Watch above: A southern Saskatchewan community is the first to be hosting Cameco’s Hockey Day. Aaron Streck reports from Carnduff where details of the four year travelling program were announced.
CARNDUFF, Sask. – Hockey – it’s a big part of Saskatchewan, look no further than smaller communities. Cameco has teamed up with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA) on it’s Hockey Day in Saskatchewan initiative.
The southeast corner town of Carnduff, with a population of 1,200, was awarded 2015’s Cameco Hockey Day in Saskatchewan on Thursday.
“It puts our community on a pedestal, it gives us a chance to showcase our kids, show case our town,” said Jackie Verity, Carnduff Hockey Day in Saskatchewan committee member.
The SHA has been helping communities raise funds for local infrastructure through Hockey Day in Saskatchewan for seven years. Carnduff is the first community in a four-year partnership between Cameco and the SHA.
“It really brings back for me memories of when I grew up in a small town in Saskatchewan, the excitement around the community, around the kids, around hockey and we at Cameco are excited to be a part of it,” said Cameco CEO and President Tim Gitzel.
“It’s potential to raise anywhere from a Waldheim, Sask from $25,000 to Lanigan, Sask raised $145,000. So it’s a huge event for them to raise money for their facility and it’s also a great promotion right through the province,” said SHA General Manager Kelly McClintock.
Hockey Day will take place Jan. 17 and the community hopes to raise $50,000.
“We have some repairs and some thing’s we need to upgrade over at the rink, I know our Zamboni is in need of some help, so that’s where we’re putting the money, right back into the rink itself,” said Verity.
Hockey Day will also be a home coming for a third year Battleford North Star, as the Battlefords will put on a youth hockey camp before facing off against the Notre Dame Hounds of the SJHL in the days feature game.
“It’s going to be crazy, it’s just being here today being at the school with the kids I’m already kind of nervous, I played a lot of hockey here and I’m looking forward to playing some more,” said North Stars centre Jake McMillen.
“This will be our third year being a part of this, all three of them we’ve had players from the home community, the host community to participate in,” said North Stars head coach and general manager Kevin Hasselberg.
Hockey Day in Saskatchewan has a long standing tradition of being the third weekend in January. While Carnduff gets its shot in 2015, a central community will have it’s turn in 2016.
Hockey Day weekend in Carnduff will start the Friday night with a banquet featuring Tiger Williams, and 10 games are on tap throughout including the SJHL clash.
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