It's the best game you can name. Just ask Stompin' Tom
Connors and every Canadian from British Columbia clear through
to Newfoundland. Each person will most certainly agree: the
good old hockey game is the best game you can name.
And, if you're in Canada, there's always a good old hockey
game being played - whether it is in a local arena, a backyard
rink, on a local pond or on the neighbourhood street. These are
the places where the heart and soul of Canada's great frozen
game can be found. But if you search a bit further at these
very same places, you will also find the backbone of Canada's
sport - the tireless hockey volunteer.
"Wanna see tough?" asks CBC's Don Cherry. "Go to your local
rink on any night of the week or during any weekend, and check
out those volunteers who are freezing their rear ends off
inside the arena for hours on end-all in the name of hockey. "
Ron MacLean, host of CBC's Hockey Day in Canada, for once
agrees with Grapes.
"It is easy to recognize players for their efforts because
we see the fruits of their labour on the ice," says MacLean.
"With volunteers, however, all of their work happens
behind-the-scenes where no one really notices. From selling
50/50 tickets, to flooding the pond, to coaching nine months
out of the year-without volunteers the game of hockey simply
would not be played in this country."
CBC's Hockey Day in Canada, Canada's unofficial hockey
holiday, will be honouring hockey volunteers as part of its
seventh annual broadcast celebration on Jan. 13, 2007. The 13.5
hour-long broadcast on CBC will feature individuals and
communities sharing their hockey stories on a national stage,
along with coverage of Canadian NHL and amateur hockey games.
There are also special community events and an online auction,
which can be found at cbc.ca/hockeyday.
This year, Don Cherry and Ron MacLean are asking all
Canadians to participate and to salute hockey volunteers in
every community.
"If there's one day that we should be honouring our
volunteers, it's on Hockey Day," states Cherry. "On Jan. 13,
get out to your local rink, support minor hockey and thank your
volunteers. Then get home to watch Hockey Day on CBC, and
whatever you do-don't miss Coach's Corner!"
So, what are you doing for Hockey Day? Cherry and MacLean
have provided the following 10 ways you can celebrate on Jan.
13, 2007:
1. Volunteer at your local rink - and give a full-time
volunteer the day off.
2. Organize a game of shinny at your backyard rink,
neighbourhood street or community arena.
3. Tell the story about your top hockey volunteer at
cbc.ca/hockeyday.
4. Work on your shot with your mother, father, son,
daughter, sister or brother.
5. Watch a minor hockey league game at your local arena.
6. Make a donation to your local minor hockey association or
buy 50/50 tickets at a minor hockey game.
7. Teach a friend how to skate.
8. Organize a community Hockey Day in Canada party.
9. Participate in an online chat with Kelly Hrudey and Drew
Remenda or share your plans for Hockey Day with everyone across
the country at cbc.ca/hockeyday.
10. Gather your friends and family together to watch CBC's
Hockey Day in Canada.
Hockey fans can catch Ron MacLean and Don Cherry on CBC's
Hockey Day in Canada on CBC Television, Jan. 13, 2007,
beginning at noon ET.
