70 Hockey Players Get Mouth Guards

With the help of volunteer dentists, a group of 70 young hockey players in the Disney Goals program recently received free mouth guards.

“With the constant risk of injuries in sports, we have found that mouth guards can significantly reduce the risk of concussion,” said dentist Alice Sun, a member of the Orange County Dental Society, which donated the equipment and services.

Hockey player Edgar Lopez agreed, noting the danger of falling on the ice rink.

“It’s a precaution so you don’t get hurt,” said Lopez, 17, of Anaheim, adding that the mouth guard will “keep us safe.”

The donation to the Disney Goals participants is valued at about $10,000, said Mike Van Heule, Disney Goals field manager.

Each mouth guard costs between $125 and $170 and will be personalized with the child’s name, hockey jersey number and Disney Goals logo.

If any of the children need dental work, the society will match them with a local dentist to perform the work for free, Van Heule said.

Disney Goals is a nonprofit organization that provides hockey programs for needy youth in five Anaheim neighborhods and one in Garden Grove.