The puck dropped and more than 30 skaters scrambled to gain control of what might have been the largest shinny hockey game Ponoka has ever seen.
It also helped warm up cold players who braved the minus 15 degrees C weather Jan. 22 at the Scott Seaman Outdoor Rink.
The Enmax Energy Pond Hockey program has been organized for the last 14 years, explained Jennifer Hamilton, community investment and sponsorship co-ordinator.
Players aged nine and 10 have the opportunity to practice drills-and-skills and play a game of shinny hockey, this time with eight players from the Red Deer Rebels Western Hockey League team. The event is a way for Enmax to become involved with communities, explained Hamilton. “It’s not just about hockey…It’s definitely about the community coming together.”
It is something Ponoka Minor Hockey has looked forward to as well, said Chad Cissell, president of Ponoka Minor Hockey. They were contacted some time last year by Enmax and Cissell could not wait to see the excitement on kids’ faces. “Some parents are almost as pumped as kids.”
Both the atom A and B teams skated with the Rebels and Camryn Willier of the B team was excited to meet the older players. “I’m looking forward to meeting the Rebels…I’m not nervous but very excited to play the scrimmage.”
Goalie Ethan Sharp of the A team has attended some Rebels games and he was able to get pointers from Rebels goalie Boulton Pouliot who played some community shinny hockey last year.
“It’s so much fun being out in the community and seeing the kids,” said Pouliot before the game.
Rebels forward Joel Hamilton was eager to get out on the ice. “It’s good to just give back to the kids.”
Mayor Larry Henkelman was sporting his Red Deer Rebels scarf before the puck dropped and he praised the Rebels for their grassroots community efforts. “They work a lot with drug and abuse kids.”
He used to coach minor hockey and he feels the Rebels are positive role models.
Before the game, teams split up and conducted drills with the WHL players who provided tips to the players.
Every time a community hosts one of these pond hockey games it is a different experience and some games have been too warm to play but they make do with what is available.
”We’ve actually had to do street hockey because we’ve had no ice. We’ve actually gone all the way to minus 50 degrees C where we’ve had to do indoor floor hockey. We get it all in Alberta,” said Hamilton.
She feels these pond hockey games are a positive opportunity for the kids and even parents, who are excited for the chance their children have to skate with future hockey stars.
Dean Williams, vice-president of marketing and sales for the Rebels, enjoys coming out and being with the hockey hopefuls. “For us, it’s plain and simple, we want to get out and see our fans.”