“It’s hard to describe my hockey journey briefly, but I will try,” states Anthony Post, a junior at Carmichaels Area High School. “I started hockey when I was nine. I had never ice skated before then, but I knew I wanted to play and be a goalie. My parents took me the day before tryouts, and I took to it instantly. I tried out for the Ice Miners and made the team.”
Anthony got involved with the Little Pens Learn to Play program immediately after. Anthony has always played rec league hockey and last year established a co-op with Bishop Canevin, where he is a goalie. Anthony’s is starting his eighth regular season, but he also plays in summer hockey leagues, making the icy sport a year-round priority. “I’ve [been able] to play in major cities across the U.S. and see some great sights, visit some amazing historical sights places, and become friends with players from all over. One of my favorite tournaments is in Lake Placid, New York,” he shares.
But Anthony doesn’t just play hockey for himself– he does a great deal to improve others’ experiences on the ice as well. “I’ve been volunteering with the Mighty Penguins Sled hockey team(s), an adaptive non-profit ice hockey organization that’s based out of Cranberry. It offers therapeutic and competitive opportunities for children and adults with physical disabilities.”
“I got involved with it when a volunteer opportunity was shared with me,” he continued. “It’s something that is important to me because it promotes inclusion, accessibility, and empowerment for the sled hockey players. It’s getting to see people that have a common passion for hockey enjoy it.”
Anthony explains that he mainly helps with player assistance and practice support. “I help athletes get equipment to and from their cars, get in and out of their sleds, and on and off the ice. I also help with things like shooting, player skills, drills, and picking up pucks – something I never realized could be so important. Volunteering for sled hockey is an opportunity that turned into something I really enjoy.”
Anthony’s volunteering and work ethic have carried over from childhood, much of which he attributes to his time in the Boy Scouts program. “I started scouts in first grade as a tiger cub. My parents signed me up because it was one of the first organized activities I could do. Scouting has taught me a lot. I’ve learned practical skills, character, and values that I carry with me in everyday life.”
Today, Anthony is working his way toward the most prestigious award in scouting– reaching the level of an Eagle Scout. The “years, dedication, and hard work” needed to complete the program is, to Anthony, “a representation of commitment, growth, service, integrity, and character development.”
“My family has been huge for guiding me. I have also had great scout leaders, coaches (I was lucky to have ones that understood the importance of scouting), neighbors, and teachers. Most notable were my scoutmasters Joe Krampy and Jason Hagyari and my teacher Mrs. Menhart.”
Some of Anthony’s most cherished scouting moments consisted of camping on the battleship USS Massachusetts and receiving a good citizenship award from the Marine Corps League.
Volunteering for the Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey Program was not Anthony’s Eagle Project. Instead, Anthony partnered with the Washington County Conservation Department and the Million Trees Project to perform improvements on the West Beth Township Hiking Trail in Marianna.
“My great grandfather helped create the walking trail on an old slate dump,” Anthony states. “Planting additional trees not only helped with the aesthetics, but it also created habitat and food for wildlife and helped with soil erosion. Getting to see pictures people post of the walking trail and knowing that I did something small that will help the community and nature at a location that is important to a small coal mine town has been pretty rewarding.”
Anthony cites finding balance as one of the greatest challenges as he juggles school, multiple sports, clubs, volunteerism, and one other endeavor– working toward his career aspirations of becoming a commercial airline pilot.
“I’ve done a lot of studying on my own and now am a dual enrollment student at Beaver Community College in the professional aviation program. I got my start at Aviation Days at the Greene County Airport. After going, I was hooked. The people at the airport were and still are so helpful and are always willing to share information and guidance.”
In October, Anthony became the pilot of his very own Cessna 150, which he has been using to log flight hours under the guidance of his instructor, with help from Jacob Fordyce, another young, local pilot. “Jacob helped me fly my plane back and is always there with helpful advice or a willingness to fly with me.
SOAR of Greene County has also been instrumental in my flying. It’s been a place for me to meet pilots and aviation enthusiasts, learn from people with the same interests, and work with aviation days. Now, I’m one of the co-chairs for the event and that has taught me so much about aviation and logistics.”
In any personal time Anthony gets, he also enjoys skiing, golf, travel, trying new restaurants, and cooking. But in everything he takes on, he knows that determination and hard work are the two ingredients that always allow us to take flight.
