CANMORE – With $100,000 on the line, a local minor hockey team’s good deeds video is one voting round away from lighting up the lamp.
Named as one of 11 national finalists in the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup, the U13 A Canmore Eagles hope its community-based message on supporting local charity Rocky Mountain Adaptive (RMA) will have a lasting effect in the Bow Valley.
“For the community to get behind this, and Rocky Mountain Adaptive, it would be super cool,” said head coach Sean Kjemhus. “That’s what hockey is, it’s friendships, it’s community, we trumpet that all the time, but this is a really good indication of that.”
We're supporting @RockyMtnAdaptiv as our initiative for the #GoodDeedsCup Go to https://t.co/WrM3Wf9DJN everyday until Feb 24 to vote for the Canmore Ealges U13 @EaglesMinor @TownofCanmore @Banff_Town @BanffNP @TourismCanmore pic.twitter.com/YubskSKBuz
— CANMORE EAGLES RHL U13 A TEAM (@CanmoreA) February 15, 2021
The little Eagles’ video, showing players promoting RMA and excitedly yelling the charity’s motto “no limits,” is available for viewing on the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup website.
Votes can be submitted once a day until Feb. 24, and a winner will be announced March 20.
The U13 Eagles are the first local team to be named a finalist over the five-year existence of the Good Deeds Cup, which asked teams across Canada to pitch a 30 second to one-minute long video of a Good Deed Idea that will positively affect their communities.
Kjemhus said they had kids “jumping off the couch” and “cheering” from the good news. He added that it's more than a team initiative.
“It’s a community event, and for our community to get behind the team, the charity, and beyond … be proud of the message and especially now, wanting to do something for others at a time of need because we all need something,” he said.
All proceeds, including a $2,000 finalist reward, supports RMA, which removes barriers in sport and recreation for those living with physical and cognitive disabilities.
"We're so touched that the Canmore Eagles have chosen us as their charity in the Good Deeds Cup. It goes to show what a wonderful community we have," said Alana MacLeod, RMA's community outreach coordinator. "If the team ends up winning, the money will be invaluable to what we do here at RMA. It will allow us to do so much, really, in making mountain sport and recreation more accessible."
An #earthquake isn't stopping our community from being amazing! We're SO excited about this! The @CanmoreA team is so amazing! Now, we need your help though! Go vote for the Canmore Eagles at the #gooddeedscup website here: https://t.co/m04xX9nsK8 https://t.co/bD5qwZdpm5
— Rocky Mtn Adaptive (@RockyMtnAdaptiv) February 14, 2021
With over 20 sports and recreational activities available across the Bow Valley year-round with specialized equipment and programming, RMA’s internationally recognized brand provides up to 2,000 adaptive experiences annually during its multi-week or specialized sessions.
“I think that really resonated with our kids to help out anyone living with a disability to try all these different kinds of sports,” said Kjemhus.
This year, the contest meant a bit more for teams across the country seasons were cut short due to COVID-19.
For the U13 Canmore Eagles, the opportunity to stay connected with each other and the community was an "added bonus of excitement."
