As a part of the Social Development Centre’s ongoing support of the Traynor-Vanier community, you may recall we developed a relationship through which nine boys and girls attended the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association “Give it a Try” hockey day . With equipment provided by Kitchener Minor Hockey Association (KHMA), and mentorship, guidance and support provided by players of the Kitchener Jr. Rangers Minor Midget AAA hockey team everyone had a great introduction to skating and hockey.
Building on this one time experience eight boys and girls were offered the opportunity by KMHA to attend a 10 week developmental hockey skills program on Sunday afternoons. Everyone completed the skills program and five of the participants choose to accept the offer by KMHA to play 10 weeks of 4 on 4 hockey; the three Pee Wee age boys playing on Monday evenings and the Atom age boy and girl playing on Friday nights
Four of the five who played 4 on 4 hockey have expressed an interest in house league hockey this coming Fall and two more (a brother and sister) from the original nine “Give it a Try” participants have also decided they would like to be involved in the Hockey Development program again this season. We wish to acknowledge and thank the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association for their support and vision in initiating this program.
While three of the original nine participants have subsequently moved to Waterloo, the Social Development Centre has been able to work together with the City of Waterloo, the Waterloo Wolves and the Waterloo Ravens to ensure these budding hockey players will be able to play in the Fall
Every one of the players carrying on have discovered, along with their parents the “Joy of Hockey” a new world for them, outside their cultural norms, which offers an opportunity for exciting new experiences and an expanded circle of friendships. In what were once homes where basketball and soccer were the major sports topics, now you may hear talk of scores in the Stanley Cup games.
Chris Hodnett, Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
