Hockey Day A-OK

Times Reporter   

 

Even with the temperature hovering around -20 C, the Gleichen and District Minor Hockey Association and the Hockey Alberta Pond Hockey Program combined for a successful fifth annual Hockey Day in GA on Feb. 8, with roughly 125 young participants.

“It went really, really well,” Gleichen and District Minor Hockey Association President Cara Sheppard said. “It was a little bit on the chillier side but thank God the sun was out. I think everyone had a really good time.”

Children, ranging from ages 4-17, received a free lunch, grab bag, a donated jersey, and played three 4-on-4 non-contact shinny style games. The matchups were played on two outdoor rinks, and two indoor ones at the Gleichen arena. To distract from the cold, Sheppard even brought in a face-painter for the kids, who came from as far as Canmore, Siksika, Carstairs, Strathmore, and Claresholm – to name a few.

“I think they have a really good time, and it gives them that tournament kind of feel,” Sheppard said. “Just really relaxed, grassroots hockey. There was a group from Stavely, that were out of the Stavely Pond Hockey Program, and they’re kind of isolated where they are. They don’t really have any other teams to play. This is kind of their time that they get to come out and have their event.”

NHL Alumni Tim Hunter of the Calgary Flames – now an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals – and Dennis Polonich of the Detroit Red Wings – now a player agent – were on hand to sign autographs and take pictures with participants.

“They were great guys, both Tim and Dennis, they were fantastic,” Sheppard said. “They took the kids out at lunch, and did some drills with them, and talked to them about grassroots hockey. They even played a shinny game with them, they were really good guys.”

Year six of the event is next up for Sheppard and her hockey association.

“We’ll take a day or two to breathe and then we’ll start moving on for next year,” she said.