A day of celebrating hockey
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
The Gleichen community is celebrating the game of hockey and their pond hockey program by holding Hockey Day in Gleichen Jan. 30.
The day runs in conjunction with CBC’s 10th Annual Hockey Day in Canada, when all six Canadian teams are in action and the day will be spent broadcasting live from Stratford, Ont. and other parts of Canada.
“We’re just celebrating the Canadian sport of hockey,” said Cara Sheppard, organizer.
They will be celebrating by having a four-on-four shinney event for kids aged four to 17. Kids who play in the pond hockey program as well as mainstream hockey can participate.
Three sheets of ice will be set-up with one at the arena and then two outside, weather permitting.
If the weather is very cold or the ponds don’t co-operate, everything will be held in the arena. Each kid will get to play three games of one hour each.
It hasn’t been decided if goalies will be used, but if they aren’t, nets will be turned around so goals have to be wrapped-around the net. Participants will receive t-shirts and lunch.
The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $5 to participate if you are involved with pond hockey or insured through Hockey Alberta.
Sheppard and other pond hockey members have been discussing the idea of having a hockey day in Gleichen for the last three years.
The idea is to promote their program and let kids have an entire day of playing hockey and having fun.
The pond hockey program in Gleichen gets kids away from structured hockey said Sheppard.
“It’s all about fun and learning,” said Sheppard
They run a drop-in style on Tuesday’s from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the arena with half of the time geared towards drills and the other half a shinney game of hockey.
This year also marks the 100th year of official hockey in Gleichen. The first official hockey team in the town was the Gleichen Gunners in 1910.
The 22nd Battery RCA, an artillery group in the military, sponsored the Gleichen team, which is why they were named the Gunners.
Sheppard has since gotten in contact with the Museum of Regiments and the Legion to find out if any members of the 22nd Battery RCA are still alive and if they want to come out for the day.
For those who are interested in volunteering or if you need more information contact Cara Sheppard at (403) 734-3515 or Gord Hira at (403) 337-3763.