Travel Stipends Keep Taos Youth on the Ice

After years of hard work to rebuild their youth hockey program (following the COVID-19 crisis), the Taos Youth Hockey Association suffered a substantial blow to their efforts when a fire at the Taos Ice Rink left the facility inoperable. In the wake of the fire, many families expressed that they did not have the financial resources to travel to neighboring ice rinks in Sante Fe, Los Alamos, and Alamosa and that their children’s continued participation in hockey would depend on the availability of travel subsidies.

In addition to providing skill-building opportunities, youth hockey supports participants’ mental, physical, and social development. Many of the hockey players (ages 3-18) impacted by the Taos Ice Rink’s extended closure voiced their sadness and frustration at the prospect of losing access to their friends and the sport they loved. After being approached by two Town staff members, who reached out to make LOR aware of this problem, LOR connected with the Taos Youth Hockey Board, which proposed a solution: provide transportation and help cover travel costs for youth hockey players who need help to get to neighboring rinks while Taos’ facility undergoes repairs.

LOR’s funding will be used to provide gas cards to participating families in need and will also cover the cost of renting a van to transport larger groups of players on the weekends.