Home Ice Hockey
As one of the most popular sports in Canada, hockey builds communities, shapes identities, and is a fabric of our society. It has the power to unite us, to build traditions, to be a vehicle for growth. Space, money, access; we understand the barriers to youth hockey in Toronto. We also understand the opportunity. We launched Home Ice Hockey with a mandate to get more youth in the sport and to help Change the Game for the next generation.
Home Ice Hockey brings non-competitive organized hockey to youth facing barriers at no cost. In partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Securian Canada and the City of Toronto, Home Ice Hockey activates 12 community sites, including two girls-only locations. The eight-week program provides protective equipment and on-ice instruction to 350 young hockey enthusiasts every year.
One of these enthusiasts, Ella, has been attending the program since its inception in 2017 at Sir Adam Beck Rink, one of the girls-only sites.
“I’ve really grown to love hockey and the coaches in the program are really nice and supportive,” said Ella. “They always try to get you involved. They try and make sure everyone gets the puck and can use their skills to improve.”
They try and make sure everyone gets the puck and can use their skills to improve.”
Girls are underrepresented in the sport of hockey and 30% of girls and young women across Ontario reported being less interested in playing sports now compared to before the pandemic, according to the Change the Game Research Study. That’s why Home Ice Hockey is moving the needle on getting more girls active by ensuring they have spaces that are dedicated to them.
“This is a neighbourhood rink, and this program draws youth just from this neighbourhood, so a lot of the girls know each other. They’re very comfortable with this rink,” said Arlene, City of Toronto Coach at Sir Adam Beck Rink in Etobicoke.
“The girls-only site is fantastic,” said Ella’s mother. “With Ella, I’ve noticed in school, the boys will always take the shot and the girls will pass to try and work together. I think the program is a little safer, they can be more open and free, more themselves and can take the lead.”
Ella, who was nervous every day about getting on the ice in her first year, became enamoured with the game and continues to flourish in the program despite her older sister, Jumy, not returning last season.
"She (Jumy) was more competitive with me … she doesn’t try and take the puck from anyone else, but she loves trying to take it from me," said Ella. "But it's till fun. I love the skating. It feels so amazing when you block a shot or score a goal. We do a drill where we have to make a pass across the ice, and when you get it, it feels pretty awesome."
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"For them, House of Hockey also became the House of Dreams."
The fun didn't end at the program site, either. Ella got even closer to the sport after receiving the opportunity to sit in the Scotia Skater seats to watch a Toronto Maple Leafs game last season. During the intermission, she was invited onto the ice to participate in a shooting contest for prizes, but could only choose one lucky parent to accompany her.
“Ella chose Eddy to go on the ice, so I can't say I wasn't disappointed, but Eddy loves hockey so much it was worth it," said Ella's mom. "What is important is that we were both there and it is so cool to have pictures from the ice and from the stands.”
Ella and her fellow Home Ice Hockey participants also received a special visit from a few Maple Leafs Alumni, who took photos, signed autographs, and chatted hockey with the youth.
"Ella danced the entire way to the car and kept repeating, "Thank you!" Thank you to everyone - her dad, me, Hockey in the Neighbourhood, Vince & Arlene. She said her night was amazing. She was so grateful and appreciative."
This year, Home Ice Hockey is taking another step to provide girls with more comfortable spaces to learn the sport of hockey. The program is offering six girls-only sessions at six different locations across the city. Two of these sites will be dedicated exclusively to girls-only programming all season long. By removing barriers and providing access to opportunity, we can help all youth get into the game.
MORE STORIES
As one of the most popular sports in Canada, hockey builds communities, shapes identities, and is a fabric of our society. It has the power to unite us, to build traditions, to be a vehicle for growth. Space, money, access; we understand the barriers to youth hockey in Toronto. We also understand the opportunity. We launched Home Ice Hockey with a mandate to get more youth in the sport and to help Change the Game for the next generation.
Home Ice Hockey brings non-competitive organized hockey to youth facing barriers at no cost. In partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Securian Canada and the City of Toronto, Home Ice Hockey activates 12 community sites, including two girls-only locations. The eight-week program provides protective equipment and on-ice instruction to 350 young hockey enthusiasts every year.
One of these enthusiasts, Ella, has been attending the program since its inception in 2017 at Sir Adam Beck Rink, one of the girls-only sites.
“I’ve really grown to love hockey and the coaches in the program are really nice and supportive,” said Ella. “They always try to get you involved. They try and make sure everyone gets the puck and can use their skills to improve.”
They try and make sure everyone gets the puck and can use their skills to improve.”
Girls are underrepresented in the sport of hockey and 30% of girls and young women across Ontario reported being less interested in playing sports now compared to before the pandemic, according to the Change the Game Research Study. That’s why Home Ice Hockey is moving the needle on getting more girls active by ensuring they have spaces that are dedicated to them.
“This is a neighbourhood rink, and this program draws youth just from this neighbourhood, so a lot of the girls know each other. They’re very comfortable with this rink,” said Arlene, City of Toronto Coach at Sir Adam Beck Rink in Etobicoke.
“The girls-only site is fantastic,” said Ella’s mother. “With Ella, I’ve noticed in school, the boys will always take the shot and the girls will pass to try and work together. I think the program is a little safer, they can be more open and free, more themselves and can take the lead.”
Ella, who was nervous every day about getting on the ice in her first year, became enamoured with the game and continues to flourish in the program despite her older sister, Jumy, not returning last season.
"She (Jumy) was more competitive with me … she doesn’t try and take the puck from anyone else, but she loves trying to take it from me," said Ella. "But it's till fun. I love the skating. It feels so amazing when you block a shot or score a goal. We do a drill where we have to make a pass across the ice, and when you get it, it feels pretty awesome."
“The girls-only site is fantastic ... they can be more open and free, more themselves and can take the lead.”
The fun didn't end at the program site, either. Ella got even closer to the sport after receiving the opportunity to sit in the Scotia Skater seats to watch a Toronto Maple Leafs game last season. During the intermission, she was invited onto the ice to participate in a shooting contest for prizes, but could only choose one lucky parent to accompany her.
“Ella chose Eddy to go on the ice, so I can't say I wasn't disappointed, but Eddy loves hockey so much it was worth it," said Ella's mom. "What is important is that we were both there and it is so cool to have pictures from the ice and from the stands.”
Ella and her fellow Home Ice Hockey participants also received a special visit from a few Maple Leafs Alumni, who took photos, signed autographs, and chatted hockey with the youth.
"Ella danced the entire way to the car and kept repeating, "Thank you!" Thank you to everyone - her dad, me, Hockey in the Neighbourhood, Vince & Arlene. She said her night was amazing. She was so grateful and appreciative."
This year, Home Ice Hockey is taking another step to provide girls with more comfortable spaces to learn the sport of hockey. The program is offering six girls-only sessions at six different locations across the city. Two of these sites will be dedicated exclusively to girls-only programming all season long. By removing barriers and providing access to opportunity, we can help all youth get into the game.
MORE STORIES
As one of the most popular sports in Canada, hockey builds communities, shapes identities, and is a fabric of our society. It has the power to unite us, to build traditions, to be a vehicle for growth. Space, money, access; we understand the barriers to youth hockey in Toronto. We also understand the opportunity. We launched Home Ice Hockey with a mandate to get more youth in the sport and to help Change the Game for the next generation.
Home Ice Hockey brings non-competitive organized hockey to youth facing barriers at no cost. In partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Securian Canada and the City of Toronto, Home Ice Hockey activates 12 community sites, including two girls-only locations. The eight-week program provides protective equipment and on-ice instruction to 350 young hockey enthusiasts every year.
One of these enthusiasts, Ella, has been attending the program since its inception in 2017 at Sir Adam Beck Rink, one of the girls-only sites.
“I’ve really grown to love hockey and the coaches in the program are really nice and supportive,” said Ella. “They always try to get you involved. They try and make sure everyone gets the puck and can use their skills to improve.”
Ella
Girls are underrepresented in the sport of hockey and 30% of girls and young women across Ontario reported being less interested in playing sports now compared to before the pandemic, according to the Change the Game Research Study. That’s why Home Ice Hockey is moving the needle on getting more girls active by ensuring they have spaces that are dedicated to them.
“This is a neighbourhood rink, and this program draws youth just from this neighbourhood, so a lot of the girls know each other. They’re very comfortable with this rink,” said Arlene, City of Toronto Coach at Sir Adam Beck Rink in Etobicoke.
“The girls-only site is fantastic,” said Ella’s mother. “With Ella, I’ve noticed in school, the boys will always take the shot and the girls will pass to try and work together. I think the program is a little safer, they can be more open and free, more themselves and can take the lead.”
Ella, who was nervous every day about getting on the ice in her first year, became enamoured with the game and continues to flourish in the program despite her older sister, Jumy, not returning last season.
"She (Jumy) was more competitive with me … she doesn’t try and take the puck from anyone else, but she loves trying to take it from me," said Ella. "But it's till fun. I love the skating. It feels so amazing when you block a shot or score a goal. We do a drill where we have to make a pass across the ice, and when you get it, it feels pretty awesome."
Ella's mother
The fun didn't end at the program site, either. Ella got even closer to the sport after receiving the opportunity to sit in the Scotia Skater seats to watch a Toronto Maple Leafs game last season. During the intermission, she was invited onto the ice to participate in a shooting contest for prizes, but could only choose one lucky parent to accompany her.
“Ella chose Eddy to go on the ice, so I can't say I wasn't disappointed, but Eddy loves hockey so much it was worth it," said Ella's mom. "What is important is that we were both there and it is so cool to have pictures from the ice and from the stands.”
Ella and her fellow Home Ice Hockey participants also received a special visit from a few Maple Leafs Alumni, who took photos, signed autographs, and chatted hockey with the youth.
"Ella danced the entire way to the car and kept repeating, "Thank you!" Thank you to everyone - her dad, me, Hockey in the Neighbourhood, Vince & Arlene. She said her night was amazing. She was so grateful and appreciative."
This year, Home Ice Hockey is taking another step to provide girls with more comfortable spaces to learn the sport of hockey. The program is offering six girls-only sessions at six different locations across the city. Two of these sites will be dedicated exclusively to girls-only programming all season long. By removing barriers and providing access to opportunity, we can help all youth get into the game.
