As we all know, hockey is a sport that at some point will come to an end for these boys, but the young men they are becoming will last their life time. The coaching staff has made it their mission to teach these boys skills on and off the ice and more importantly how to become caring citizens in our community.
The '07 AAA Hounds have been a part of several food drive initiatives for the food bank, raised money and participated in the SSM Fire Fighter Hockey Marathon, that gives money to different organizations that help the less fortunate and most recently made another '07 hockey player from Thessalon and his family their mission to help and support.
Thomas Vine, who lives in Thessalon and plays for the North Channel Peewee A hockey team, was involved in a serious ATV accident in September and has been in Toronto recovering since then. He was in a coma for 2 weeks after the accident, along with a broken leg, arm, ribs, and collar bone. Thomas is best friends with a one of our Jr Hounds and recently the Coaching Staff invited Thomas to be a part of our team while the Jr Hounds were in Toronto on a Tournament in December. Thomas participated in the team warm ups, helped with filling the water bottles and gave the pre game speech. The boys all made him feel like he was a part of the team. Then during '07 Jr Hounds Christmas party, instead of doing a Secret Santa like they have done in the past, which were always donated to Christmas Cheer, they decided to give money to give Thomas a gift card to a sports store and to his favorite restaurant.
Because there has been extra cost to the family while Thomas is in rehab, Coach Chris came up with an idea along with Tracey Cooke to do a fundraiser for the family. The team put on a 3 on 3 hockey tournament to help raise money for the family and with the support of Little Caesars, Silver Creek Golf Course and The SSM Fire Association the team raised $2100 for the family.
This is truly what the Soo Jr Greyhound Program is all about, not wins or loses, but developing young players that will in time become great people.
Happy holidays from your '07 Peewee Minor AAA Soo Jr Greyhounds.
https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1574449&fbclid=IwAR3c8lf6OA4uwIOXE6j7Fo1blcoeu3l-CMwQW0sgd8YEDa6qYwTcQYRf_GA