New Tecumseth ice hockey program making the sport more accessible
An ice hockey program in New Tecumseth is making the sport more accessible for everyone.
Ice Elements was started to address a need shown by older children unwilling to start hockey because of the level of their peers and because many can't afford to play.
"I want to give a kid an opportunity to do whatever they want to try, and if they're great at it or not great at it, who cares. They had a chance," says Ice Elements Co-Founder Chris Rapin.
"It's a Godsend. It's awesome. It's really good for the kids, and it's nice to see the kids enjoying themselves," says Ice Elements parent Kate Cournoyea.
The program provides roughly 20-30 hours of ice time between January and March for kids in grades 4-8 for just $150. Rapin says his goal is to try and break down the barriers of Canada's favourite pastime.
"He wanted to experience hockey, and he wanted to play, but hockey is not very affordable for a lot of families, but this program is," says Cournoyea.
Players also get gear and a jersey with their name on it.
"Out of our 40 or so players this year, we've outfitted over 20 of them just with donations from the community," says Rapin.
With some kids playing organized hockey for the first time, players are divided into even groups. Coaches say this prevents players from feeling like they aren't good enough to make a team.
Each team has three lines of ability Line A (Rep), Line B (House League), and Line C (Beginners). Players can play up a level but cannot drop a level. Each A-level player plays net twice during the season.
"People with the same kind of limit to how good they are they can play against each other," says Douglas Sutherland with Ice Elements.
"It's fun. We get to play with people our skill, and you can only score once, so you don't just have one random person on a rampage of scoring," says Ice Elements player Ivan Emarenona.
The school teachers who started the program say kids come from across Simcoe County not just to play a sport but to experience what it's like to be part of a team.
"I like coming and playing with some of my friends and versing my friends," says Ice Elements player Rachel Cochrane.
"It gets me better. I've learned a lot of new tricks since I've been in this league," says Ice Elements player Owen Lefort.
Rapin says the score is irrelevant. He says the priority is focusing on what he believes all youth sports should be about, simply ensuring the kids are sweaty and smiling.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.