Mitch Calvert
Wanted: young hockey players.
The Source for Sports Canadian Hockey Skills Challenge is taking place in more than 60 markets across Canada this year with more than $20,000 in prizes up for grabs—and Fort Frances players have as good a shot as anybody.
The local competition, presented by CCM and originally scheduled for March 26, now is set for this Friday (March 27) from 6-9 p.m. at the Memorial Sports Centre.
Open to boys aged nine-15 and girls aged nine-16, only about a dozen participants had signed up as of last week.
“Just because numbers are down a little bit, we’re just going to make it on one night, but we’re still very excited for it,” said Russ Ling, manager of Taggs Source for Sports here.
“For our first year, we’ll make sure everyone has a great time,” he enthused.
Registration costs $25, and must be done in advance at www.sourceforsports.com, by dropping by Taggs Source For Sports, or by calling the store at 274-2444.
The fee includes a free skate sharpening and T-shirt commemorating the competition.
There will be both recreational and competition divisions for each age group on the boys’ side while girls will be grouped into two-year age divisions (ages nine-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-16).
The event will test players in hardest shot, fastest skater, and accuracy shooting—much like is done at the annual NHL skills competition in conjunction with the all-star game.
Scores will be posted at www.sourceforsports.com/skillschallenge after each local event. Competitors can go online and see how they stack up against the rest of the country in their respective age groups.
“That’s the one thing that’s hard to get through people’s heads, because they are used to competing against their same buddies in town,” Ling said of the nation-wide scoring system.
“They have to realize they are competing against every kid in Canada who participates in this,” he stressed.
The winners will be decided once all the local competitions have submitted their scores.
No national championship will be organized this year, but the top three finishers nation-wide in each age and skill division will win prizes for their efforts, as will the top players in each of the three individual skills categories (hardest shot, fastest skater, and accuracy shooting).
Players born from 1993-99, who reside in Fort Frances and surrounding communities, are invited to register and see how their skills stack up against thousands of players from across Canada.
A portion of the proceeds will go to “Shoot For A Cure,” the registered Canadian charity with a mandate to prevent and find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
