The Greater Sudbury Cubs have announced the appointment of Dominic Fletcher to the NOJHL squads newly created position of Indigenous Community Relations lead.
“Owner Mark Burgess and myself are honoured to introduce Dominic as a member of the Sudbury Cubs management team” Managing Director Blaine Smith said in a news release. “It is inspiring to partner with motivated people that have the passion and desire to support their community like Dominic. His goal of giving back to our community and to those that need support, matches perfectly with the Cubs movement.
“We can’t wait to see all of the great achievements that Dominic has already begun to work towards this season.”
The team said Fletcher will spearhead several new initiatives for the Cubs, including but not limited to:
- Forging new connections with Indigenous Communities across Northern Ontario;
- Providing support and hosting hockey equipment drives for Indigenous minor hockey programs;
- Recognizing Indigenous events including the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation and Indigenous hockey tournaments;
- Identifying Indigenous hockey talent that will be able to play for the Sudbury Cubs one day, and;
- Networking with businesses that are interested in supporting Indigenous youth and/or junior hockey.
“I am honoured to accept the position with the Sudbury Cubs as their Indigenous Community Relations leader,” Fletcher said in the release. “It is important for the Cubs to become a junior hockey organization that leads by initiating the reconciliation process and engages with local communities surrounding us in the Robinson Huron territory.”
He added that too often, Indigenous players don’t get the same level of exposure as others do. Fletcher said he was inspired to do more for Indigenous athletes.
“Watching the development of my son Maverick has been an inspiration for me. Despite the obstacles that he faced, he never gave up hope and was recently drafted by the OHL Erie Otters,” Fletcher said. “His dreams as a young athlete have inspired me to do the work, open doors and create opportunities for our First Nation athletes.”
The Cubs will celebrate the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation when they host the French River Rapids on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Centennial Arena in Hanmer.
Tickets are available by contacting the Cubs office at [email protected] or calling 705-525-8375. Cubs individual game tickets are available to adults for only $15, juniors and seniors are $10 and children 12 and under are $5.
In addition to the above, the Cubs will also be installing “EVERY CHILD MATTERS” rinkboards in the Countryside and Centennial Arenas beginning Sept. 29 in honour of the missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of the Canadian Residential School system.
