Dozens of Indigenous hockey programs across the province are getting a cheque from Hydro One, including a pair of teams from Walpole Island.
The company has teamed up with the Coaches Association of Ontario to select 38 deserving teams from 25 Indigenous communities across Ontario.
That includes Kayla Soney’s Walpole Island Pee Wee Hawks and Wallaceburg U9 team, as well as Johnathan Fisher of the Walpole Island Hawks U15 Bantam Rec team.
“First Nations inclusion and representation in sport is the first step in getting our youth excited about being on a team,” said Patrick Madahbee, Acting President, Little NHL and Member of the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation. “This grant from Hydro One and the CAO will have continued positive impacts on the teams, the coaches and the players by knocking down any barriers that may have held them back in the past.”
Initially announced at the Little Native Hockey League (Little NHL) tournament in Mississauga in March, Hydro One’s Indigenous Hockey Coaching Grant aims to help remove barriers and make hockey more affordable and accessible to coaches and young players from Indigenous communities.
The $1500 grant will help assist with out-of-pocket expenses incurred for such items as equipment, travel, childcare and training.
