Getting the jump on hockey costs
Organizations team up to help cover the cost of playing hockey
Jumpstart P.E.I. is getting a cool $10,000 to help Island families register their children in hockey this winter thanks to the pros duffing it out on the links in the summer.
The Maritime NHL’ers 4 Kids golf tournament in July at Crowbush raised $30,000 to be split between the P.E.I., New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Jumpstart organizations. On Thursday, the organization presented the money to the P.E.I. chapter.
For Randy Cooper, president of the Pownal Minor Hockey Association, the money is a great help for many families struggling to pay its $440 registration fee. Jumpstart, applied for online, pays $300 of the cost.
“It makes you feel pretty good. It’s a little less impact for that family. It’s an expensive sport (so) every little bit helps,” said Cooper.
The Maritime NHL’ers 4 Kids have held the tournament for 15 years. It rotates each year through the Atlantic provinces. Three years ago it first teamed with Jumpstart and Canadian Tire.
Former NHL’er Errol Thompson was on board 15 years ago when Rick Bowness, now an associate coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, debuted the tournament.
And Thompson, who spent 10 seasons with Toronto, Detroit and Pittsburgh, has no intention of jumping off the Maritime NHL’ers 4 Kids train anytime soon.
“It’s the same old cliche for us old retired people. We all had it pretty good and we’re giving back,” said the Summerside native. “Rick Bowness and I talked about this one night in Digby, N.S. I have no problem for any organization asking me to help out. I’m there when (they need me).”
Online at http://jumpstart. canadiantire.ca/