Cincinnati Cyclones: Community Impact

Written by Paul Anglade:

Community is an intricate part of professional sports teams, especially in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the Cincinnati Cyclones minor league hockey team has made great efforts to serve the area on and off the ice. Every year, the team donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities, schools, fund-raisers, and teams each season. Through player appearances, festival appearances, and donations, the Cyclones look to support the community however they can. Along with that, the team exposes children from the surrounding area to hockey by allowing them to attend Cyclones games.  

In 2024, the Cyclones broke racial barriers by becoming the first team in history with a starting lineup of all-black skaters. They are also coached by barrier-breaking former player Jason Payne. The Cyclones are an inspiration as they do a great job promoting diversity in a largely Caucasian-dominated sport. 

Coach Payne hopes he will help inspire others, saying, “It’s important for younger players to see familiar faces. Yeah, maybe I can be the guy behind the bench, maybe I can be someone in hockey operations, maybe I can be a video coach. The more you see the faces the more it sheds light on the opportunities that are possible.”

The Cyclones serve as an inspiration to potential and current black hockey players in the Cincinnati area and beyond. New achievements such as an all-black line-up also intrigue people to come to the games, which in turn raises revenue and gives money back to the community.

Programs made by the Cyclones such as "Reading Goals" or "Cyclones School Spirit Days" reward students for reaching certain educational milestones, like reading goals or academic improvement. This not only promotes academic excellence but also rewards hard work, helping students stay motivated. The Cyclones also engage in STEM-related educational outreach, demonstrating how scientific concepts such as motion, force, and aerodynamics apply to hockey. Thanks to the Cyclones, many students are now able to further understand the practical application of STEM subjects in the real world and become able to create a more interactive and engaging way to learn these concepts!