Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
The Napanee District Minor Hockey Association is teaming with Canadian Tire to help kids who have never played the game before to fall in love with hockey.
Known as the First Shift, the co-ed program is for kids aged six to 10 with no hockey experience and includes equipment and six introductory on-ice sessions at a cost of $199.
“We have a lot of newcomers to Canada and parents out there consider (hockey) a little expensive and not very affordable,” said Shawn Scrimshaw of NDMHA. “So this way it gives them an introduction to hockey to try it for six sessions and all their gear head to toe for just under $200 and hopefully they fall in love with the sport and then join the hockey program with Napanee.”
A welcome event will be held at the Strathcona Paper Centre on Sept. 26 followed by the start of the six week session on Oct. 6 at 8 a.m. During the welcome event they will be fitted with their hockey equipment which they get to keep.
“It starts out with the fundamentals and the stress of course is on the fun part of fundamentals,” said Scrimshaw. “Teaching the basic stance, then teaching it’s ok to fall down. Everyone falls down otherwise everybody at the age of four would be in the NHL right away.”
Kids taking part in the First Shift can’t have played any IP or Tyke hockey with NDMHA in the past.
Registration for the program can be done at www.firstshift.ca. Scrimshaw says about one quarter of the 40 spaces they have available have been filled so far.