COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah (KUTV) — Don Korth saw his first hockey game when he was 24 years old. It was the Utah Golden Eagles. He fell in love with the game.

Now, at the age of 82, he wants to make sure that a new generation of kids will love hockey just as much as he did back in the 1970s.

Don never played hockey, but he’s been volunteering for years to make sure that kids who can’t afford hockey equipment still get the chance to participate.

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“Hockey equipment is so expensive, and many families can’t afford the sticks, the pads, or the skates, so I started collecting used equipment so I could get more kids involved in the sport. Sometimes it’s players who outgrew their gear, or players who did not like the sport and gave up on hockey,” Don said.

Alan Greenberg started the Cottonwood Hockey Shop eight years ago.

“Don is amazing. I’ve known him for a long time, and what he has been doing in the hockey community for so many years to grow this sport is special,” he said.

Don started the “Korth’s Rebels Foundation” to find, collect, and distribute used hockey gear. He keeps a book of photo memories documenting the many kids who have benefited from his kindness.

One photo in this book means a lot to Don.

“This is a group of special needs kids who I introduced to hockey. I also helped coach the group. There are kids on this team that never skated before, but I know for a fact some of them could play high school hockey, at least at the junior varsity level,” Don said.

Alan says people like Don have been growing the sport of hockey before anyone ever thought Utah would get a professional NHL team like the Utah Mammoth.

Alan started his bicycle shop on Bengal Boulevard years ago. The second floor of the bike shop is now all hockey gear.

With the new excitement surrounding professional hockey here in Utah, Alan says he just might have to expand.

Steve Wright with Mountain America Credit Union made a surprise appearance at the hockey shop to give Don a monetary donation for more hockey gear. We hope Don continues to bring the sport of hockey to families and kids who otherwise could not afford to get out on the ice.

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