News

DCB icers take part in “Day of Caring”

By Matthew Semisch

09/30/2014

The Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) hockey team took part in its 14th annual “Day of Caring” on Thursday, with players and coaches volunteering around town in an effort to give back to the local community.

Throughout Thursday afternoon, the Lumberjack hockey program lended its services to area non-profit organizations as well as individuals who requested a helping hand.

“We’ve been at this for a while now, and we like to do it as a way of giving back to a community that takes good care of us,” Lumberjacks head hockey coach Travis Rybchinski said.

“Sometimes people think we’re often asking for handouts, but this is a way for us just to give back and repay Bottineau for its loyalty to us, and I think it’s a positive thing all the way around.”

The event started at the Bottineau County Historical Museum, where five DCB hockey players trimmed bushes around the perimeter of the facility and washed displays.

Lumberjack hockey players and coaches were sent to do volunteer work throughout the city on Thursday. The DCB personnel were split into small groups and worked throughout an unseasonably warm afternoon.

Char’s Daycare, the DCB Foundation, St. Mark’s Church and the Good Samaritan Society all reached out to Rybchinski and assistant coach Cory Gorder and asked for assistance. Members of the DCB hockey team also helped out at the homes of individuals who had inquired.

Rybchinski, who began the “Day of Caring” initiative when he first began coaching at DCB, said he was inspired by his wife Codi to create the project.

“I got the idea from my wife from when she worked at United Way in Fargo,” he said. “She suggested that we do it, and I completely agreed.

“Community involvement is something that we as a coaching staff really want to instill in our boys, and this has always been a good way to do that.”

Although a handful of former players didn’t take to the initiative as well as most have, Rybchinski said, he is pleased that the Lumberjacks hockey program has been able to keep the project going.

“A couple of years ago, we might have discontinued it because a few of our guys felt underappreciated for what we were doing,” Rybchinski said, “But one of my players came up to me and said that that was something that he really enjoyed doing here, and that’s what we want to see.

“As much as we do it for people to help them, it also helps our guys realize how lucky they are to play college athletics and do it in a town that supports us.”

On top of the “Day of Caring” project, Rybchinski said he encourages his team to volunteer throughout their time here.

“It’s good to give back at any time,” he said, “And it’s good when people appreciate what we’re doing. That in turn helps our boys appreciate that much more the roles they’re taking.”