NEWS RELEASE
WEEKEND HOCKEY TOURNAMENTS
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The Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) and Weekend Hockey Tournaments are excited to announce the recipients of the first ever Hockey is Fun grant, a new initiative that showcases how associations are growing the game at a local level.
The grant was created to raise money for grassroots initiatives that promote positive minor hockey experiences in communities across the province.
The $10,000 proceeds were raised at Hockey is Fun tournaments run by Weekend Hockey last season and is being split between three associations. The donations will support their efforts to bring in new families to the game of hockey at a community level through events like try hockey, equipment programs and other ways that shine a light on the benefits of minor hockey.
Watch: https://youtu.be/dKe5eG6Dtqk
The recipient associations are:
$2,500 to Lefroy Minor Hockey: The association offers free development programs to players, improving on the fundamentals with trained on-ice instructors. They also outfit new hockey players with full equipment to help ease their transition into the game.
$2,500 to Norwood Minor Hockey: Learn to Skate and Learn Hockey programs are geared towards U7 players to introduce hockey at a young age. The association also offers two registration subsidy programs to ensure all youth have the opportunity to participate in the sport should registration fees become a barrier to a player’s involvement.
$5,000 to Ajax-Pickering Minor Hockey: Along with a fund to support families who are unable to afford registration fees, the association supports U7-U13 house league players and goalies by offering free weekly development programs to players who don’t often have the same opportunities as rep players.
“Weekend Hockey Tournaments are extremely proud to be a part of such a great initiative to help grow the great game of hockey,” said James Zitmanis, director of Weekend Hockey Tournaments. “This initiative includes supporting new families and players participation in minor hockey on and off the ice. Bringing in new families to participate will enable many players to enjoy the benefits of minor hockey.”
Last season there were approximately 54,500 recreational hockey players in the OMHA, or 67 per cent of total players.
“House league players had nowhere to go for development,” said Leo Nat, the executive director of Ajax-Pickering Minor Hockey. “Most of the development is based around rep players, and going to rep development is costly and intimidating. So, we created this free program around the skill level of house league players.”
In Ajax-Pickering, there are 150 kids participating across four age groups – each session is divided into stations that teach different skills including stopping and starting, puck handling and shooting.
“I think it’s amazing, we get to have our kids improve – improve his skating, improve his hockey knowledge, and I’ve seen it help him in his house-league experience,” said Keegan Harbajan, whose son is participating in the Ajax-Pickering U7 development program.
“The programs highlighted in the Hockey is Fun grant are just some of the examples of the great work our Associations are doing at the community level to grow the game,” said Ian Taylor, executive director of the OMHA. “Thank you to Weekend Hockey for their continued support and making a positive impact for players across the province.”
Taylor added that these Hockey is Fun tournaments help remind everyone of why we all love the game – because it is fun. This is the time of year that the lasting memories from minor hockey are made, when we suit up on the road at a tournament and spend time together as our second family.
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