Together: Good News Notes - Hockey Is For Everyone - by Mrs. Allen

Last Friday, March 6th, 2020, is an evening I won’t soon forget. I was fortunate to be able to attend a very special Calgary Flames game with seven of my Rundle Junior High colleagues. February marks Hockey Is For Everyone month in the NHL. According to NHL.com, this annual event “focuses on awareness and activities with organizations that celebrate all people who play or watch hockey, including fans of every race, colour, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and those with disabilities”. Hockey is For Everyone night is also why we were at the Saddledome to cheer on a very special young man in our Rundle community.

Grade 7 student Henry doesn’t see himself as disabled but prefers to think of himself as differently-abled. Henry always finds a way to contribute to athletics at school and in the community. His unending enthusiasm for all things sporting is evident as he cheers on the Rundle Cobras from the football sidelines and the volleyball and basketball benches as he keeps stats for his classmates on the court.

Last summer Henry attended an adaptive sport camp at the University of Calgary and discovered a new sporting obsession, sledge hockey. As a member of the Calgary Venom, Henry was nominated to represent adaptive sport as the Scotiabank Skater at the Flames game last Friday night. As Henry skated around the Saddledome ice with some of his heroes, trailing a Flames flag behind his sledge, his teachers cheering him on from the stands, I couldn’t help but think that - sometimes - the good guys win. 

Henry didn’t know his teachers would be in the stands. In fact, he hadn’t told any of them about his big night. When his PE teacher, Mr. Phillips, asked him what he was doing Friday night he reluctantly admitted he was “going to the hockey game with my Mum”. Henry doesn’t want special treatment and he doesn’t want to be different from the other kids and athletes. He just wants to do what he loves - play sport. 

The good news is sport (and hockey) is for everyone! 

Go Henry Go!