No matter what time of year it is there are so many OMHA teams out helping in their communities. We are sent many great submissions from teams about what they are doing to make their neighbourhood a better place. The OMHA is so proud of the efforts of all of our teams for knowing the values of respect and community.
Here are some of the submissions we have received over the last few weeks.
Get involved in the community and share your experiences with us! You can submit your team's story and picture using the form at the bottom of the page.
Port Perry Predators Atom A
Working with Community Living Durham North, this group of Predators showed what it means to treat everyone like their own teammate. After learning that a boy named Andrew in the program had a love of hockey and wanted to become a coach, he was invited by the staff to join the team. The coaching staff learned all the things they needed to know about their new team member and how to best include him. After presenting Andrew with his own jersey, he hopped on the ice and became a helping hand in practices. One game after the final whistle, the whole team skated over to where Andrew was sitting in the stands and raised their sticks in a salute to him.
South Muskoka Bears Minor Hockey
The South Muskoka association worked together on a number of different awareness campaigns. The aim was to teach players about the importance of community support and lending a hand to those in need. The Novice Rep team hosted a Movember fundraiser which contributed $722 to prostate research. They also joined forces with their rivals, the Huntsville Otters, to each provide a bag of food for the Huntsville Food Bank at Christmas.
The Bears raised $750 for the Muskoka Hospital Foundation on their opening weekend by donating all gate fees. The Bantam Rep team raised over $1000 for breast cancer and over $500 for prostate cancer. From the Midget Reps hosting a Christmas toy drive to the Atoms Reps assisting at a Thanksgiving food drive and the Santa Fun Run fundraiser, everyone of all ages got involved and worked together.
Kingston Canadians Tyke MD
Instead of doing a Secret Santa gift exchange at the team Christmas party, the team donated toys to the local toy drive. The kids were excited to participate and understood that there were kids in the community that were going to have a special Christmas because of their toy donations. It was a very heartfelt moment for the team.
Milton Winterhawks Atom Blue AE
The Winterhawks donated their practice time and organized a community skating fundraiser for Milton's Darling Home for Kids, which provides high quality respite and palliative care services for children who are medically fragile and technology dependent, many of whom suffer from progressive illness.
Between admission fees, donations and the proceeds of a bake sale and silent auction, the team raised $2,300 for this worthy local cause, which provides an important service to families in Milton and the surrounding area. For the team, the experience provided an opportunity to give back to the community, and a recognition that leadership extends well beyond the action on the ice.
For the third year in a row, the Barrie Jr. Colts and the North Central Predators Minor Midget AAA teams competed in the Start Talking Cup. The event is put together to raise funds for mental health causes and workshops are provided to all the players and parents in attendance. This year, the Cup raised $15,400 towards the campaign with 1,200 people in attendance.