Kids put Sundin through paces
Ball hockey program debuts 3,500 youngsters will take part
Mats Sundin was set up to the right of the goalie — knees bent, head up, stick out, anticipating a quick pass that he’d feed back to his teammate who was heading hard to the net. But when the pass came, the Toronto Maple Leafs captain just couldn’t get his stick on it. The miss spurred an even mightier groan from his teammates, who circled around the back of the net. Maybe the surface was too slick?
After all, the Leafs captain is used to playing on ice, not a gleaming gymnasium floor. And he was adjusting to playing with new teammates, many of whom barely came up to his waist and all of whom still live with their parents. Or it could have been that there were no pucks. The game yesterday afternoon was ball hockey. For one hour, the Swedish forward traded passes and shooting tips with about 30 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 16 at the Wellesley Community Centre on Sherbourne St. The event kicked off the opening of the 2005- 06 Esso Maple Leaf Street Buds, a free 18- week program designed to help kids develop hockey and team skills. About 3,500 young people are involved in the 11- year program, which is administered by the City of Toronto’s Parks and Recreation department at 30 community centres.
“ I grew up playing street hockey,” Sundin said. “ Whether hockey players grew up in Canada or in Europe, they know about street hockey. What you work on is how to have fun out there.” On the sidelines, many adults clutching their kids’ winter coats and digital cameras could barely contain themselves or stay behind the designated line.
“ This is a chance of a lifetime, a chance to play hockey with the captain of the Maple Leafs,” said GreigMcKenzie. His son Justin is a Single A right- winger hoping to pick up some tips.
Red- faced and wide- eyed, Justin McKenzie said the best thing he learned was to keep his head up. “ And he’s big,” Justin said. “ Imagine how big he looks like when he’s on skates.”