BOW VALLEY – A local peewee hockey team spreading goodwill around the community hopes it leads to a charity receiving $100,000.
The 12 Deeds of Christmas was completed by the Canmore Minor Hockey Association Peewee A team, a list of good deeds done by the 11 and 12 year olds throughout December and January, which was also filmed for the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup contest.
“I think a big part of this is lessons in life, in general,” said head coach Reid Solodan. “Every kid on the team did all the things they put on the list and some even did more.”
The contest encourages players to spread positivity and the local team emphasized “everyday” deeds such as holding open a door for someone, or giving a compliment to a classmate.
Each of the 16 players filled lists with ideas of at least nine actions they could do individually, and three deeds by the entire team including a pop-up barbecue at the Canmore pond with Wolfe Canmore, visiting the Bow Valley Senior Centre, and visiting the Alberta’s Children Hospital where members of the peewee team handed out kindness kits they purchased.
Owen Anderson, an 11-year-old centre on the team, said he only needed 14 days to complete his individual good deeds list.
“It’s quite fun, I mean, it’s an award also for yourself ‘cause it feels good giving back to the community and helping each other,” Anderson said.
To earn money for the kindness kit, Anderson said he shovelled snowy driveways in winter and mowed lawns during the summer.
“It feels good to spend money on what I feel like other people will use and really like because they didn’t expect to be at the hospital, so it feels good for them to get stuff to help their kids get through what they’re going through,” Anderson said.
The Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup is a partnership between Hockey Canada and Chevrolet and the video portion is a friendly competition for peewee teams across Canada to film and submit a one-minute video showing their good deed.
On Jan. 25, 11 regional finalists will be announced. The winning team receives a $100,000 donation to a charity of its choice.
