EAST WENATCHEE — Barb Agnew’s fifth-grade class didn’t speak for a few moments after Wenatchee Wild defenseman Alex McLean introduced himself as their new reading tutor.

The 10- and 11-year-old students simply watched him, a humble, 6-foot-3-inch guy from Minnesota in a blue-and-white hockey jersey.

“We were just practicing some questions we wanted to ask ...” Agnew said, prompting her students.

A hand shot up.

“Can I get your autograph?” 10-year-old Ernesto Avila asked.

The signatures had to wait until the end of class as McLean and Wenatchee Wild forward Nate Sliwinski visited fifth-graders at Clovis Point Intermediate on Friday.

The Wenatchee Wild launched a school reading program two months ago that has already spread to 16 schools in seven school districts: Eastmont, Wenatchee, Entiat, Waterville, Cascade, Quincy and Cashmere.

Every player — except for the eight still in high school — was assigned to read with children at elementary and middle schools once a month.

“Sometimes they read in a group, sometimes one-on-one,” said Jan Cetto, an Eastmont school board member and volunteer appearance coordinator for the Wild.

The Wild players also eat lunch and go to recess with the students. They talk about the importance of school and their own aspirations to attend college, Cetto said.

“I heard of one little guy who was really having a hard time with reading. Apparently the players connected with him, and now reading is the greatest thing in the world,” Cetto said. “We’re getting rave reviews from teachers.”

Fifth-grade teacher Chy Spry agreed. A little star power may be the key in breaking through the frustration of some struggling and distracted readers.

“It takes role models like this,” Spry said. “We have to get their interest. A lot of boys at this age, it’s hard to get them interested.”

But with someone special paying attention, students will be more motivated to work hard on their reading skills and show off their progress, she said.

“I’m dangling him like a little carrot,” Spry said.

Both Wenatchee Wild players Friday said they don’t mind.

“The kids look up to us and when they see us reading, they might think, ‘We want to be like these guys, we should do what they do,’ ” McLean said.

“When we say ‘Good job, keep it up,’ they listen,” Sliwinski added.

Rachel Schleif: 664-7139

schleif@wenatcheeworld.com