Hockey4Youth Hit’s The Ice

Earlier in the week I had a chance to get introduced to yet another new program set up for young girls to play hockey and is a program that Sportswave are interested to get involved with as they move forward.

Initially I had thought, given all the current programs for young girls who are behind this program, how it began and where is it located in the lower mainland?

All solid questions that I wasn’t the only one pondering these questions given that there were various reporters in attendance as well as the newest RCMP Mascot Sergeant Bison.

It was to start but due to the late arrival of the young girls it officially got underway roughly fourth five minutes late.

I was fortunate to catch up and chat one-on-one after all other interviews with Moezine Hasham the Founder Executive Director of Hockey 4 Youth who was more than pleased to share his thoughts with Sportswave about this exceptional program. 

The program is called “Hockey 4 Youth” and ironically the Canucks Kids along with Osler and Regency are additional sponsors for the program which was kicked-off at the North Surrey Sport and Leisure Centre.

This is obviously a venue where the young ladies aren’t familiar with but soon will be with this new endeavor being called “Hockey For Youth” which is  a charitable foundation that was started in 2015 in Toronto.

I was told that the reason for starting the program was to foster social inclusion for newcomers and kids in teens with the main reason being that hockey is so exclusive and out of reach.

That being said, not being able to have the finances or your culture or gender won’t allow you to fit in this allows you to play in a manner to make it free, inclusive, safe and fun particularly as an after school program that fosters social inclusion.

They understand that over eighty percent feel socially included and ninety-one percent feel better about their emotional, mental and physical health. 

Adding that eighty-seven percent are building trusting relationships with their friends, their peers, staff, volunteers all of which boldly open the doors when they start to see the impact knowing that the only barrier should be the boards.

The concept for my money is exceptional to which I wanted to know how it  came to be from an “idea” which he replied “ I initially worked in the corporate world working in the corporate philanthropy side and always had a passion for giving back.”

Having the ability to give back while combining the two namely his love for hockey while building something special and unique was important especially since he was a youngster of refugee parents and learning how to play the game with donated equipment at Killarney Minor was special for him

Being in the second year working with Princess Margrett Secondary he pondered how he could attract young girls on the ice  knowing that boy’s have a lot of sporting opportunities while young girls have virtually nothing.  

A recent report called “A Rally For Sport” which was put out by Canadian Women & Sport organization noting that there are a million fewer opportunities for girls that see’s one-in-five are dropping out of sport once they reach their teen years.

So the question arose how do you get them on the ice, can they be supplied with free equipment and can they be provided with a fun and safe inclusive environment giving them a chance that is currently out of reach for so many.

Even in today’s world I come across some small-minded individuals who think that girls shouldn’t be allowed to play which is so far fetched it’s like going back to the dark-ages.\

This event was attended by twenty-seven young girls who are part of a larger network with girls programs in Prince George and also starting two on Vancouver Island with additional programs in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto.

Given the expansion they know and understand that the program is working and that it has an appetite for the program with a goal of growing the program and continuing to serve the community.

They have reached out to various companies who are looking to score a winning product and locally they have the “Canucks For Kids Fund”  which is a huge partner.

Initially the young girls are put on the ice learning the fundamentals, but when will they actually start playing was one of the questions from one of the young girls, so you can see they are already thinking competitively.

Currently Vancouver only has one program with the goal being to expand in other areas such as Burnaby, Vancouver with the idea of having future competition which currently simply don’t exist

Out of the twenty-seven they only have five returning from last year having a “new core” that the program wants to teach them all the basics having a “pipe dream” of eventually having interarea play.

The returning players are one’s that they are looking at being team leaders knowing that everyone learns from each other.

When I looked around it was noted that they have young First Nations girls, others from Pakistan, India, Panama and Benin which is located in West Africa formerly known as Dahoney and a major cotton producer.

This mix also removes several barriers inside schools as they might lean toward someone within your own community but this program opens doors to open communication.

Living in a very pluralistic society knowing that the Ismaili Muslim community talk about pluralism from various places and different walks of life and this program is yet another way in which to foster social inclusion.

I asked if he has spoken to the Provincial NDP Government yet as of yet he has not in part due to the size of the organization knowing that they face other barriers in front of them.

This year they plan to work with roughly 450 young girls across Canada so realistically speaking they “aren’t quite there yet” but soon to be.

As you can understand, we all know how important it is for the government to start to look at the impact on the communities they live in.

As we all understand, everyone faces lots of barriers in today’s world knowing that the one area that puts stress on the back-burner is playing sports.

If you are looking to additional info you can visit their website at “www.hockey4youth.org 

For additional information.

This is a program that has its sights set on promoting sport for young girls and we both found it ironic that years back I actually ref’d his ball hockey games for the Ismali Ball Hockey League.

Small World!!!