June 16, 2009

The Miami Ice Hockey team took its game from the ice to the sunshine this past weekend, spending Saturday volunteering on the construction crew of a local Habitat for Humanity house. All of the returners and one member of the incoming freshman class participated.

The team gathered early Saturday morning in College Corner to help construct the house's roof, putting the sheeting and felt paper down. A total of 36 volunteers assisted that day, including 20 representing the Miami Hockey program. The four-bedroom, two-bath project is the seventh for the Oxford chapter and will go to a family of four (mother and three children). The TriState Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity (covering portions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana) has built almost 190 homes.

The Miami hockey team has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in the past, but has not worked on a project directly since the spring of 2006.

"It was an exciting opportunity," rising junior Tommy Wingels said. "We have a beautiful campus at Miami with nice buildings and a new rink. To help build a house with a family meant a lot to us and meant even more for them. A few of us have worked construction in the summer, but for most of us, it was the first time. It was fun do the roofing -- no one knew what to do at first, but we grabbed a hammer and got to work."

The house is sponsored by the Miami University Habitat for Humanity Chapter, with almost $50,000 of the cost being raised by the student organization. The house is expected to be completed by September or October of this year.

"This weekend had different meaning on several levels," said Jim Lipnicky, a member of the TriState Affiliate board and Oxford Chapter President. "My wife Susan (Miami's faculty-athletic representative) and I have lived in Oxford for 31 years and we are very involved in athletics. It is great to see teams willing to volunteer. We have also had baseball and women's swimming participate over the years and would have more involved if the timing was correct.

"From the standpoint of being chapter president, it's incredible to see the amount of work we got done and it wouldn't have been accomplished without the volunteers. It was great. As an alum, it's nice to see students willing to give. They are not just here as athletes or student. They give to the local community and it is a sacrifice."

Habitat for Humanity of Ohio is a nonprofit, charitable, faith-based housing organization whose purpose is to assist Ohio Habitat for Humanity affiliates in increasing production of affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity of Ohio is a recognized state support organization by Habitat for Humanity International.

Ohio Habitat affiliates build simple, decent and affordable houses and provide interest-free mortgages to families who would otherwise not be able to purchase their own home.

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