New players aged under seven can get some help gearing up for the game, thanks to a new Ontario Minor Hockey Association program.
The player assist program, presented by Egg Farmers of Ontario, will help families who may be feeling the pinch because of COVID-19 to participate in the game, according to an OMHA news release.
The program will eliminate the cost of equipment for 350 hockey families across 10 minor hockey associations for players under seven entering the game.
The sets will include skates, shin pads, pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads, neck guard and helmet. Local minor hockey associations will apply to be one of the 10 associations for the pilot project based on meeting a number of criteria.
The associations will retain the 350 sets of equipment at the conclusion of the hockey season to loan to players in following years, similar to loaning out a library book, the OMHA said.
“Cost is sometimes identified as a barrier for some families to get involved in our great game. We thank our partner the Egg Farmers of Ontario for launching this initiative to help hundreds of families for years to come,” said OMHA executive director Ian Taylor.
Since 2018-19, the Egg Farmers of Ontario has supported the OMHA’s Playdowns, where more than 31,000 minor hockey players compete on 6,750 teams from January to March.
With Playdowns unable to take place this year because of the pandemic, the Egg Farmers of Ontario wanted to support OMHA participants in a new way.
“The pandemic has taken a toll on Canadian families and hit them in the pocketbook. Families are going to have to make some difficult choices in terms of how they spend their money going forward. We want to help hundreds of young people around the province enter the game without the barrier of having to purchase equipment,” said Scott Helps, chair of the Egg Farmers of Ontario.
To learn more about the program on the OMHA website, click here.
The new player assist program is similar to the OMHA’s goalie assist program, which the OMHA has also announced will continue for its 10th year.
That program loans out CCM goalie equipment to associations, which allows players aged five to seven to try out the position without the burden of making a full financial commitment.
In the past decade, the program has provided 480 full sets of goalie equipment with associations retaining the equipment at the end of the season to loan to players in the following years.
This season, there were 156 applications received from OMHA member associations, with 80 sets distributed across the province, including to Newmarket's minor hockey association.
“The goalie assist program has given hundreds of young players a chance to get between the pipes and to see what it’s like to be a goalie without their families having to make a big financial commitment. We have heard stories about how many of them have fallen in love with the position,” said Taylor.
Each goalie kit is equipped with a set of CCM youth pads, catcher/blocker, stick, chest protector and bag. Catching hands and sticks are available with common left/right combinations.
See the full list of recipients here.
