The Victoria Admirals U-13 C-2 team didn鈥檛 let the pandemic tie an anchor to their season.
Instead, the team went national over the weekend on Hockey Night in Canada as the B.C. representative, among 11 regional finalists, for the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup.
鈥淲e held a virtual watch party on Zoom and everybody nearly hit the ceiling when they saw our team鈥檚 name come up on the screen,鈥� said co-coach Matt Belanger.
The Good Deeds Cup goes annually to the 91原创 youth hockey team which does the most to give back to their community.
鈥淲e made kindness a focus for our team this season,鈥� said Belanger, taking note of the message from the B.C. health officer.
Team members saw a broadcast advertisement for the Good Deeds Cup during the 2021 world junior championship and Admirals manager and treasurer Anna Warhurst spearheaded the effort.
鈥淚t tied in perfectly with our season message of kindness,鈥� said Belanger.
鈥淲e fundraise, regardless, for travel.鈥�
But with no games, only practice, currently allowed for youth sports in B.C., there are no tournaments to travel to.
鈥淪o we said we can still fundraise but focus on the community instead,鈥� said Belanger.
The team raised close to $2,000 in chocolate sales and bottle drives. Each player was allowed to make a $20 donation from the pot to the charity of their choice. The rest went to the team鈥檚 main charity of choice 鈥� Children鈥檚 Health Foundation of 91原创 Island.
鈥淭hat organization works with kids and that really struck a chord with our players,鈥� said Belanger.
Voting, via the Good Deeds Cup website, is on-going through Feb. 24. One vote per day per person is allowed. The top three vote-getting teams will be announced March 20 and receive $5,000 each. The winner will be announced a few days later and will receive $100,000 for its registered charity of choice. A big proponent of the Good Deeds Cup is Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean.
If the Admirals win the money, the Children鈥檚 Health Foundation of 91原创 Island plans to purchase mobility and protective equipment for kids who need help learning how to walk or are at risk of head injuries due to seizures.
鈥淭he players know about the importance of protective gear 鈥� they wouldn鈥檛 be able to play the sport they love without it,鈥� said Warhurst.
The Children鈥檚 Health Foundation of 91原创 Island is appreciative of the support.
鈥淚t鈥檚 heartening to know these young players, their coaches and parents are our future,鈥� said CEO Veronica Carroll, in a statement.
鈥淪pecialized equipment for mobility, safety, and communications will give Island kids the life-changing support they need to develop skills and to join in play with their family and friends.鈥�
The process has been a salve in an otherwise difficult sports season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a crappy year,鈥� said Belanger.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been tricky to keep the players engaged. This gave them a focus.鈥�
On the waterfront, with the ocean as a backdrop, the Admirals certainly have the coolest picture on the voting website among the 11 finalists.
鈥淭hese kids rose above and beyond a challenging season and we are so proud of them,鈥� said Nicki Reich, president of the Victoria Minor Hockey Association.
鈥淚 received so many texts and emails after the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast over the weekend.鈥�
The other 10 finalists, all U-11, U-13 or U-15 teams representing a province or territory, are the Canmore Eagles of Alberta, Regina Rebels of Saskatchewan, Manitou Tigers of Manitoba, London Devilettes of Ontario, Intrepide de l鈥橭utaouais of Quebec, Moncton SEFHA Fury of New Brunswick, Borden-Carleton Southside Wildcats of Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton County Islanders of Nova Scotia, Mount Pearl City Tire Blues of Newfoundland and Yellowknife CR Oilers of Northwest Territories.