The Outdoor Hockey League (OHL) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. From its humble beginnings in a Regina classroom to a league which is now spread across Saskatchewan, the OHL allows all youth the opportunity to play hockey by removing the financial barriers. Over the next several weeks we will be highlighting stories from volunteers, former players, and the media over the past 20 years. Please tune in weekly for a little piece of hockey history.
Each year, Regina inner-city youth line up to receive hockey equipment and skates to take part in the Outdoor hockey League (OHL). Providing the equipment is an expensive undertaking and it is only made possible through the generous donation of new and used hockey gear from organizations and individuals. One organization in Regina has been donating to the league for 20 years.
The four optimists clubs in Regina (Optimist Club of Regina, High Noon Optimist Club of Regina, Downtown Optimist Club of Regina, and Sundown Optimist Club of Regina) donate over 400 hockey sticks every year to inner city youth. The program is called Optimist Sticks for Kids.
The High Noon club was the first to get involved with the OHL during its first season.
“We supported the OHL from the word go. We just started off sponsoring one team,” commented High Noon Optimist member Ray Duck.
“Since then it’s progressed to the point where we were needed to buy a lot more sticks but our club wasn’t in a financial position to do it so we approached the other clubs to come aboard.”
Canadian Optimists are dynamic, motivated volunteers who strive to improve, to participate in, to influence and to contribute to the healthy development of young people and know how to put their individual skills to good use in response to the needs of their communities.
“The OHL fits in with our motto of ‘friend of youth’. Working with kids in various aspects is our objective,” added Ray. “We think the league is good for kids who can’t afford to play in the Regina hockey league with the high registration and equipment costs.”
Each year the clubs spend approximately $5,000 on sticks. Last year there was a shortage of wooden sticks so instead they purchased some wooden sticks and some composite sticks with a shaft and replaceable blade. The sticks, which are more expensive to purchase, will save money down the road when the clubs will only need to replace the blades instead of the whole stick.
At the end of the season the kids return their equipment but get to keep their sticks for warmer hockey activities like shinny.
The clubs raise the funds for OHL and other Regina community projects though a series of fundraisers including beer sales at Rider games, raffles, shopping spree lotteries, golf tournaments and charity dinners.
We are now accepting registrations for the 2012-2013 season. Click here
2012-13 Regina OHL locations, dates, and times: Click here
