Consider it the one major assist that will surely lead to many goals on the ice. The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation just dropped a nice little gift off at centre ice and KidSport Alberta picked up a $2-million cheque to help get kids in the game.
"Imagine hearing your friends at school talk about their hockey game over the weekend, knowing you will never have the chance to play in one," said Corey Smith, board chair of the foundation, in a press release.
"The reality is that hockey is expensive, and for many families it just isn't possible. That's why we are excited to partner with KidSport to help alleviate the cost of playing hockey for kids from underrepresented groups. With this donation, we will ensure that Canada's game is within reach for all kids across Oil Country."
"It's absolutely awesome," said Klayton Deputan, chair of KidSport St. Albert.
KidSport offers grants to cover registration fees so all kids 18 and under can play a season of sport. The St. Albert chapter administers grants of up to $200 per child per year for kids who live in St. Albert or another community it serves.
The foundation's grant will not just pay for registration fees, but also equipment. The program is Oil Country-specific, which basically means everything from Red Deer north. The boost will help bring kids into the game after so many had to leave during the pandemic for one reason or another.
"Hockey has been a bit of a sport that's become inaccessible to those type of families because it's a little more expensive to play," Deputan said.
The program is immediately available, a timely offering considering the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association (SAMHA) opened up to registrations on May 1. SAMHA's executive director Jane Sedo thinks the generous gift will offer positive changes to a lot of kids' lives.
"I think anytime that we can remove barriers to support people engaging in hockey [it's] a step in the right direction for us. Sometimes financial barriers are definitely a consideration for some of our families, so we're really excited to learn of the partnership that was announced earlier this month," she said.
"I think it's really exciting when partners in the community are able to help us remove those barriers for some families. I know [there are] members in our association who will be very grateful of the support this year. So many families have been impacted by the events of the last two years, and anytime [there are] opportunities to support people in those situations, I think, is a positive for our community."
She encouraged players to register before July 8, adding that SAMHA recently changed some of its program offerings to provide a budget-conscious alternative to its members. This year, it's introducing its Recreation Hockey Week, which provides families with a fixed-cost model.
The foundation grant is immediately available when registration opens for minor hockey — May 1 in St. Albert. The application process starts with clicking on the yellow button on the website — the one featuring a hockey puck — that says "Oil Country Hockey Assist Program."
"We're super happy and excited in St. Albert to be able to provide more opportunity for kids to participate in hockey," Deputan said, adding this will make a huge impact in the city.
"St. Albert is definitely a hockey community," he said. "It's great news for kids in St. Albert to play hockey and get involved in playing hockey in the community."
