The Goulbourn Rockets PeeWee B girls’ hockey team were working hard before the 2018-19 season even got started.
On Saturday, September 15, 2018, the team participated in a bottle drive, going to door-to-door in various neighbourhoods in Stittsville, Ontario – the hometown for most players and of the Goulbourn Girls Hockey Association. The idea to do a bottle drive stemmed not only from wanting to raise money to participate in tournaments, but to get to know their teammates while giving back to the community. Many of the girls did not know each other and getting together and working as a team early on was a great ice-breaker to kick off their season, and have fun. The team was successful in raising $1000.00 from the bottle drive.
Whether it be for hockey or any other team sport, team fundraisers such as bottle drives demonstrate a desire to give back to the community and instill a sense of pride for individuals and teams, not to mention the donors. Donors witness the efforts of teams to achieve their goals and this generates respect and admiration from the community. Working together as a team brings its members closer together not only as teammates, but as friends.
The hockey community is really the best community there is. A family community. Teams work hard to achieve success, but there is so much more. Lifelong friendships are made and many life lessons are learned – both in winning and in losing. Parents, guardians, family members and coaching staff all have a huge role to play in encouraging respect, sportsmanship and promoting the right values and morals both on and off the ice, whether it be amongst teammates or opponents. When in times of tragedies that affect hockey communities, families and friends show their support by coming together to do whatever is needed to help those affected.
These are just a few reasons that make hockey Canada’s best game and an important, significant part of our culture!
