Woolwich Sun Rays shining light for special needs hockey
Posted Apr 5, 2015 07:33:08 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Woolwich Sun Rays are hoping to give people with developmental disabilities a chance to play the game they love.
The Sun Rays would play against teams like the Cambridge Ice Hounds, and the Kitchener ice Pirates, both already existing teams.
The Sun Rays will be part of the “Put Crime in the Penalty Box 2” event on April 12 at the Woolwich Memorial Centre in partnership with Woolwich Minor Hockey and Crime Stoppers.
Julie Jamieson, who’s helping launch the program, has a personal connection. Her brother, who passed away at the age of 48, had downed syndrome.
“He was a great sports fan, particularly the Leafs and hockey,” says Jamieson. “While he had his opportunity to play ball hockey and so-on, there was no forum in which he’d ever learned to play on the ice, so it was always something that was really missing for he, and others like him.”
The Sun Rays are hoping enough people will sign-up in order for the Sun Rays to be on the schedule come September.
Jamieson is encouraging anyone who’d like hear more, or sign-up, to come to their information booth.
“There are no tryouts, no skills required, you might be able to skate when you come, you might not be able to skate, you m might need a skating aid, and that may occur for a long, long time. There are no rules, there are no offsides, and there is no refing. There is just a fun forum for kids to experience hockey, like their big brother or sister might do, or their friends, and wear a jersey, have fun, and grow and develop at the same time.”
You can learn more about the Sun Rays during the Putting Crime in the Penalty Box event on April 12th at the Woolwich memorial Centre in Elmira. The event gets underway at 9 a.m., while the Ice Pirates exhibition game starts at 1 p.m.
For more information, click here.
Here is the full interview with Julie Jamieson on Head Start, with 570’s Chris Pope.
Additional Activities at the WMC:
Public Swim
Face Painting
Seniors safety talk on Fraud & Abuse
Essay contest Woolwich Minor Hockey Players
Youth Centre Talk on Anti-Bullying
Lion’s Club Free BBQ
Introduction to the Woolwich SunRays Hockey Team
Special Hockey exhibition game at 1:00 pm
TCO BigMan Football Skills camp
