Powell River Minor Hockey (PRMH) is hoping registrations for this coming hockey season are processed soon so the association can get on with planning for this season’s play.
“We’ve been a little bit lower with registration this year so far,” said Nicole Fraser, ways and means director for Powell River Minor Hockey. “It’s super hard to plan a season if everyone waits until the deadline.”
Fraser said children are not signing up for sports, as was the case in the past, so the hope is that those parents who want their youngsters to play hockey will do so in the near term.
Fraser said PRMH has a new board of directors and a great direction.
“It’s a great new board that is female-led,” added Fraser. “We really want to have more inclusiveness. The culture of hockey is changing.
“We are trying to get as many kids as possible active. Kids have big smiles on their faces playing hockey. Hockey has always been kind of a big thing in this town. We’re just trying to see more kids coming out.”
The minor hockey association has participating players from the ages of five to 18. Fraser said PRMH is seeking players of all ages. Five-year-old players often come in with little or no experience, but it also applies to players under the age of 10, she added.
“There was a time when people were told that if they didn’t play hockey by the age of eight, or so, they wouldn’t keep up with the other players,” said Fraser. “However, we are not making National Hockey League players. We are trying to get kids moving so they will be active adults.
“Gone are the days of everyone thinking they will make the NHL. Of course, there are still people who believe that, which is great, because we’d love to see a Wayne Gretzky come out of the association, but we are primarily helping kids develop to lead an active life.”
If someone wants to register their children for minor hockey, they can go to powellriverminorhockey.com, where there is a registration tab. The registration contact email is [email protected].
Powell River Minor Hockey information can be found on Facebook at @powellriverminorhockey and on Instagram at @prmha_kings.
The minor hockey season is starting the week of September 19.
Fraser said enrolment in this community is the most reasonable that can be found, and if the fees are compared to other youth activities, they are frequently less expensive. A program is in place to help parents find funding to help pay for their children to participate, she added.
In terms of girls playing hockey, they can be integrated into the regular minor hockey stream, but the minor hockey association also has a “really awesome” female-only program, which is starting to take over almost 30 per cent of the registration, said Fraser.
“It’s really great,” added Fraser. “It’s once a week on the ice and we will be able to take anybody from beginner to expert. It’s really fun to watch the girls out there. They are enjoying themselves and bringing the fun back into the sport. It’s cool to see and it’s an amazing program.”
In addition to having a son in minor hockey, Fraser is also involved in fundraising for the minor hockey association.
“It’s a major component for the association,” said Fraser.
Anyone interested in finding out more about fundraising can contact her via email at [email protected].
