The Falcon men's hockey team is experiencing that special feeling again in 2011 giving Santa some help with the big guy's annual Holiday giving program.

For the 13^th year the Falcons have been involved with their own idea – Bikes for Kids.

The hockey players and coaches raise and/or donate money so two or three bikes can be purchased and given to local young children. This year the team and coaches had enough money to buy three bikes.

The three children who received the bikes this year were in kindergarten, second and third grades. There were two boys and one girl who received bikes this year.

“We contact the school and they tell us which kids are in need. Once we find out the age and gender of the kids we can go out and purchase the bikes,” said Falcon Coach Steve Freeman. “The children are told the bikes are from Santa, or the team, depending on how parents want to handle it.”

The bikes are delivered to the children right before Christmas each year – meaning this year three young lives are a lot brighter.

Since the Bikes for Kids program has started the Falcons have donated about 40 bikes to young children in need.

“It's a great feeling getting the bikes to the kids. It's a giving time of year and we like to get the entire team involved,” said Freeman.

Editor's Note: A special thanks to Jon Smits for supplying the photo that appears with the story.