11:15 am - Mattawan vs Okemos

1:30 pm -  Kalamazoo United vs Capital city Capitals

3:45 pm - Kalamazoo Eagles vs Eastside Stars

6:15 pm - Portage Muskies vs Jackson Lumen Christi

8:30 pm  Mattawan vs Mid-Michigan Marauders

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2021

WINGS WEST ICE ARENA

(11am-9pm)

The hockey is LIVE, but this year's community support is VIRTUAL!

CHECK BACK HERE ON FRIDAY, FEB. 12TH @6PM FOR THE SILENT AUCTION AND ONLINE DONATION OPPORTUNITY!

FROM 9AM-4PM KOHA'S HOUSE C PROGRAM (6U THROUGH 14U) HAS THEIR FIRST GAME DAY OF THE 2020-21 SEASON ON THE RED RINK AT WINGS WEST AS PART OF THE AUTISM EVENT FESTIVITIES!

While spectators are limited to 2 per athlete, we hope you will find time to support the event virtually this year!

The South Central High School Hockey League (SCHSHL) and the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association (KOHA) are once again partnering with Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research (GLC) to host the 9th annual Youth Hockey Fights for Kids with Autism event to raise funds for autism treatment and build autism awareness in our community.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research whose mission is to partner with individuals and families affected by autism to improve their quality of life through effective and efficient diagnosis, assessment, and behaviorally-based treatment.

In 2020, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Early intervention aff­ords the best opportunity to support healthy development and deliver benefits across the lifespan.
• Applied behavior analysis (ABA) and therapies based on its principles are the most researched and commonly used behavioral interventions for autism.
• On average, autism costs an estimated $60,000 a year through childhood, with the bulk of the costs in special services and lost wages related to increased demands on one or both parents.
• The majority of autism’s costs in the U.S. are for adult services – an estimated $175 to $196 billion a year, compared to $61 to $66 billion a year for children.

Your support will greatly impact children diagnosed with autism and their families.

Great Lakes has 2 locations - Portage and Galesburg

Great Lakes provides treatment for children 18 months up to age 21.

Early intervention proves to have the most successful outcomes!

Each treatment plan is individualized to meet the specific needs of the student.

GLC can make a difference in the life of a child, their families, and our community.

Emmett was chosen to participate with ceremonial puck drop in 2020 for the game between Jackson Lumen Christi and Kalamazoo United. After the game, Gavin, the goalie for Lumen Christi searched for Emmett to have Emmett autograph his jersey.  Emmett had left the rink but a couple of weeks later the two met.

This was a special moment for both Gavin, Emmett and Dana. Dana, Emmett’s mother, states “It was a heartfelt moment she will never forget Emmett felt so special and the look on his face is something I will never forget. He has his event jersey (provided by Hockey Services), puck, and the picture with the goalie framed for a special keepsake.” Gavin was equally excited for this time with Emmett. He stated, “Thank you so much, this truly means a lot!” After all this is what this event is all about.

Today, Emmett is in second grade at Woodland Elementary School in Portage. He enjoys bugs, video games, and reading. She tributes Emmett’s success to his hard work and to the staff at Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research.

Gavin is a graduate from Lumen Christie in 2020. He attends Lake Superior State University and is playing on their Division II hockey team! He is studying fire science.

Jakob started his journey with ABA through Great Lakes just shy of a year after his diagnosis. While he did make some good progress with in-home ABA before then, he REALLY blossomed in a very short amount of time once starting with Great Lakes. He only attended Great Lakes for a little over a year before his graduation from the program but we will be forever grateful for the time he spent there and the help and care he received.  It made a world of difference for him and he loved it there. Because of them he was able to start preschool without needing an IEP or any special services through school.

Cameron was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age 2 after he showed signs of speech regression and developed several challenging behaviors. He received 4 years of multiple weekly ABA therapy sessions at Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research. Due to the services he received, Cameron has become a successful 4th grade student, who demonstrates outstanding behavior. He is able to read at his grade level, shows good effort in his schoolwork, and has made several friends. He has a strong interest in computers, electronics, and dogs.   We are grateful for all those who have donated to the Great Lakes Center as it has made a tremendous impact on our son’s life.