WHL Community Collective: Central Division

 

While playing hockey and academic endeavors are priorities for Western Hockey League players, community interaction and involvement are also important prerogatives that often go unrecognized. In the WHL Community Collective feature, we will highlight each team in the WHL, by division, to recognize different initiatives in their respective communities.

In this week’s #WHLCommunity spotlight, the Central Division is featured:

 

Calgary Hitmen

While the Calgary Hitmen participate in numerous community initiatives throughout the season, a spotlight event for the club is their Anti-Bullying game. Held on February 27, 2019, the Hitmen packed the Saddledome with 15,084 kids from Calgary and area schools to play a matinee game against the Swift Current Broncos, where they discussed the importance of acceptance and bullying prevention from two guest speakers, concourse displays and in-game activities.

 

Edmonton Oil Kings

Spearheaded by Will Warm, the Edmonton Oil Kings work with children from Edmonton’s Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) to bring joy and fun into their daily lives. Twice a month, Oil Kings players visit RMHC to do crafts for the evening with kids and brighten what can be very long days for families that stay in the ‘House’. In conjunction with the visits, Warm and the Oil Kings donate six tickets per game to families staying in the RMHC to allow them to forget about their medical situation and enjoy being together on a night out.

“I hope that by me [and the other players] visiting the Ronald McDonald House, the kids are able to escape reality for even a couple of hours and hopefully spend time with someone that they can look up to. We started giving families who are staying at RMHC tickets to Oil Kings’ games because I think it is a great experience for the families and it is something that a lot of them have never been able to experience before. I love knowing I have a few extra excited fans in the crowd. They are always so thankful for the experience,” said Warm.

Despite the fact that Warm usually leaves the ‘House’ covered in glitter at the end of the night, he and the other players love hosting the program.

“My favourite things about spending time at RMHC is getting to know the kids and seeing how strong they are,” said Warm. “It has been an absolute pleasure to spend time with the kids and all the amazing people who work/volunteer for RMHC.”

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsUI6ponyPd/

 

Kootenay ICE

In early December, the Kootenay ICE posted an application for players to apply for the Cranbrook Minor Hockey Skills Day. Based on a first-come, first-serve mentality, the program allowed for 90 kids to participate, equaling one goaltender session and two skills sessions with members of the Kootenay ICE.

“As a kid, the WHL was something I looked up to, of course, you’re trying to teach the kids a few things, but I try to be a guy that kids can look up to and inspire to be. A program like this gives kids that kind of opportunity,” said captain of the Kootenay ICE, Peyton Krebs.

In the goaltending session, minor hockey goaltenders were set up with stations and Nathan Lieuwen, the ICE’s goaltending coach, to practice drills where members of the ICE would take practice shots on the kids. The group skills sessions were split into two groups based on skill and age. In the first session, beginner level minor hockey players got to interact with the entire Kootenay team, playing games of tag, going through simple skating drills and working on their stick handling skills. The older group, ranging in age from eight to 14 worked on puck and skill development with the ICE’s coaching staff and players.

“Moments for me like this as a kid truly inspired me to try and get to the WHL one day,” said Krebs. A lucky birthday-boy participating in the skills session even got a signed stick from Krebs at the end of the skate. “I just tried to do something nice for him on his birthday and he’ll probably remember that for the rest of his life and maybe one day he’ll be a WHL player and he can give a kid his stick – it was a very cool moment.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Th7MhgPEV/

 

Lethbridge Hurricanes

With the busy schedule of the WHL, teams make a commitment to fit the most into their players’ days when it comes to community initiatives. For the Lethbridge Hurricanes, that means volunteering at their local soup kitchen in the morning and bowling with the Hockey Hounds in the afternoon.

At the Lethbridge soup kitchen, players were given a tour of the homeless shelter as well as some brief background information about the facility. Then, they jumped in for the lunch rush to help serve meals, coffee and refreshments to those in need. A challenge for the soup kitchen is staffing over the lunch rush, so the Hurricanes were more than happy to help and bring awareness to the need for volunteers.

“Any time our team can go out into the community is huge,” said Hurricanes’ defenceman and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, Calen Addison. “We know how much the Lethbridge community supports us, so to be able to give back to them is awesome. I love seeing the smiling faces and making people happy when we help out.”

After a team practice, the Hurricanes were back out in the community for bowling with the Hockey Hounds, a group that supports the Hurricanes during home-games by selling 50-50 tickets to raise funds for the Hurricanes’ education fund.

“They [the Hockey Hounds] are our biggest fans and we can’t thank them enough for their contribution to the team, so spending the night out with them is a great way to show that appreciation,” said Addison.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq9LyhbHUHV/

 

Medicine Hat Tigers

On December 1, 2018, goaltender Mads Søgaard set up captain James Hamblin to score the first goal of the game, sending a shower of bears flying on to the ice for Medicine Hat’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game. All together 1,990 stuffed animals and 1,080 winter-wear items were collected from the ice. These items were split between three local charities including the Medicine Hat & District Health Foundation, the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter and the Salvation Army.

However, the Tigers like to celebrate the event a little bit differently.

Personally delivering the bears to Medicine Hat & District Health Foundation were the members of Medicine Hats’ leadership team. Captain James Hamblin and alternate captains Ryan Jevne, Ryan Chyzowski and Bryan Lockner paid a special visit to the organization. Visiting with the patients and their families in the Children’s Health and Development Services (CHADS), Pediatrics, Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency, Operating Room and Mental Health departments, the Tigers let them choose which teddy bear they wanted.

“Being able to personally go to the hospital to see the kids’ faces and to give them the teddy bears in person is something super special and something I will never forget,” said Hamblin.

 

Red Deer Rebels

Once a month, Red Deer Rebels players visit Annie L. Gaetz Elementary School to volunteer as teacher’s assistants in classrooms. At the beginning of the season, they are paired up with one classroom to provide support to teachers and engage kids in classroom activities. Players help with a variety of tasks, such as arts and crafts, reading and writing or gym activities.

For Reese Johnson, Red Deer Rebels captain, he shares a special bond with his classroom. “This year I’m working with the Grade 1 class, which is really cool because I worked with them as Kindergartens last year. Last time I was in the classroom, we made Red Deer Rebels players, which was a fun craft activity. I love seeing all the kids and their big smiles because most the time we [the Rebels] are in the classroom, it makes their day.”

Being from a smaller community, the Rebels are heavily involved in activities within the city. “Our team means a lot to the people in Red Deer, so it always feels good to give back in our community because they support us so much.”

 

Rebels in the house @RedDeerAdvocate @RedDeerExpress @LGCHLRedDeer @Rebelshockey @RebelsThisWeek pic.twitter.com/nqM2Btzaii

— ALGaetz (@ALGaetzSchool) February 6, 2019

Rebels in the house @RedDeerAdvocate @RedDeerExpress @LGCHLRedDeer @Rebelshockey @RebelsThisWeek pic.twitter.com/MNdBaLHyos

— ALGaetz (@ALGaetzSchool) February 6, 2019