On Tuesday, August 16th, 2022, members of the Washington Capitals Marketing Team joined Rink2Reef® at Wylder Hotel on Tilghman Island for a reef build day. Team members constructed oyster restoration reefs with broken ice hockey sticks, many from the Washington Capitals organization. 

Along with the Rink2Reef build day, team members also enjoyed a boat ride on Big Will II with Captain Jesse Zelinske to learn more about Oysters and the Chesapeake Bay culminating with a a stop at St. Michaels Oysters Company aquaculture farm. Cages from the farm were lifted from the creek bed to show members one of the newer techniques to grow oysters.

In the retreat, the team took an opportunity to draw the connection between hockey, oysters and the Chesapeake Bay.

“Oysters are a huge part of the Chesapeake and one of the biggest contributors to its success,” says Matt Albers, chair of Rink2Reef® Chesapeake. “The bay needs millions if not billions of oysters to flourish and Rink2Reef® can play a part in restoring it to those numbers.”

The Rink2Reef program, originally established by Florida Marine Biologist Bob Wazno, creates a unique opportunity to recycle broken ice hockey sticks into oyster restoration habitats. In optimal conditions, one reef can host 400 oysters and filter 20,000 of water per day while providing shelter and protection to other aquatic marine life. For more information on Rink2Reef, visit www.charlesp104.sg-host.com