The City of Hoboken and the New Jersey Devils celebrated a new Youth Ball Hockey Program and renovated Johnny Ray McDonald Jr. ‘Diddle’ Hockey Rink at a community event on Wednesday.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This new rink and youth program are a win for Hoboken, and a shining example of what can happen when public agencies and private organizations come together with a shared vision,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“Thanks to the generous support of the New Jersey Devils and the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, we’ve been able to revitalize an important recreational space at no cost to our taxpayers and also create new opportunities for our children to stay active, develop skills, and build confidence through sports. This project honors the legacy of Coach Johnny Ray McDonald, Jr., and I couldn’t be prouder to see our community come together to celebrate.”
The festivities, hosted at the Multi-Service Center, welcomed a crowd of families, children, and local hockey fans. Attendees were joined by special guests including New Jersey Devils alum Bruce Driver, New York Sirens player Kristýna Kaltounková, NHL executives,
City officials, NJ DEVIL, the Devils mascot, and the McDonald family.
The city honored the rink’s namesake and commemorated the partnership with the New Jersey Devils. Children registered in the new program had the opportunity to meet athletes, engage in on-rink activities, and preview the programming that will continue throughout the fall season.
The event marked the official launch of the Hoboken Recreation Division’s Youth Ball Hockey Program, which will run through early November.
Open to boys and girls ages 5 to 17, the program offers co-ed instruction in ball hockey fundamentals, skill-building, and game play.
Coaching staff, equipment, and uniforms are all provided, thanks to a partnership with the New Jersey Devils and $10,000 in funding support from the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund.
The revitalization of the outdoor rink itself was made possible through a $230,000 investment by the New Jersey Devils, also funded in part by the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund.
Renovations included the removal and replacement of the original rink boards, surface patching and leveling, installation of new dasher boards and curb footing, and upgraded, state-of-the-art rink flooring.
The improvements were completed at no cost to Hoboken taxpayers, city officials said.
In 2022, the City formally renamed the rink in honor of Johnny Ray “Diddle” McDonald, Jr., a longtime employee of the Hoboken Recreation Division who served the community for nearly 20 years before his passing in 2020.
During his tenure, he was instrumental in launching Hoboken’s first instructional hockey program for children and played a key role in expanding youth sports throughout the city.
“My brother’s legacy lives on in every skater that steps onto the rink. The New Jersey Devils investment in the rink is more than a renovation it’s a recognition for people like my brother who love and created community from the game,” added Vanessa Falco, Johnny Ray McDonald Jr.’s sister.
What a beautiful event!