On Saturday, March 21, the tour visited Yarmouth. Parked in the Mariners Centre parking lot, a trailer containing hockey history, memorabilia and interactive displays and activities attracted the interest of people of all ages. Inside the Mariners Centre, Hockey Canada ran practices with several Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association teams.
“It’s really nice to come out to these smaller locations where a lot of the town turns out and everyone is really excited to see something like this and see all of the history that we have packed in this trailer,” said Charlotte Coulson of Hockey Canada, who explained the goal of coupling hockey history and memorabilia with interactive activities. “We tried to do something that would appeal to every age and every type of hockey fan, whether you’re a die-hard hockey fan or you’re just starting to experience the game for the first time.”
Coulson has been traveling with the tour since it was launched last July 1. There are still two more months to go before the tour completes its 100 stops. She says wherever they go Canadians embrace hockey.
At each of the tour’s stops a ceremony takes place to recognize a local hockey volunteer or, as Coulson refers to them, “the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to ensure hockey happens in communities.”
They might be a coach, a referee, the person who drives the Zamboni, etc.
In Yarmouth, the person who was selected by the Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association to be recognized doesn’t drive the Zamboni, but he’s done a lot of everything else during his 15-plus years of volunteering with the minor hockey association.
Chris Newell was recognized as part of the Canadian Tire Hero of Play program, in conjunction with the Hockey Canada Century Tour. Newell has coached different levels of hockey, he’s been involved with the Yarmouth County Referee’s Association, he’s been a member of the minor hockey board and he is the ice scheduler for the minor hockey association. The latter is a large job given the number of teams involved and is essential to ensuring minor hockey runs smoothly each week.
Newell was presented with a commemorative jersey and will have his name engraved on a trophy. He will also be given a special jacket. NHL player Jonathan Toews has had a piece of a Hockey Canada jersey he wore to honour hockey volunteers sewn into all 100 jackets that are being presented to the hockey heroes.
For his part, Newell was grateful and humbled by the recognition, feeling he shouldn’t be alone when it comes to being recognized.
“I really appreciate this, this is quite an honour,” he said, noting there are many people who volunteer with minor hockey.
“They all deserve this,” he said. “I think I’ve been here longer than most and that’s probably the reason why I’ve been honoured like this. I’m sure a lot of you will have your opportunity to be honoured for all of the time that you give. It takes everybody to make it work, so thank you.”
On Saturday, March 21, the tour visited Yarmouth. Parked in the Mariners Centre parking lot, a trailer containing hockey history, memorabilia and interactive displays and activities attracted the interest of people of all ages. Inside the Mariners Centre, Hockey Canada ran practices with several Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association teams.
“It’s really nice to come out to these smaller locations where a lot of the town turns out and everyone is really excited to see something like this and see all of the history that we have packed in this trailer,” said Charlotte Coulson of Hockey Canada, who explained the goal of coupling hockey history and memorabilia with interactive activities. “We tried to do something that would appeal to every age and every type of hockey fan, whether you’re a die-hard hockey fan or you’re just starting to experience the game for the first time.”
Coulson has been traveling with the tour since it was launched last July 1. There are still two more months to go before the tour completes its 100 stops. She says wherever they go Canadians embrace hockey.
At each of the tour’s stops a ceremony takes place to recognize a local hockey volunteer or, as Coulson refers to them, “the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to ensure hockey happens in communities.”
They might be a coach, a referee, the person who drives the Zamboni, etc.
In Yarmouth, the person who was selected by the Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association to be recognized doesn’t drive the Zamboni, but he’s done a lot of everything else during his 15-plus years of volunteering with the minor hockey association.
Chris Newell was recognized as part of the Canadian Tire Hero of Play program, in conjunction with the Hockey Canada Century Tour. Newell has coached different levels of hockey, he’s been involved with the Yarmouth County Referee’s Association, he’s been a member of the minor hockey board and he is the ice scheduler for the minor hockey association. The latter is a large job given the number of teams involved and is essential to ensuring minor hockey runs smoothly each week.
Newell was presented with a commemorative jersey and will have his name engraved on a trophy. He will also be given a special jacket. NHL player Jonathan Toews has had a piece of a Hockey Canada jersey he wore to honour hockey volunteers sewn into all 100 jackets that are being presented to the hockey heroes.
For his part, Newell was grateful and humbled by the recognition, feeling he shouldn’t be alone when it comes to being recognized.
“I really appreciate this, this is quite an honour,” he said, noting there are many people who volunteer with minor hockey.
“They all deserve this,” he said. “I think I’ve been here longer than most and that’s probably the reason why I’ve been honoured like this. I’m sure a lot of you will have your opportunity to be honoured for all of the time that you give. It takes everybody to make it work, so thank you.”
