A season-kickoff "hockeyball" tournament brought Canucks ambassador Kirk McLean and mascot Fin to Surrey on March 10.
Close to 130 students from seven North Surrey-area elementary schools played games at Fraser Heights Recreation Centre.
The Junior Canucks Floor Hockey Program is championed as a low-cost way to introduce kids to hockey.
"It's fantastic," raved McLean, former star goaltender. "This is a great way for a lot of these kids to try hockey, kids that may not be able to experience hockey on the ice, for whatever reasons, and grow the game.
"I know that a lot of kids can't get out on the ice or can't afford to play hockey," he added, "but they're hockey fans, they love hockey, and this gives them a chance to play the game like this, this type of hockey."
Two small arenas, both with knee-high plastic boards branded with Canucks and other logos, were set up in the rec centre's gym for a day of games involving students from Westerman, Strawberry Hill, David Brankin, Prince Charles, Cedar Hills, A.H.P Matthew and James Ardiel schools.
"There's many types of hockey," noted Greg Beaudin, president of Cloverdale-based World Hockey Alliance, operators of hockeyball. "Here we're dealing with the safest, the most inclusive, most accessible and the most affordable type."
"We can build these arenas on any dry-floor surface, any tennis court, pickleball court, you know, anything that's a smooth floor, and it works indoors and outdoors," Beaudin continued.
"We're here making sure there are best practices, proper equipment, proper rules, because there is a learning curve to get players in tune with no stick-checking," he added. "It's more about skill and speed and flow and good hockey, versus, you know, aggressive play, checking, body-checking."
An after-school hockey program sponsored by the Canucks was launched at six Surrey schools in November 2023, in partnership with Surrey Schools and Canucks for Kids.
At the rec centre in Fraser Heights, McLean signed autographs and talked about his role as a Canucks ambassador and alumni member.
"We play (hockey) at North Surrey (Sport & Ice Complex)," he said, "with one or two weeks left before it shuts down for the year, but we have the alumni game at South Surrey Arena coming up (on Saturday, March 22). That will be fun with Scotty Gomez's team there."
Having McLean and Fin visit the kids "brought an incredible energy to the event" on March 10, according to James Speidel, assistant manager of Community Schools Partnership for Surrey Schools.
"Events like this are all about celebrating the sport and the positive impact these programs have on our students," Speidel said. "Thanks to amazing partners like The Canucks for Kids Foundation and Hockeyball, we’re able to help kids build their skills, stay active and get opportunities they might not have had otherwise."
