Submitted
Starting a new sport can be expensive. Ponoka Minor Hockey realizes this and is piloting a new project this year.
For this coming hockey season, registration fees for new minor hockey players will be waived for their first year with Ponoka Minor Hockey.
This means if you have never played minor hockey in Ponoka, or with any another minor hockey association, you will not have to pay hockey registration fees this year. This amounts to a savings of $200 and up, depending on the age of the child.
Parents will still be required to pay concession fees, however by working in the concession they are able to receive all of that money back.
“We are offering free registration for a very simple reason,” explained Mark Prefontaine, president of Ponoka Minor Hockey. “We recognize that there are a lot of pressures on parents. For parents who have children registering in minor hockey for the first time, it can be quite costly to equip a child and pay registration. By offering free registration to first-year players, we can make playing hockey a little easier for parents.”
Ponoka Minor Hockey initiated a girls program last year that was quite successful. In their first year, the peewee girls’ team made provincials and finished fifth.
Skill development has also taken the forefront for Ponoka players interested in furthering their skills. Year-long clinics for players and goalies have been offered for the past two years. This gives players the ability to enhance their individual skills, if interested, and they do not have to leave Ponoka to participate.
Registration for the 2011/2012 hockey season and special camps takes place Sept. 7 at the Community Information and Registration Night at the Kinsmen Community Centre.