HOCKEY CANADA
Churchbridge and Langenburg used a benefit hockey game and auction – with help from some big names – to raise more than $30,000 to support a family struck by tragedy.
The Norman U15 AAA Wolves reunited seven-year-old Ben Scaddan with his beloved stuffed animal after an epic road trip.
HC Champion: Harbans Bains
He makes the game more welcoming for newcomers to Canada, while instilling athletes with a belief in themselves.
When Brampton Canadettes goaltender Amy St. John was seriously injured in an accident last December, her hockey family rallied to support her mother and four siblings.
HC Champion: Sandra Jamieson
Sandra Jamieson’s dedication, passion and willingness has made her an integral part of the P.E.I. hockey community.
The power of the pond
The annual Polar Pond Hockey tournament is raising awareness about climate change to save the outdoor game.
With a passion for sharing her love of the game with aspiring players, 17-year-old Willa Evans enjoys coaching and volunteering to give back to her Nova Scotia community.
Mustangs rally for good
When the Gould family fundraised for a wheelchair lift, the McKnight Mustangs helped get them closer to their goal.
The coach co-founded the Skillz Black Aces to provide an inclusive team environment for BIPOC players in the GTA.
INDIGENOUS CAMP OPENS OPPORTUNITIES
Jana Headrick wanted more opportunities for Indigenous girls to try hockey, so the defenceman started a camp through the University of New Brunswick to offer just that.
HC Champion: Ryder Rodriguez
Since 2019, the 10-year-old from Manitoba has lead The Hat Trick Project, raising money to help keep kids in the game.
When there was devastating flooding and landslides in British Columbia, the hockey community came together to help.
HC CHAMPION: VICKY JOLICOEUR
Vicky Jolicoeur is a coach, administrator and advocate – but most of all, a Champion. Her work gives young athletes on the autism spectrum a chance to love the game.
Hockey Regina players are leading the way to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society through Hockey Fights Cancer.
HC Champion: Tiya Bainbridge
Tiya Bainbridge has raised more than $40,000 for SickKids Foundation after her own battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Three Calgary Buffalo Hockey Association trainers were in the right place at the right time, and quick-thinking – and a community response – helped save a player’s life.
Champion: Garrett McFadden
Garrett McFadden is growing mental health awareness at the grassroots with his McFadden’s Movement initiative.
The Hockey Canada Community, presented by Scotiabank, has returned to celebrate the very best of Canadian hockey.
HC CHAMPION: SCOTT HENDERSON
An unwavering commitment to starting players the right way through introduction programs like the First Shift, makes Scott Henderson a real Champion of the game.
Piper Hays and Hayley Palmer have benefitted from a push by the Vancouver Angels to get more women behind the bench.
HC Champion: Krista Hodder
Krista Hodder is reducing the barriers to play for young girls from the Membertou First Nation community in Nova Scotia.
Wacey Rabbit believes in the power of community and the power of his people, and he is touring a skills camp around First Nations communities to share his love of the game.
Finding their hockey home
The Halifax Mussels are providing the LGBTQ+ community with a supportive, fun and inclusive way to play the game.
Representation matters
Lynne Kiang has spent 30 years working to welcome people of all backgrounds to rinks in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
It was a simple request from Melody Davidson and one that was even simpler to fulfill, since the Central York Junior Panthers were giving back to the community all along.
HC Champion: Stu Gershman
After losing his son at 22, Dr. Stu Gershman founded Buddy Check for Jesse to end the stigma around mental health.
A family of volunteers
The MacNicolls are a true hockey family – seven kids, mom and dad give their time to the game on and off the ice.
HC CHAMPION: JILL FRASER
To keep girls’ teams in the Kincardine Minor Hockey Association safely on the ice for the 2020-21 season, Jill Fraser helped create a bubble in southwestern Ontario.
Learning the game together
The Female Indigenous Hockey Program is giving young Mi’kmaq players a chance to fall in love with Canada’s game.
HC Champion: Dean Smith
Dean Smith is leading the charge to ensure hockey is safe and welcoming for anyone in Nova Scotia who wants to play.
PROVIDING A PLACE TO PLAY
For more than a decade, Hockey Nova Scotia and its Black Youth Ice Hockey Program have been giving players from 5-10 years old a unique opportunity to learn Canada’s game.
HC Champion: Chris Petrichuk
Chris Petrichuk helped build three all-girls teams in Balcarres, Sask., and resurrected the U18 program in Melville.
Teamwork was on display as players worked together across Canada to give back to local communities over the holidays.
HC CHAMPION: MATT ESTABROOKS
A long-time volunteer with the Sackville Minor Hockey Club, Matt Estabrooks doesn’t just teach hockey – he teaches skills that will benefit his players outside the game.
A simple idea became a labour of love for three friends, and a way for one selfless young player to help the homeless.
HC Champion: Andrew Boyle
He spends hours volunteering and captains his Junior B team. Just 21, Andrew Boyle is a community leader in Antigonish.
THE POWER OF THE HOCKEY COMMUNITY
After long-time Springbank MHA coach and volunteer Justin Ikebuchi tragically passed away on Oct. 13, colleagues and friends rallied around his wife and four children.
HC Champion: Chantel Timmons
The LHA president and a hockey mom, Chantel Timmons has spent 13 years making sure the game thrives in Bow Island.
Sebastien and Aries Benuen walked 330 kilometres not just for hockey, but for community, culture and their Innu values.
DAVEY LEANS ON HOCKEY FAMILY
When Brianna Davey battled a rare blood disorder, the hockey community she has long counted herself a proud member of stepped up to support the B.C. Hockey staffer.
The Hockey Canada Community, presented by Scotiabank, will highlight great Canadian hockey stories.
The Official Bank of Hockey Canada has committed to supporting grassroots hockey and growing the women’s game.
