Post by dogcatcher on Jan 19, 2008 9:30:08 GMT -4
Game on
MindCare: World 3-on-3 Street Hockey Championship will be staged on waterfront
Bruce Bartlett
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday January 19th, 2008
Appeared on page B1
SAINT JOHN - Street hockey is going competitive in the city.
MindCare, which has been running Skate to Care as a fundraiser each February for the past 21 years, is organizing the World 3-on-3 Street Hockey Championship to be held May 1 to 3 on Long Wharf. The idea is to raise more money in support of mental health initiatives.
"It's got to the point where we are turning down two out of every three requests for money," said MindCare co-ordinator Peggy Brittain.
They brainstormed for a new way to bring people together to support the organization and came up with the idea of street hockey. The plan this year is to register 100 teams at $500 each in four categories - under 40 and over 40 for both men and women. While open to all, organizers expect it will attract younger males who have been in shorter supply at the Skate to Care fundraiser.
Teams of 10 will be registered but the games will be played 3-on-3, plus goalies, so there will only be eight people on the asphalt at a time, allowing for players to be spared.
Tournament chairman John McAloney said they originally thought of organizing a pond hockey tournament, but it would have meant putting on two events in the winter, very close together. So they decided to move it to May when kids start to play street hockey and found they could organize an event to bring people to uptown Saint John, next to Harbour Passage.
Both the city and the Port of Saint John are on board. The port has agreed to put up a cruise tent early for the event. Organizers have been promised the use of fencing put up around garden centres in supermarket parking lots to mark of the courts for the games.
"We are going to have lots of balls because they may go flying in the water," Brittain said.
The plan is to have 20 ball hockey courts set up on Long Wharf, said McAloney.
The initial response has been good with indications there are a lot of people out there who play ball hockey at their local school or church hall, so MindCare is hoping the idea of moving the game to the street will take off.
Money raised by MindCare goes to a number of things such as helping people move from shelters into apartments when they don't have a kettle or a blanket and providing basic clothing for job interviews.
Other money goes to the Canadian Mental Health Association to provide programs and courses for both volunteers and people suffering with mental health issues.
Teams are encouraged to raise funds for the entrance fees and MindCare is looking for sponsors for the event, said McAloney.
Skate to Care is a go for Feb. 9 where Harbour Station will be a sea of Stetsons, country music, line dancing and hay rides. Over the years it has raised more than $2 million for mental-health care projects in New Brunswick.
Anyone interested in playing street hockey to support MindCare can find more information at www.sjStreetHockey.com, or by calling (506) 648-6287.
MindCare: World 3-on-3 Street Hockey Championship will be staged on waterfront
Bruce Bartlett
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday January 19th, 2008
Appeared on page B1
SAINT JOHN - Street hockey is going competitive in the city.
MindCare, which has been running Skate to Care as a fundraiser each February for the past 21 years, is organizing the World 3-on-3 Street Hockey Championship to be held May 1 to 3 on Long Wharf. The idea is to raise more money in support of mental health initiatives.
"It's got to the point where we are turning down two out of every three requests for money," said MindCare co-ordinator Peggy Brittain.
They brainstormed for a new way to bring people together to support the organization and came up with the idea of street hockey. The plan this year is to register 100 teams at $500 each in four categories - under 40 and over 40 for both men and women. While open to all, organizers expect it will attract younger males who have been in shorter supply at the Skate to Care fundraiser.
Teams of 10 will be registered but the games will be played 3-on-3, plus goalies, so there will only be eight people on the asphalt at a time, allowing for players to be spared.
Tournament chairman John McAloney said they originally thought of organizing a pond hockey tournament, but it would have meant putting on two events in the winter, very close together. So they decided to move it to May when kids start to play street hockey and found they could organize an event to bring people to uptown Saint John, next to Harbour Passage.
Both the city and the Port of Saint John are on board. The port has agreed to put up a cruise tent early for the event. Organizers have been promised the use of fencing put up around garden centres in supermarket parking lots to mark of the courts for the games.
"We are going to have lots of balls because they may go flying in the water," Brittain said.
The plan is to have 20 ball hockey courts set up on Long Wharf, said McAloney.
The initial response has been good with indications there are a lot of people out there who play ball hockey at their local school or church hall, so MindCare is hoping the idea of moving the game to the street will take off.
Money raised by MindCare goes to a number of things such as helping people move from shelters into apartments when they don't have a kettle or a blanket and providing basic clothing for job interviews.
Other money goes to the Canadian Mental Health Association to provide programs and courses for both volunteers and people suffering with mental health issues.
Teams are encouraged to raise funds for the entrance fees and MindCare is looking for sponsors for the event, said McAloney.
Skate to Care is a go for Feb. 9 where Harbour Station will be a sea of Stetsons, country music, line dancing and hay rides. Over the years it has raised more than $2 million for mental-health care projects in New Brunswick.
Anyone interested in playing street hockey to support MindCare can find more information at www.sjStreetHockey.com, or by calling (506) 648-6287.