The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is proud to announce the grand prize winner and finalists of the eleventh annual Essay Contest presented by Respect in Sport. This year's theme was 'I Love Hockey'. The contest was designed to engage players in an educational manner while encouraging them to express their thoughts on what life skills they learn from playing hockey.

Nearly 200 essays were submitted and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association in partnership with Respect in Sport want to thank everyone for their participation. Based on the quality, creativity and passion demonstrated in their submission, five finalists were selected with one of them emerging as our grand prize winner.

Elgin Ackroyd of Guelph Minor Hockey Association is this year’s winner, who wrote about how his hockey team is like a family and helps teaches him new skills. For being named winner, Elgin will receive a $1000 worth of hockey gear from Team Town Sports.

The Essay Contest video is part of the OMHA and Respect Group's #HockeyIsFun series, which showcases why kids love to play hockey in their own words. It's important to hear directly from the players on why #HockeyIsFun.

Anthony Celetti (West Niagara), Auston Dagg (Woolwich), Christian Legault (Essa) and Logan Taillon (North Durham) were selected as the four finalists. For their tremendous writing abilities they will receive an OMHA prize pack. You can check out all of their entries below.

Elgin Ackroyd (Guelph)

I love hockey because it’s the most exciting sport ever! When I’m on the ice, I feel like I can do anything. Skating is my favorite part. The sound of the blades cutting into the ice is so cool, and I love the feeling of going super fast, like I’m flying.

Another reason I love hockey is because of my team. We work together like one big family. Even when we lose, my teammates always cheer me up. We laugh a lot during practice and on the bench. It’s not just about winning, but about having fun and improving together.

Hockey also helps me burn energy, which is super important for me. Sitting still in school is hard sometimes because I have so much energy and just want to move around. But when I play hockey, I get to skate, pass, shoot, and keep moving the whole time. It feels amazing to let all that energy out and focus on the game.

Hockey also teaches me to be brave and try new things. At first, I was scared to fall or mess up, but now I know it’s okay to make mistakes. I’ve tried things I never thought I could do, like shooting a slapshot or blocking a fast puck. Every time I try something new, I feel braver.

The best part is wearing my Gryphons jersey. When I put it on, I feel proud to represent my team. It makes me feel like I’m part of something important, and I want to give my best every game.

Hockey isn’t just a sport to me; it’s a big part of my life. It keeps me happy, active, and always learning. I can’t imagine not playing hockey, and I hope I can play forever!

Anthony Celetti (West Niagara)

I love hockey because it’s more than just a game—it’s an adrenaline rush, a way to challenge myself, and a chance to be part of something bigger. The moment I step onto the ice, everything else disappears. It’s just me, my teammates, and the puck. The feeling of skating fast, the sound of the blades cutting through the ice, and the thrill of scoring a goal is unmatched. There’s also the excitement of a tough battle for the puck, with everyone trying their best to outsmart and outplay the other team.

Hockey has taught me so much about teamwork, too. It’s not just about individual talent but working together to accomplish something greater. Whether it’s passing the puck or supporting a teammate who’s struggling, we all rely on each other to win. And when we do, the celebration feels even sweeter because it’s a shared victory.

Another thing I love is the intensity. Every game is fast-paced and requires you to think quickly, whether you're defending or attacking. You have to be tough, both mentally and physically, but that’s what makes the sport so exciting.

Hockey isn’t just something I play—it’s part of who I am. It has given me lifelong friends, unforgettable memories, and the thrill of competition. I can’t imagine my life without it, and I look forward to many more years of skating, shooting, and scoring.

Auston Dagg (Woolwich)

I love hockey because…

Hockey is one of my favorite things. I love skating fast across the ice, stickhandling around cones or teammates, and shooting pucks – especially when you hear the crash of a hard shot against the boards. I get to make new friends, travel to different arenas, and sometimes even dye my hair to match my team colors.

Practices are fun because my coaches always teach us new things. I love when my teammates and I laugh and cheer each other on or compete in fun challenges. 

Watching hockey is just as fun as playing it, and road hockey and ball hockey are fun to do at home. I also love driving to the arena, getting excited and a little nervous about a game coming up. I love when the hockey moms paint my face before games, it makes the game special. Tournaments and jamborees are also my favorite. Spending the whole day with my teammates, staying in hotels, swimming, playing mini-sticks and hanging out are moments I hope I won’t forget. 

Hockey also makes me feel closer to my mom and dad. Sometimes they coach my team, or when they are tying my skates, cheering in the stands, or watching a game at home it feels good to share this together.

Hockey is more than just a sport, it’s my favourite thing and I love everything about it!

Christian Legault (Essa)

I love hockey because of my team, coaches and everyone that comes to cheer us on when we play. I’ve been a goalie since I was 3 years old and my favourite thing is when I keep a goal out or our team scores a goal and they all come to give me knuckles, and at the end when we all hug even if we win or lose. My team is like my family, we do so much together on and off the ice from fun dryland practices, going to see the Barrie Colts together and travelling to other towns to play in tournaments. Hockey isn’t just a winter sport to me, I love it so much I play it year-round, plus go to Hockey Opportunity Camp where I meet more new friends that I will play against during the next season.  It’s so nice to see fiends at other arenas. If hockey had a second name, it would be friendships, and that’s why I love hockey.

Logan Taillon (North Durham)

I love hockey because it’s so much fun! This year, I get to play for the North Durham Warriors, and it’s amazing. I’ve been dreaming about playing for the Warriors since I was in U5, and now I finally get to wear my own black and white jerseys.

Hockey is my favourite because I get to play with my friends. We play together as a team, and we cheer for each other when we make good plays. Playing on the ice is awesome I try to get better at skating, passing, and shooting. Plus, it’s so fast, and I like chasing the puck and trying to score!

I love when I skate down the ice really fast and hearing my teammates yell for the puck. Scoring a goal is so exciting, but I also love passing to my friends and seeing them score too. It’s all about having fun together.

I’ve learned how to be a good teammate, try my hardest, and have fun no matter what happens. I love hockey because it makes me happy every single time I play.