All for the love of hockey.
Over 100 players on eight teams from the Okanagan and Lower Mainland battled their hearts out Saturday under the bright lights of the South Okanagan Events Centre and the OHS arena next door in the annual special needs Peach City Hockey Tournament.
Aged six to 51, the kids and adults spent the day laughing, sometimes crying, but always cheering each other on.
In addition to the games, the players also took part in a skills competition and celebrated with a banquet at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in the evening.
The Penticton Special Needs Hockey Program is a joint effort on the part of the city91裸聊视频檚 Parks and Recreation department and corporate sponsors.
Penticton and Kelowna each had two teams, with the others coming from Vernon, Kamloops, Surrey and Vancouver.
After his team91裸聊视频檚 first game, a victory, 14-year-old Brandon Drury who was in net for the younger Fresh Start team was all smiles lying on the dressing room floor as his mom Jackie Hooper and Steve Brown were tasked with a leg each to remove the goalie pads.
91裸聊视频淚 just love the sport it91裸聊视频檚 just so much fun, that91裸聊视频檚 all I really want to do, no school just hockey,91裸聊视频� said Brandon who proudly boasts his cousin is Chris Drury, who played his last four seasons with the New York Rangers of the NHL. 91裸聊视频淚 love my team, they91裸聊视频檙e good people, they91裸聊视频檙e great. I was surprised, usually they mess around ,but today they showed me they could play.
91裸聊视频淚 want to be a goalie for New York.91裸聊视频�
The Upper Dek Vees (named for one of their major sponsors Dek Smart) got their humble beginnings in 2008 with a single team and a handful of members, now grown to two teams and having 44 players.
91裸聊视频淲hy has it grown? Because we have a whole lot of fun,91裸聊视频� said Jason Bungay (everyone knows him as Jay) who co-founded the organization along with Carol Sheridan who was working at Penticton Parks and Recreation at the time. 91裸聊视频淭he reason I started the program was because of working with the special needs program in the community and they91裸聊视频檙e all hockey fans.
91裸聊视频淭hey know hockey, the love hockey they come to the Vees games, so why aren91裸聊视频檛 they playing? What91裸聊视频檚 the hurdle? The hurdle was someone to organize and someone to pay for the ice, so we opened the door in Penticton for them.91裸聊视频�
The Upper Dek Vees players are devoted fans of the B.C. Hockey League Vees, who also sponsor the program.
91裸聊视频淚 mean they bleed blue,91裸聊视频� said Bungay with a laugh.
But even he was surprised just how much when he went into the senior team91裸聊视频檚 dressing room before the first game Saturday.
91裸聊视频淪o I open the door and I hear Fred (the Vees head coach and general manager) in the background, oh Fred showed up for the game. Their (players) heads are bowed and their listening to a recording of Fred giving a speech to his team,91裸聊视频� said Bungay. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e listening to Fred91裸聊视频檚 voice on the speaker and as soon as the music came on the players just erupted and so we had a little cheer afterwards, really inspirational stuff.
91裸聊视频淭his is all about being team players and we talk to them about representing the community and so when your are in the community you have a responsibility. You91裸聊视频檙e part of this team.91裸聊视频�
Bungay has watched his players grow over the years developing confidence in all facets of their life through their progression on the ice.
91裸聊视频淲e try to meet them where they91裸聊视频檙e at, help them reach their potential, try to help them enjoy the game,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪ome of them have the motor skills but just can91裸聊视频檛 put the social part together and we91裸聊视频檝e just got a great group of volunteers to help that.91裸聊视频�
Senior Vees team member Barnabas Laflamme looking out onto the ice surface before the game said he was: 91裸聊视频淓xcited and nervous. But it91裸聊视频檚 just having fun with friends and learning new skills.91裸聊视频�
Fresh Start91裸聊视频檚 also described playing hockey as 91裸聊视频渇un and challenging.91裸聊视频�
His father Rob agreed and added: 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 important for him to learn proper etiquette in hockey. And that91裸聊视频檚 why we have him in hockey so he can learn how to be a good team player and it works very well.91裸聊视频�
Local hockey legend Ivan McLelland was on hand to drop the puck in the morning91裸聊视频檚 opening ceremonies.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 important to support these kids, they all have aspirations to become hockey players like most Canadian kids,91裸聊视频� he said afterwards. 91裸聊视频淔or me it91裸聊视频檚 a wonderful opportunity to give them some support and encourage them.
91裸聊视频淎nd you know what, we all love the game.91裸聊视频�
