Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks with support of Impact Hockey and current and aspiring NHL Hockey Players Team Up for the Clean Up for Hockey Event
Used equipment drive to help deserving children play the game.
Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks’ first Clean Up for Hockey event was a resounding success. Held on Wednesday August 20, Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks, with the support of Impact Hockey School and current and aspiring hockey players, held its first annual Clean Up for Hockey event. Gently used hockey equipment was accepted in exchange for autographs.
Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks owners and staff would like to acknowledge and thank the following hockey players: Jamie McGinn, Colorado Avalanche; Tye McGinn, San Jose Sharks; Brock McGinn, Carolina Hurricanes; Akim Aliu, Calgary Flames; Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Buffalo Sabres; Lucas Venuto, Mississauga Steelheads; Dylan DiPerna, Kitchener Rangers; Lukas Pozgay, Red Bull Austria; Daniel Ciampini, Union College, ECAC; and, Zack Masson, Langley Rivermen, BCHL.
The time that these professional hockey players took out of their busy schedules to sign autographs and support this initiative is very much appreciated.
Given the success of, and response to, this year’s Clean Up for Hockey event, Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks is already planning next year’s used equipment drive. Throughout the day, over 100 people came in to donate their gently used equipment. Helmets, gloves, pants, shin pads, elbow pad, sticks and more than 30 pairs of skates were donated. Enough equipment was donated to fully dress 22 young hockey players. Jamie McGinn was so pleased by the response to this initiative that he has already committed to supporting and participating in next year’s event. 
According to Hockey Canada, the approximate equipment cost for one child to play hockey is $740. Also, one is three Canadian families cannot afford to register their kids in sports. By providing gently used equipment to young and aspiring hockey players, the Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks Clean Up for Hockey event hopes to make a difference in the lives of 22 families that may not have been able to afford to purchase equipment and have their child play hockey.
The Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks Clean Up for Hockey event has already made a difference for one 11-year old hockey player. Learning about the Clean Up for Hockey used equipment drive, coaches for a 2003 GTA hockey team approached Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks requesting assistance with one of their young players that could not afford hockey equipment and registration fees. While the team continues to fundraise to help offset the registration fees for this player, through the Clean Up for Hockey event, Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks was able to donate all the equipment needed to fully dress this child and eliminated some of the financial barriers for his family.
Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks would like to acknowledge and thank all the families that cleaned up their basements and came out to donate their gently used equipment. This event would not have been possible without their support!
Also in attendance, to lend their support to this worthy cause, were Councillor Georgio Mammoliti and Mayor Rob Ford.
To further assist in eliminating some of the financial barriers for children to play hockey, Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks will be donating free ice for training session. These training sessions will be run by Impact Hockey School, www.impactonice.com. The free ice and training sessions will provide deserving children with the opportunity to receive personalize instructions in a small group environment that they would not be able to afford.
Over the next few weeks Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks, will be working with local foundations and GTA Hockey Associations to distribute the donated equipment and identify deserving children to receive dedicated and personalize instructions by Impact Hockey School.
ABOUT EMERY VILLAGE HOCKEY TRAINING RINKS:Open in October 2012, Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks is a facility designed to accommodate small and medium groups for customized instructions. Teams, hockey schools, goalie instructors and individuals can rent ice pads during primetime hours at a reasonable rate. This facility is equipped with recording equipment so that training sessions can be recorded and viewed during the session. Emery Village Hockey Training Rinks is located at 5601 Steeles Ave West, Unit #12. For more information, please visit, www.emeryvillagehtr.com.