When the Dallas Stars reach the playoffs, Al Montoya believes everyone benefits, particularly the community.
Montoya was the first Cuban-American to play in the NHL and is now the Dallas Stars’ Vice President of Cultural Growth and Strategy. Montoya is dedicated to strengthening the Stars and the game of hockey with underrepresented populations both locally and worldwide.
“We just came back from a trip to Mexico City, and we will be going back there soon,” Montoya stated. “For us, that’s really an opportunity to really show what we’ve been doing and get our message across.”
The message is that hockey is a game for everyone. Their purpose is to spread that message to youngsters who would not otherwise have had access.
“We established the Learn to Play initiative. It is a six-week program for children aged four to ten years old in Mexico City. We started in April, and they will graduate in May. This is an opportunity for them to be exposed to the game that we all like so much and to participate,” Montoya added.
The initiative, which is run in conjunction with the National Hockey League, involves 50 children.
Locally, Montoya collaborated with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas to launch the free Future Stars project, which introduced hockey to schools and facilities around the region.
The Future Stars program expanded from two venues in 2023 to nine in 2024. The groups receive funding and equipment to run weekly youth hockey sessions in underprivileged areas.
According to the club, the Stanley Cup playoffs significantly increase fan involvement and community outreach. The increased attention and awareness have boosted fundraising efforts for the 50/50 raffle at home games.
Fifty percent of the jackpot winnings go to the Dallas Stars Foundation, which nurtures and enriches the lives of North Texasans through youth hockey, community engagement, health, and education.
The Dallas Stars are in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, against the Colorado Avalanche.
