Free hockey coaching program introduces new Canadian kids to the sport

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Ruggles Pritchard has travelled the world through hockey.

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He played university hockey at Trent, professionally in Brussels and on intermediate teams across Canada.

He has reached out to bring the sport to youngsters in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.

At the tender age of 75, Pritchard still plays two to three times a week and is a regular on-ice instructor, representing Hockey Eastern Ontario, for all ages at rinks across the Ottawa area.

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His latest involvement, a project to introduce new Canadians to the sport — tied into the world junior hockey championships that will take over TD Place in late December and early January — has him pumped.

“It’s going to be a zoo, with everything going on,” said Pritchard, taking a break from being on the ice himself to talk about the project.

On the morning of Dec. 21, a lucky 30 downtown boys and girls, aged 5-10 with no previous hockey experience, will be outfitted head to toe with new equipment at TD Place.

For most, it will be their first time anywhere near an arena.

That evening, they and their families will be given tickets to a pre-tournament exhibition game between Canada and Sweden.

After the buzz from the tournament has died down, the children will get into the action themselves, treated to six one-hour on-ice training sessions at McNabb Arena in January and February.

“There is no cost to the kids,” said Pritchard. “Some of them are from Afghanistan, Greece, Turkey. Their parents have no idea what hockey is. Every kid will get a lanyard with their picture on it.”

McNabb Arena’s location, near Percy Street and Gladstone Avenue in central Ottawa, is important. In addition to the costs of hockey, the lack of access to a nearby arena also limits those who can participate in the sport.

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Pritchard, retired from his years as a teacher and vice-principal at schools including Osgoode and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, jokingly calls himself the “head on-ice guy.”

As for the big picture of orchestrating all the moving parts associated with the venture, he passes the puck to the “brains of the operation,” Hailey Perreault, Hockey Eastern Ontario membership services coordinator.

Last December, the International Ice Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada, which jointly run the world junior tournament, asked for applications for projects they would finance.

The HEO bid claimed the big prize. The IIHF and Hockey Canada will cover the price of all the equipment, as well as a $1,350 subsidy for renting the ice at McNabb Arena. HEO is on the hook for the remainder of ice rental costs.

“We wanted to target a group of kids that has been forgotten,” said Perreault. “There are so many barriers for entering the sport, whether it’s financial or social. It’s for kids who would never otherwise have a chance to try it out. We feel very lucky to be able to get to do this, to introduce them to the sport.”

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Perreault has some experience on that front.

Early on, she was on the outside looking in at organized hockey due to the ever-rising cost of playing. She spent hours upon hours skating on outside rinks before playing in her first formal league at 14.

She went on to play varsity hockey at Carleton University and serves as an official when she’s not at “the world’s best job” with Hockey Eastern Ontario.

There’s yet another bonus to the project.

While Pritchard typically recruits his old timers “hockey buddies” to help with his various on-ice clinics, the IIHF/Hockey Canada is strict in their requirements for instructors.

Everyone on the ice needs to go through official Hockey Canada training with full police records checks.

HEO reached out to students in phys-ed programs at Glebe and Ridgemont high schools. These students are currently going through online and on-ice sessions to receive their full coaching certifications in time for the upcoming clinics.

“Ruggles saw the opportunity here to attract new coaches, as well,” said Perreault. “It’s a chance to attract a younger group into coaching.”

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Perreault says it’s often difficult to introduce younger coaches into the sport after their own playing days are finished.

Accordingly, there can be a significant age gap between the children on the ice and a group of coaches who are a generation or three removed from those they are instructing.

“It’s usually an older crowd coaching,” Perreault said.

On that front, Pritchard laughs when he’s asked about how well he moves around the ice these days.

“Well, it’s a good way to try and stay young,” he said. “I work with six-year-olds and I play with 75-year-olds. Sometimes, it’s a different game.”

kwarren@postmedia.com
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