Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Sabrina Byrnes
Friendship building and stronger relations were the key goal as Greater Sudbury Police and aboriginal youth took to the ice in their annual hockey matchup March 6 at the Sudbury Arena.
The 9th Annual Hockey Challenge between the Greater Sudbury
Police Service and the N'Swakamok Eshkiniigjig Youth Group
hockey team is way to bridge the gap between the groups through
the world of sport.
"In Sudbury, like other northern Ontario cities, there's a large Aboriginal population. It's wise to work together and build better relations between the police service and our aboriginal community," said Const. Grant Dokis, aboriginal liaison with the Greater Sudbury Police Service.
"What better way than to build relations through the game of sport where we both enjoy the competition and sportsmanship and the friendships that we built."
No
rm Beauvais, a youth program co-ordinator at the N'Swakamok
Native Friendship Centre, agrees with Dokis about building
stronger relationships between the youth and the police.
"It's just to show the youth that the police aren't an authoritative figure that they have to be afraid of or intimidated by," said Beauvais.
"I think it's important that they realize the police are individuals just like us, they were youths just like us...we just want to introduce them, get them to know each other on a personal level where they can relate and laugh and talk about the good times they had."
Darryl Duhaime, 17, was participating in the challenge for the first time and said he was looking forward to playing against the police.
He said that everybody looks at each other in the wrong way and should take the time to get to know each other.
The youth said playing in the tournament helps bridge the gap between them because everyone is out having fun and there is trust and respect building amongst the groups.
While friendship is the key focus of the game, there is real competition between the teams as well, each looking to take home the victory trophy.
The Greater Sudbury Police Service have taken home the trophy seven out of eight times over the years and were looking to repeat the outcome.
After the first period, the teams were tied 2-2, and while it stayed close throughout the game, the police managed to come away with an 11-8 victory.
Dokis said it was a hard-fought game and friendships were made on the ice. Both teams are looking forward to next year to compete in the 10th annual hockey challenge, which Dokis said is expected to be bigger and better.
