Joey Payeur
It started out as a celebration of hockey in the middle of the national game’s darkest hour.
It ended with a local amateur sports organization celebrating a generous gesture by one of the sport’s most famous equipment manufacturers.
A total of 25 sets of brand-new, top-of-the-line equipment from Bauer Hockey—worth more than $25,000—has arrived in Fort Frances and soon will be distributed through the local chapter of “KidSport” to provide underprivileged children with the gear they need to participate in minor hockey this winter.
The gift was donated through the Fort Frances Atom ‘AA’ Canadians, whose video entry in a contest that was part of last fall’s “Own the Moment” campaign from Bauer—started during the NHL lockout—won second place out of 140 submissions nationwide.
“The idea was to submit your favourite hockey memory on video,” noted Canadians’ hockey parent Armand Jourdain.
“So I had taped our Atom ‘AA’ team playing in the Neebing tournament in Thunder Bay in March of last year,” he explained.
“We were in the championship game against the host Neebing Hawks and we won in sudden death in overtime on a breakaway.
“The kids were so ecstatic,” he added. “I had video of the goal being scored and then of the kids jumping off the bench to celebrate.”
Jourdain received confirmation from Bauer back in February that his submission had qualified for one of the available grand prizes, which included a full set of high-end equipment from Bauer worth $2,000.
“I got the idea that we should donate the prize to ‘KidSport’ so more kids could play hockey,” he said.
“So, through a media group that was the liaison between us and Bauer, I sent a message [asking if we] could get somewhat lower-grade equipment for the same value so we could get more of it and therefore be able to help more kids.”
When Jourdain didn’t hear back on his request, he took it upon himself to send a personal e-mail to the CEO and president of Bauer Hockey, Kevin Davis, to explain what the Canadians intended to do.
“I got a call back from Bauer’s Global Marketing Director, Steve Jones, not long after,” he recounted.
“He said there had been a miscommunication from the media group and that Bauer had never received the message as to what we wanted to do.
“He apologized and said he wanted to make up for it.”
Suddenly, the prize went from one set of equipment to 25, which will serve to get even more young players on the ice this winter.
“We’re ecstatic and so is ‘KidSport,’” enthused Jourdain, who was extremely grateful for the support of the parents and community members who helped make their quest a reality.
That gratitude is the reason Jourdain will be sending an e-mail to Chicago Blackhawks’ owner Rocky Wirtz, explaining what the local group has accomplished—with a special request attached.
“We’re hoping that we can take a group of the kids, as well as parents and minor hockey association members, down to Minneapolis on Oct. 28,” he said.
“The Blackhawks will be there to play the Minnesota Wild that night.
“We are hoping to get a chance to have the group get to meet [Blackhawks’ stars] Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Sharp before or after their practice and get a chance to watch their morning skate,” he noted.
Jourdain has 12 tickets left reserved for the Wild/Blackhawks game, which the Wild organization only can hold until this Friday before releasing them to the general public.
Anyone interested is asked to contact Jourdain as soon as possible via e-mail at jourdaa@hotmail.com
