Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers ages 14-18 and who are still in middle/high school can register as Student Volunteers with the Mighty Penguins to help mostly with on-ice duties during practices. All volunteers must register each season. Beginning with the 2026-2027 season, the registration requirements and guidelines will look a little different than in past seasons. Space is limited and all Students are required to use Crossbar to RSVP to practices. Please review the Volunteer Guide for more information on what it looks like to be a volunteer with the Mighty Penguins.

Please refer to the steps below to register with the Mighty Penguins as a student volunteer. Please Note: During the registration process, you (student) & your parent/guardian will be required to read and sign our Volunteer Guidelines Handbook before registration is complete.

STEP 1:  You must be registered with USA Hockey. If you are already registered as a player because you are on a stand-up hockey team, you will use your existing 2026-2027 USA Hockey # — you should NOT re-register as a volunteer. If you are not registered with USA Hockey or you don't plan to play for another stand-up ice hockey amateur team, you can register with USA Hockey as a Volunteer. Be sure to select ice hockey not disabled hockey. (You will be required to enter your current USA Hockey # during this registration with the Mighty Pens.)

STEP 2:  Once you have your USA Hockey #, click on the Registration button below — you will be prompted to create a Crossbar account if you do not already have one (see below)

STEP 3:  You must create a Crossbar account and select to receive communications to participate as a volunteer.  Click on our website's parent Resource Tab for more info on setting up and using Crossbar. *Parents/Guardians — you will need to add your student volunteer as a participant in order to select them as the registering volunteer.

STEP 4:  Student Volunteers with a 2009 birth year or earlier (17 and older this hockey season) you are required to complete the USA Hockey SafeSport Training before you can participate as a 2026-2027 volunteer. If you play for a stand-up team, you will already have completed this step. Please send confirmation of your SafeSport completion to our Registrar & Operations Manager — Tara Garris: tara.garris@penguinssledhockey.org



On-ice volunteers are typically pushers, helping to push players who are unable to propel themselves.

• ALL adult volunteers with direct contact with our athletes must register with USA Hockey as a manager/volunteer — this is a free membership. If you already have your current 2026-2027 USA Hockey # as a player and/or coach, DO NOT re-register as a volunteer with USA Hockey — you are able to use the same #.
• ALL adults 18+ (who are out of high school) looking to volunteer on the ice for the Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey organization must register each season.
• Please note: You will be prompted to create a Crossbar account in order to submit your registration if you don't already have one. We have moved from SportsEngine to Crossbar, so last year's login information will no longer be valid.
• Parents/Guardians of Mighty Pens players wanting to help on the ice: Please follow all 6 steps below except for STEP 2 — click HERE to register to help on the ice with your child. You will use your same Crossbar account that you have for your player and add yourself as a participant on your account.

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Steps for Registering as an Adult On-Ice Volunteer:

STEP 1:  Register with USA Hockey as a manager/volunteer if you have not already done so. Print & save your number because you will need to enter it when completing the Adult Volunteer Registration in Step 2.

STEP 2: Complete the Mighty Penguins Adult Volunteer Registration by clicking the button below. (Parents of players, please see the red highlighted note above.)

STEP 3:  Complete your SafeSport Training with USA Hockey if you have not already done so. If you completed your SafeSport Training last season, you will receive reminders about your SafeSport expiration date 30 days & 15 days from your expiration. 

STEP 4:  Complete the 3 required Pennsylvania Clearances if you have not already done so.

*Please note: If you have resided in PA for the last consecutive 10 years, you only need to print, sign & submit the Volunteer Disclosure Statement Affidavit — not the FBI Criminal History Fingerprinting. (Clearances are valid for 5 years)

1. Child Abuse Clearance: https://www.compass.dhs.pa.gov/cwis/public/home

2. State Police Criminal Background Check: https://epatch.pa.gov/TandCVolunteer

3. FBI Criminal History — If you have NOT lived in PA for the last 10 years go to (use DHS Volunteer service code 1KG6ZJ):  https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/keep-kids-safe/child-abuse-clearances/fbi-fingerprinting 

*If you have lived in PA for 10+ years print, sign & save the Volunteer Disclosure Statement Affidavit found here: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/keepkidssafe/resources/documents/disclosure-statement-for-volunteers.pdf

STEP 5:  Complete the NCSI Background Screening required by USA Hockey. Background screens are good for 1 year the 1st time you complete it and then every two seasons thereafter. NCSI screens expire on August 31. Screens completed January–March are valid through August 31 of the following year. Screens completed April–December are valid through August 31 two years later.

STEP 6: Email your USA Hockey #, proof of SafeSport completion, PA Clearances, and NCSI verification to Tara Garris — Registrar & Operations Manager:  tara.garris@penguinssledhockey.org

IMPORTANT: You are not permitted to volunteer on or off the ice until you have received your approval from our Volunteer Coordinator, Program Manager or Operations Manager.

QUESTIONS?

Questions during the season can be directed to Shannon Ebersole — Volunteer Coordinator: volunteer@penguinssledhockey.org 

ALL adult volunteers — BOTH on & off the ice — who have direct contact with our athletes must register each season with USA Hockey as a manager/volunteer and with the Mighty Penguins. Please refer to the steps above and click HERE to complete your Mighty Pens Volunteer Registration.

Before registering as an off-ice volunteer, please reach out to our volunteer coordinator. Some off-ice volunteer opportunities may not require you to register as a volunteer or submit clearances.

Some off-ice opportunities may include:

• Grant Writing
• Tournament Scorekeeping and Timekeeping
• Fundraising Events