For countless Canadian kids, hockey is more than a game. It's the sport that stirs their blood, keeps them warm, and gets them through the long winter months.
Not all youngsters, however, are fortunate enough to be able to play. For many, hockey is out of reach because of financial or social conditions that are beyond their control.
At Harwin elementary school in Prince George, the Jumpstart Goals and Dreams Program is making hockey possible for a group of students that otherwise wouldn't be setting skate on ice.
Goals and Dreams started in October and will run until March. By the time it's done, 60 players in Grades 5 to 7 will have gotten the chance to experience the joys of chasing a frozen puck down a frozen sheet. The program is being sponsored by the local Canadian Tire store, which donated $8,000 to the cause. Those very real Canadian Tire bucks were used to purchase 25 sets of equipment, with the exception of jerseys and socks.
David Shuvera, general manager of Prince George's Canadian Tire store, said the company decided to support Harwin's Goals and Dreams program because "it's a phenomenal way" to help kids enjoy the game.
"We're always looking for ways that we can show that we care for the community," Shuvera said. "We believe in doing as many things as we can locally. We do a lot of fundraising locally -- we ask our customers for help -- and this is showing that that money does stay in the community.
"Whether you're a parent or just a fan, it's great to see kids having fun," Shuvera added. "There are so many positives about being in a team sport, and a Canadian team sport. It's great to see and it's a phenomenal feeling and experience to see everything come together."
This is the second year for Goals and Dreams at Harwin and the first year of Canadian Tire's involvement. Last year, donations from Northern Health and PacificSport helped provide the kids with jerseys and socks.
At Kin 3 on Wednesday, 20 Harwin students were on the ice for their eighth and final session. Two more groups will follow in the coming weeks and months, all under the watchful eyes of a certified coach.
Tylynn Leeson, a Grade 7 student, was one of the players on her blades on Wednesday. She first sampled hockey last year and didn't like it.
"Now I do," she said with a grin. "I got tripped a lot last year and I didn't think I was good so I quit.
"This is cool," added the 12-year-old Leeson. "It's just really fun and it's a great opportunity and I really like it."
Sam Mould, another Grade 7 student at Harwin, was also in his gear on Wednesday. Unlike many of his schoolmates, he's a veteran, having played in the local minor hockey association for several years. For Mould, playing with and helping his less-experienced school friends during the past eight weeks was a ton of fun. And, he saw them improve their hockey skills considerably.
"At the beginning they were falling down a lot," said Mould, 12. "The second time, they were getting better and not falling down and by the third time they were doing a lot better and getting better at skating. Now they're getting faster and stuff."
Patricia Lunden, Harwin's aboriginal education worker, sees tremendous value in the Goals and Dreams initiative, both now and for the future.
"This is an opportunity for them to try a sport that they wouldn't be able to afford," she said. "Hockey is quite the rage with the students at our school. The kids love hockey. They watch it on TV and now they can try it for themselves.
"I think it's great. It builds a sense of belonging at the school as well and, ultimately, we're hoping it helps them with their education -- staying connected to school. The kids in Grade 7 have heard that there are hockey programs in the high schools so they're excited that they might be able to get into those programs."
