Kirk McLean and the Vancouver Canucks organization visited Williams Lake last week to encourage students to get active and help them discover hockey.
After a meet and greet at Nesika Elementary on Thursday, Feb. 27, the visitors made their way to Columneetza Junior Secondary school on Friday for a full day of floor hockey.
“They're having fun, they're working hard...it's good to see,” McLean said, as students at Columneetza practiced drills and played floor hockey with equipment donated by the Junior Canucks Floor Hockey Program.
McLean was joined by the Canucks mascot Fin the Whale, who shared hugs and high fives with students, as well as Rod Braithwaite, a Canucks Alumni Liaison as well as the team’s manager of hockey development.
“As an organization we want to see kids being active and we want them to be introduced to the game,” Braithwaite said. “This is a very low barrier entry for kids...it is allowing kids a safe place to play and have fun and not be intimidated by the sport.”
The Junior Canucks Floor Hockey Program made its way to Columneetza after the Canucks organization visited a Professional Development Day for B.C. teachers in Vancouver. One of the Columneetza’s physical and health education teachers, Tanner Gainer, connected with Braithwaite at the event, and was inspired.
“It's important for champions like Tanner to take this on, to let it grow within the schools and within the communities,” Braithwaite said.
Gainer is hoping to set up a lunch-hour floor hockey program, so students have the option to get active during their lunch break.
