Big money for minor hockey

There's a long tradition in Newfoundland and across Canada of waking up early Saturday morning and driving the kids to the local rink.

After lacing up the skates, young players hit the ice to take part in a sport that has been played for generations.

To some, hockey is life. For many, it is a pastime that provides countless memories, friendships and skills.

However, after all of the expenses for equipment, registration and tournament fees are tallied up, the costs can become overwhelming, especially for families with many children.

Those who cannot afford to play are left on the sidelines.

It is for this reason Norris Points' Doug and Connie Adams donated $10,000 on behalf of their company Cablelync to go towards the Gros Morne Minor Hockey Association so children who cannot afford to play hockey may get chance by having their expenses covered.

Gros Morne Minor Hockey Association president Chris Legge said the donation would be used for a variety of things.

"The money was given to use for the kids first, and if there was something to be used for the stadium, like nets, then we could use that," Mr. Legge said.

"It's basically there to pay for registration and assist with tournaments."

President of the association for one year, Mr. Legge said the club includes levels from initiation to Bantam and a girls under-20 team.

He said the money may also be used if there is a shortage of equipment, although he says that there is also equipment at the stadium that kids can use.

Stadium manager Mark Robinson applauded the donation.

"This was the biggest one time contribution that anyone has made up to date," Mr. Robinson said.

"There's been some ups and downs, there's no doubt. The first few years our association was struggling being new and getting off the ground.

"Since then we have gotten some overflow from games that can't be accommodated in Deer Lake and Corner Brook. But this could benefit five or six different kids who probably wouldn't have joined this year."

Mr. Adams is hoping other businesses in the community will consider making their own contribution.

"If you have a successful company today, you should be obligated to help out where you can," he said.

"We usually budget about $20,000 each year that we like to give back to different causes."

Mr. Adams said they donated $13,000 last year to the Janeway in St. John's so that a terminally ill child and their family could go on a trip to either Disneyland or Hawaii.

This year they decided to help out with minor hockey.

"Every kid wants to play hockey and skate with their friends. It's a crime when the parents can't afford it," Mr. Adams added.

The money doesn't come as a hand out though.

The only stipulation for the donation is that the players must get together for a day in the spring for a beach and community clean up. This will ensure that the entire community benefits.

The kids will have to clean up a mile of roadside and a mile of beach in the communities of Rocky Harbour and Norris Point in the spring. This will serve two purposes.

First, Mr. Adams said, it will instill the importance of environmental conservation in the kids. Second, he added, it will motivate the community to get behind the kids when they see the good that they are doing in town.

The kids will also learn lessons in being responsible and that anything is possible through hard work, particularly given Mr. Adams story as a successful business man from the area.

Mr. Adams added that a few more lessons will be learned through "the importance of being connected with other people and getting along with everybody as well as being organized and working together. It will also get kids off of the street and into sports."

Rocky Harbour mayor Walter Nicolle said it was a "very significant donation."

"It's fabulous actually," he said.

"We're a very small town. We do have a stadium but any contribution such as this that also helps bring business into town helps our local economy."

Perhaps the next Brandon Hynes, who plays for the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL, will benefit from this support.

Or maybe even the next Ryan Clowe or Danny Cleary. Whatever the outcome, it is certain that this donation will go a long way in providing an opportunity for kids to play a game that can often be too costly to afford.

"We have to invest in our kids. It's not should we (invest), it's a must," Mr. Adams said.