Much like many employers in Greater Sudbury, local youth sports teams have often celebrated Christmas by coming together as a group, perhaps engaging in some form of gift exchange, allowing for a mid-season outlet away from the hustle and grind of their particular athletic activity.
In recent years however, a different kind of a trend has been starting to gain momentum.
Utilizing the funds that would be otherwise set aside for said parties, or perhaps even engaging in a little December fundraising of some sort, teams are now at least as likely to take advantage of the opportunity to find a worthwhile cause that speaks to them, embracing the spirit of the season even more.
In the case of the Sudbury U18 AA Lady Wolves, this would mean separating their roster into four distinct clusters; the girls then empowered to do a little shopping, as a unit, in support of the NEO Kids Foundation.
“We all kind of picked out one stuffie that we really liked – and if we still had time and money left, we would all agree on one,” noted second year defenceman Sequoia Nebenionquit, who was also with the team last year when a small handful of televisions were purchased.
“This year, we were actually able to get the stuffies as a team and we were able to wrap them for the kids,” she added.
“I think it’s a really good idea to be able to give back to people, a good opportunity to give back to the community, to people in need,” stated 16 year-old forward C.J. Pardy, also back for her second year with the squad. “It brought us closer together as a team, hanging out and picking out teddy bears.”
“Everyone was so excited in the dressing room, just being able to do something for the NEO Kids.”
In chatting with even a few of the many teams who have embraced this type of Christmas initiative, a prevailing sentiment is clearly the notion that the whole experience brings as much to those who are doing the giving as those very needy recipients of these gestures.
“It’s a way to bring our team together,” echoed Nebenionquit. “We’re happy to help the NEO Kids Foundation with anything that they needed and it was good for us too because it’s a team building skill which is always a key tool for our team to be successful.”
In fact, while there may have been an initial nudge on the part of the coaching staff and management of various teams to consider this festive option, much of the organizational demands were then passed on directly to the young athletes involved.
“The team just kind of told us what we were doing and then the players decided everything,” said Pardy. “In the dressing room, we would talk about it; we knew what was expected of us.”
It was a similar story for the young men who comprise the Sudbury U16 AAA Nickel Capitals team, partnering with Better Beginnings Better Futures throughout the month of December. This Christmas, the lads adopted three local families in need, helping to supply a variety of basic needs, including food and clothing.
Like so many of those who take part in these types of efforts, the players who suit up at this level of hockey are most often fortunate enough to come from families where supplying the very basic needs are never in question.
The entire undertaking is often a wonderful eye-opener for so many teenagers who might not even give a second thought otherwise to the fact that not everyone might be as privileged as they are.
And just to be clear, while this story highlights two of the local efforts, it would not be difficult at all to find another couple of dozen of similar endeavours, whether they be within the backdrop of hockey, basketball, volleyball, ringette or any number of other sports groups in the region.
Randy Pascal is a sportswriter in Greater Sudbury. Pursuit is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
