The Schomberg Minor Hockey Association has had an incredibly successful year, moving into a new state of the art arena (the Trisan Centre) and being one of the few minor hockey associations in Southern Ontario with increasing enrollment numbers. With new housing developments in the area, highly successful fundraising initiatives, and the introduction of additional skill development clinics focussed on younger skaters, the growing popularity of the Schomberg Minor Hockey program has resulted in significant growth in the Initiation (ages 4-5) and Tyke (age 6) Programs, signalling a bright future for the Association.

Despite this success, Schomberg Minor Hockey has not lost sight of the fact that hockey can be an expensive activity, and has recently taken steps to promote accessibility to the sport of hockey for local children whose families face financial barriers. The Schomberg Minor Hockey Board of Directors, recently approved the creation of a “Special Player Fund”, the purpose of which is to provide local families in need with support and assistance, in those situations where barriers prevent a child from experiencing the fun, friendship and personal growth associated with Canada’s favourite sport.

Now in its 50^th anniversary season, the success of Schomberg Minor Hockey has always rested upon the hard work and generosity of its volunteers, and the creation of the new Special Player Fund helps to continue SMHA’s proud tradition of charity work and giving back to the community.

The Schomberg Novice Rep Red Wings recently helped to further this important cause by holding a charity Skate-a-Thon during one of their practices, which saw the players skate as many laps of the new rink as they could in a one hour period, in exchange for sponsorships from friends and family. Many of the Novice Rep players completed well over 100 laps in the course of their efforts, resulting in lots of sweaty brows and rubbery legs. However, their charitable efforts paid off, with the Novice Rep Red Wings raising over $1500, which will be used to help less fortunate children in their community participate in minor hockey.

Schomberg Minor Hockey’s 1’st Vice President (Greg Taylor)who helped create the Special Player Fund emphasized that “…it is important as an organization that we support our community and make sure every child has the opportunity to participate in athletic activity. There is no better feeling than giving a child an opportunity to do something than they otherwise might not have the chance to do”.

Red Wing Novice Rep Coach Bob Cook felt strongly about the Skate-a-Thon event, believing that his own team had been extremely lucky this year in terms of the generous support they received from team sponsors and parents. Given how fortunate his own team was, Coach Bob wanted to find a way to help his players understand that many other children are not as lucky, and that there was something the Team could do to help give back to their community.

Schomberg Minor Hockey President Randy Miller was on hand to accept the cheque from the Novice Rep Team on behalf of the Association and personally congratulated all the players for their hard work and dedication in helping other boys and girls in their community.

He told the boys that the sponsorship cheque that each of them had personally signed would be hung with pride in the Schomberg Minor Hockey office, and that they were helping to continue the spirit of volunteerism that has made Schomberg Minor Hockey successful the past 50 years.

Pictured front row to back (left to right) Brian Cook, Matthew Harbridge, Jacob Zantingh, Cameron Sheardown, Anders von Enkevort, Max Farr, Kelden Dagenais, Vince Marra, Christopher Bertucci, Cole Budweth, Andrew Watt,  Cameron Mondolo, Ethan Walsh, Christopher Maric, Trainer Kelly Harbridge, Assistant Coach Esmond Mondolo, SMHA President Randy Miller and Novice Rep Coach Bob Cook. Absent from photo (Asst Trainer Ilya Dagenais and Team Manager Sarah Cook)