Ask any hockey parent and they will tell you: minor hockey is expensive, and requires a lot of commitment. Those are significant barriers, and every year they keep some Jasper youth from trying out the sport.
But this year, Jasperite Beth Leblanc is giving kids the opportunity to bypass those barriers and get out on the ice.
Leblanc was the driving force behind Jasper Pond Hockey, a new hockey program for Jasper youth aged 7-11.
She started the program for her son Gage, who was unable to join minor hockey in Jasper because of conflicting schedules with the ski team.
鈥淢y eldest son had a really hard time not being able to play the sport. So I vowed to him that I would find some sort of alternative,鈥� she said.
Her search led her to Hockey Alberta, and its Pond Hockey program.
Leblanc explained that the idea behind the program is to provide an opportunity for kids to try out hockey in a less structured, pressure-free environment.
Supported by Hockey Alberta, it鈥檚 designed to fit the needs of local communities, with rules and structure decided on by the local volunteers.
At the Jasper Arena Nov. 11, more than 20 kids showed up for the hour-long ice time.
Close to 10 鈥渙n-ice supervisors鈥� ran the kids through warm-ups and fun drills, before splitting them off into two age-appropriate groups for shinny games.
Stopping briefly between drills, Paul Fonger, one of the on-ice supervisors, was quick to sing the program鈥檚 praises.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great,鈥� he said, glancing down the ice and calling out instructions to one of the kids. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no pressure for the parents.
鈥淢aybe one in three kids will think about it and say, 鈥榟ey, I want to play hockey,鈥欌�� he continued.
鈥淸This program] is definitely a bonus for minor sports.鈥�
Leblanc explained that running the program through Hockey Alberta provides Complete Hockey Alberta Insurance Program coverage, meaning costs to parents are significantly reduced.
She said 29 kids have already signed up for the program. Registration is $50 for a Skate Pass鈥攚hich is good for all 13 of the ice times Leblanc has booked鈥攐r $5 plus a small insurance fee to drop in.
She pointed out that, thanks to Steve Malcolm, she was even able to ensure all the kids who signed up had access to gear.
Malcolm, she explained, had a cache of old hockey gear, and when he heard about the program gladly offered it up for players to borrow.
鈥淲e outfitted at least half the kids out here, so it didn鈥檛 cost anything. They didn鈥檛 have to buy skates; they didn鈥檛 have to buy anything. They just get to come out and play,鈥� she said, noting that the cost was a big barrier for a lot of the parents.
Standing next to her, cheering on his son Max, Grant Peregoodoff agreed. He outfitted Max with the gear supplied by Malcolm, and was so happy with the program that he hopes to sign his 鈥測ounger one鈥� up next year.
Leblanc said she is incredibly happy with the interest in the program, and even talked about expanding it if interest exists in the community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a real success, and I couldn鈥檛 be happier,鈥� she said.
Trevor Nichols
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