Elmvale Coyotes Peewee LL #1 Giving Back Challenge, News, PeeWee LL1, U13, 2015-2016 (Elmvale Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2015-2016 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 12, 2016 | Denine Marley | 2121 views
Elmvale Coyotes Peewee LL #1 Giving Back Challenge
The Krause Edwards Peewee LL #1 team waited with great expectation all season for Peterborough's "Under The Lock" Tournament on February 6th & 7th.  The hype about playing hockey outdoors on a canal in the dead of winter was all the boys could talk about in the dressing room.  You can imagine the boys disappointment when as the day was getting closer, that Mother Nature was just not on our side.  The town declared the ice on the canal unsafe and at the last minute, the tournament was reconfigured with OMHA's permission into a ball hockey tournament.  A flurry of emails and calls from the Coaching staff went out to the Elmvale parents the Thursday before the tournament and the entire team said without hesitation “We’re in!” Ball hockey will be different and the weekend would be about team building and facing new challenges as a team.


When we arrived, we heard the very sad and unfortunate news that the Monday before, a brother and father of a player on the South Grenville Minor Hockey Peewee team from Prescott Ontario, were in a horrible accident and unfortunately the boy Dasan Munro, 10 years old, passed away from his injuries and the Dad was still in the hospital.  As the funeral for Dasan was scheduled for the same day as the tournament was to start, the South Grenville teams, both Atom and Peewee were not able to attend the tournament, a true heart wrenching tragedy.  
Games were played on Saturday, the boys stepped up and gave it their all! It was interesting to see how different players adapted and how the kid’s skill levels were not the same as they were on the ice.  Very exciting and fun!  A team party was arranged with a pot luck and to the parents surprise, the boys held a chess tournament while the parents played Euchre.  It was during this time in the true spirit of hockey, family, and giving back that a sense of community filled the room.  We had heard there may be money coming back to the teams as the tournaments cost were significantly lower due to the change from ice hockey to ball hockey.  The suggestion was made to donate our team’s refund to the family from South Grenville and to challenge the other teams in the tournament to do the same.  
In true Elmvale style, it took all of seconds for all the parents and kids to agree! The challenge was sent out, and as is done in a truly Canadian way, most teams accepted the challenge. We are proud to say that the hockey community came together.  14 teams have accepted our challenge so far, raising $3255 to date for the family and more importantly to let the family know we are thinking about them and our hearts and prayers go out to them. The tournament Coordinator, David Smith has advised that donations will only go up from here as many teams have asked him to hold off sending their cheque until they were able to reach out to all their parents to get the go ahead to donate theirs as well. 
The boys learned what being a hockey player means, being part of a team, being part of a larger community and that winning is fun but giving back and supporting each other is a characteristic of true champions.  When the mother of Dasan heard about what was happening her response was heartwarming “…The donations will be used to support local kids in our community who cannot afford to play sports, participate in camps, school outings and music programs. These are all the things Dasan loved. Thank you again for remembering my son in such a thoughtful way. “ 
So when you think about all the time and money spent at the rink this season, remember the life lessons that are being instilled in your sons and daughters by the many great Coaches and Volunteers within our Center.  I am very proud to say my kids play for Elmvale Minor Hockey. Well done Elmvale Peewee #1 you have made Elmvale proud!
Author: Steve Barber
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