What began as an idea to keep everyone close to home to celebrate Hockey Day in Canada has grown into an event that will give national exposure to South Delta Minor Hockey.
The association will be the official west coast location for Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on Saturday, Feb. 14 with the Ladner Leisure Cente being home to a live remote national broadcast. The Corporation of Delta and Rogers have teamed up with the SDMHA for what promises to be the biggest single day event in the history of minor hockey in South Delta.
"Like many cities in Canada, Delta is a proud hockey town featuring teams and enthusiasts of all ages," said Mayor Lois Jackson. "We are so pleased to host Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in our community, and are thrilled to provide such an amazing event and unique opportunity for our local hockey players and fans."
Last year, SDMHA marketing director Phil Pacaud went to the Richmond Olympic Oval to participate in Hockey Day in Canada festivities. When he took on the volunteer position with the association, he had an opportunity to organize something in his own backyard. It will be the first time SDMHA is hosting an event that brings teams from its rep, recreational and girls programs together. Typically, the organization annually hosts the Tim Jardine Bantam AAA Showcase and the recently held Party In Da House
Tournament. "It seems like we always had to go somewhere else and with my involvement this year we said 'why can't we do something local?,'" explained Pacaud. "We came up with great idea and plan that will have every single team in the association involved expect for three that will be away at tournaments.
"It is about Hockey Day in Canada but we are also trying to make it about the Power of Sport. To be a great hockey player you have to be a good athlete and to be a good athlete you have to be doing other sports as well. We have invited other local sports groups to participate and there will be a big trade show outside where people can try other things if they want to."
The day will kick off with a free pancake breakfast, live music and the grand re-opening of the newly renovated LCC. The South Delta Recreational Centre and Tilbury Arena will also host games and on ice activities. Every game will have "a big league" feel to it with live national anthems and rink announcers. The North Delta Minor Hockey Association will be providing competition for the rep teams, as well as some additional recreational level games.
Produced by Rogers, the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada all-day broadcast on CBC will include live celebrations from Delta, featuring Sportsnet Central host James Cybulski.
Fans will have the chance to meet and get their picture taken with Vancouver Canucks alumni, Kirk McLean. The event will also celebrate athletes who grew up playing sports in South Delta and went on to great careers in and out of sport.
The gym at the South Delta Recreation Centre will play host to a street hockey/floor hockey tournament for all ages. The venue will also showcase a Special Olympics floor hockey game.
A skills session for Atom and Pee Wee age players will be run by Ian Gallagher and other guest coaches at the LCC. The day will culminate with the Vancouver Canucks Alumni taking on the Delta Police, with Delta Cable televising the game.
"We developed (the event) and it has really grown from there," added Picaud. "We reached out to the Corporation of Delta and Rogers and they both loved it. We have also had some amazing sponsorship come on board like Dueck GM who are giving the opportunity for someone to shoot (between periods of the alumni game) to win a car.
"The community has really embraced it. It's going to be pretty good."
