Charlottetown Islanders partner with CMHA for gear exchange day

Charlottetown Islanders partner with Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association for gear exchange day

Charlottetown - The Charlottetown Islanders and the Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association have joined forces to get the youth of P.E.I. into hockey gear.

On September 10, players from the Islanders will be at the Bell Aliant Centre on the UPEI campus during hockey registration from 10am until 2pm. They will be assisting CMHA volunteers in fitting children into donated hockey equipment 

George Halliwell, president of CMHA, is extremely happy to have the support of the Charlottetown Islanders organization this season for their annual gear exchange, now in its fifth year.

“Partnering with the Island’s QMJHL team will provide exposure that will help grow our hockey program and ensure an opportunity for a significant number of additional children to play the sport in our province,” said Halliwell.

Last year, this gear exchange program helped 250 kids in the province acquire free equipment, an increase of 50 per cent from the previous year. With the help of the Islanders, Halliwell thinks they can grow that number even further.

“The CMHA believes that costs should not be the determining factor to whether a child is able to participate in a sport. Anytime that you can help remove some of the financial barriers it increases the likelihood that all children can participate.”

The donated gear is available to children from all minor hockey associations and for kids who have never played hockey but would like to start.

When someone donates equipment during the gear exchange on September 10th, they will receive a free youth ticket voucher to the Islanders Home Opener on September 23rd at the Eastlink Centre when they battle the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The President of Operations for the Charlottetown Islanders, Craig Foster, is happy to have the organization involved in helping Island children play hockey, and with the proper equipment.

“As an organization we are in huge support of a program like this and we are happy to join the CMHA to get more Island youth into equipment,” Foster said.

There is no fee for the gear but the CMHA asks that those using the equipment continue to donate gear that they may no longer be using to help more children enjoy hockey.

If you are unable to attend registration on September 10th, the gear bin will be placed in the lobby of the Eastlink Centre during the Islanders last preseason game on September 10th as well as their home opener on September 23rd for anyone wanting to bring the equipment to the game.

For additional information, please feel free to contact the CMHA Executive.