before. $900 only pays for about 2.5 hours of ice time! Many teams in the league get far more than that, up to $40,000 from their school. The Ice Dawgs get very little revenue from ticket sales, as most revenue pays for the ice time.

Come and support the Ice Dawgs, a team that can make every Georgian proud!



Tournament Details:

The Georgia Club
1050 Chancellors Drive
Statham, Georgia 30666
October 5, 2020
11:00 am Registration
1:00 pm Shotgun Start
Click here or below to register or sponsor.
https://www.ugahockey.com/golf-tournament-registration

Contact:

gm@ugahockey.com