Hockey Alberta Teams Up with Hockey Canada to Send Gifts to More Than 29,000 Minor Hockey Players in Alberta

For Immediate Release

Calgary, Alta. - Hockey Alberta, in partnership with Hockey Canada, announced on Monday it is sending out a special package this week to more than 29,000 minor hockey players under 10 years old who have registered to play in Alberta for the 2009-10 season.

This is the third-straight year that Hockey Canada has teamed up with Hockey Alberta to connect with its grassroots membership by mailing out gift packages to the thousands of children who are taking to the ice across the province. This year, more than 29,000 children will receive the Source for Sports Play SMART (Shaping, Minds, Attitudes and Respect Together) with Pete Activity Guide from Hockey Alberta which includes an assortment of interactive games and stickers promoting the “Play SMART” message. The Hockey Canada portion of the gift includes a comic strip featuring Hockey Canada’s official mascot, Puckster, and a personalized workbook filled with a variety of fun activities and skills spotlights.

“It’s through initiatives like this we are able engage with the younger age groups of our membership and promote the great game of hockey within Alberta,” said Hockey Alberta President, Annie Orton. “We want to open the doors to the hockey world to anyone who wishes to be involved and this is a great way to do that.” 

“Everyone who gets this package is a member of a bigger team, Team Canada,” said Ken Corbett, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors. “When these young players watch other players represent Canada at the international level, they should remember that they are part of the same team as them - the Hockey Canada team.” 

Hockey Canada, in conjunction with all 13 member branches, will be reaching over 215,000 minor hockey players in total as part of the national initiative. 

“We are very excited to be partnering with the 13 regional hockey branches in Canada to send this very special package to minor hockey players in Canada under 10 years old,” said Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson. “On behalf of Hockey Canada and its regional branches, we welcome these youngsters to the great game of hockey and hope that many more will join our team next season.”

In total, there are more than 550,000 children who are registered in hockey through Hockey Canada’s 13 member branches and its member minor hockey associations. These young players benefit in many ways by participating in the sport, from having fun and building friendships to learning lessons about confidence, fair play, good sportsmanship and teamwork.

Hockey Canada has developed this special mail-out for children with the help of all 13 regional branches to communicate with the base of its membership and remind minor hockey players that they are an important part of Hockey Canada - just like members of Team Canada such as Jarome Iginla, Sidney Crosby, Hayley Wickenhesier and Kim St-Pierre. This year is an especially exciting season to be involved in hockey, with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team and National Women’s Team to go for gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games next month and Canada’s National Sledge Team to compete at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in March.

The Hockey Canada gift package for minor hockey players in Alberta includes:

 Hockey Canada has also re-launched its popular kids website. The website features everything from videos, games and quizzes to an interactive hockey card builder, hockey tips and information about Team Canada. Check it out at www.hockeycanada.ca/kids, where an online version of the workbook and comic will also be available for download.

Minor hockey players between the ages of four and 10 who are registered with Hockey Canada but do not receive a mail-out package by Saturday, January 30 can have their parents email kids@hockeycanada.ca or their member branch to request the free gift or to get packages for friends that may want to register for minor hockey in the future. Please provide the player’s name, his or her club team, the name of the minor hockey association and a mailing address.

For more information please visit www.hockeyalberta.ca or contact:

Mike Dennis
Coordinator, Communications
Hockey Alberta
P: 403.342.6777
C: 403.872.9095
F: 403.346.4277
mdennis@hockeyalberta.ca

Brad Robbins
Senior Managers, Operations
Hockey Alberta
P: 403.342.6777
brobbins@hockeyalberta.ca
03.342.6777