By Hayley Wickenheiser /
Every Thursday during the hockey season, something very special is happening at Ernie Starr Arena in Calgary.
Thirty-two boys and girls ages 9 to 12 are learning the importance of skating, cooperation and teamwork through the H.E.R.O.S program (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society), founded in 2000 by former WHL player, Norm Flynn, who began the program to help children on the lower Eastside of Vancouver.
H.E.R.O.S uses hockey as a catalyst offering academic tutoring, self-esteem building and life skills training for at-risk-youth from economically challenged neighborhoods in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
H.E.R.O.S was also launched last year in Toronto’s Moss Park Arena and will be launched in Montreal in 2008.
The program is run by local social workers, city police officers and mentors who volunteer their time to make a difference.
My teammates on the Oval X-Treme and I have been fortunate to be involved with H.E.R.O.S this season in Calgary and it is an extremely effective program.
Recently, I met a little H.E.R.O.S boy with a very tough home situation.
I made a bet with this little guy that if he made it over an obstacle course I had set up on the ice, I would buy him a drink.
Much to my surprise, he managed to make it on the first try.
To see the excitement in this kid’s eyes when I handed him the drink was priceless.
For him, the joy was not so much in what he accomplished, but that an adult had actually made a promise and followed through on it, something he was not accustomed to.
“The interest generated in the inner city following the launch of our Vancouver Program in 2000 made us realize there would be a tremendous need for this kind of program in major Canadian cities,” said Flynn. “So we thought, if we could provide the same kind of program by franchising the operation across Canada, we would be able to help a lot more kids”
Since the program began on Vancouver’s Eastside, H.E.R.O.S has worked with more than 540 at-risk boys and girls from economically challenged neighborhoods across Canada.
The program teaches hockey and provides academic support to help inner-city elementary school students from challenged backgrounds.
Principals, vice principals and teachers at participating schools select students on the basis of need to participate in a fun-filled, safe environment where each child is considered a hero.
The program is unique in that it provides children with free equipment use and on ice instruction.
Among the specific H.E.R.O.S behaviors the program focuses are: listening, respect, responsibility, commitment, discipline and pride. Those are many of the key things I have learned through my career in hockey.
I salute Norm, his volunteers and sponsors for providing so many children a chance to learn life skills through hockey especially during the holiday season.
For anyone who is looking to give back to children through the game of hockey, I encourage you to learn more about H.E.R.O.S and go to www.heroshockey.com or email Norm at heros@telus.net.
WOMEN’S U-18 World Championship Set to Begin
From Jan.7 to 12, Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary will play host to the first ever Women’s U-18 World Championship.
This is a huge step forward for women’s hockey around the world and should provide some exciting hockey to watch.
I certainly plan to attend some of the games and cheer on the young Canadian team set to make history.
It would be great to see the rinks filled with young girls teams, families and hockey fans in general. For ticket info go to www hockeycanada.ca
On behalf of all the players on both the Oval X-treme and the National Women’s Team, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and best of luck in the tournaments and games over the holiday season. |