Hockey equipment donation puts kids on ice

ERIC HEINO

October 29, 2009

Two years ago there were was only one student at Brookview Middle School playing organized hockey. Thanks to the generosity of the hockey community, Brookview now has hundreds of kids interested in trying out for the school's hockey team, which will be competing in league play against other schools for the first time in its history.

An equipment donation campaign by the Willowdale Blackhawkshockey club provided an extra 10 hockey bags full of pads, pucks and all goalie equipment will be allow the school to run a team for years to come.

"With this new equipment we can really get more kids involved," said school vice-principal Mark Babiy. "The kids are just floored by the opportunity. This year we have about 150 applicants and there are more coming every day."

The school was able to run a hockey program outside of a league through other donations of equipment and ice time last year and was once again able to rely on support from the community to keep their kids on the ice.

Spearheading the Blackhawks' donation drive was Marie Charles, a hockey mom with a garage full of pucks and old equipment that no longer fit her children.

Originally from Kenya, Charles had to rely on donated equipment when she first learned to skate. She recalled the generosity of her own community as a youngster and thought that perhaps other parents might also have surplus equipment that could be put to use.

She contacted Carol Mallet at Willowdale Sports Club and a notice was sent to coaches and managers requesting donations. After two weeks, a giant pile of equipment of all sorts had accumulated and was loaded into vans to be brought to Brookview.

"It's amazing the response this has brought out from the community. If you were going to buy some of these skates brand new, it would be three or four hundred dollars per pair," said Babiy. "We are just touched by the response of the community and the generosity of the Willowdale Hawks."