One of the biggest influences for children getting into sports is their parents, especially their dads.
That fact came to the fore at last weekend’s second annual Camana Bay street hockey tournament. Hundreds of youth hockey players stormed the Arts and Recreation Centre for the fundraiser, put on by the Cayman Islands Youth Roller Hockey Club.
Among the competing kids was Alex Agemian, 12. The West Bay Road resident is no stranger to hockey having played for a number of years. The Cayman Prep student states his dad propelled him into hockey.
“I’ve been playing for six years and it is one of my favourite sports,” Agemian said. “My dad encourages me, he got me into the sport. The ball is the biggest difference between street and roller hockey. It’s harder than using a normal puck.”
Alex’s dad is Canadian Patrick Agemian. The native of Montreal, Quebec has been in Cayman nearly 20 years and is in the financial services industry. Patrick grew up playing hockey in Canada and Massachusetts (where he went to school) and currently plays local roller hockey. He stated in passing that street hockey harkens back to childhood.
“This is great, the kids had a lot of fun,” Agemian said. “This takes me back to childhood though it was a lot different playing in 10 degree Celsius weather rather than in 30 degrees Celsius like what we have here.
“A lot of us grew up in northern climates playing street hockey in the winter. We’d play in the middle of the street, if a car came someone would say ‘car.’ Then we’d move the goals out of the way until the car passed and then go back to playing. We’d be out there for hours with our sticks and a puck.”
The tournament saw action across several age groups for kids aged 4-15. Participants played under the watchful eyes of hockey club members and local adult players in four individual rinks, sponsored by BritCay, Camana Bay, Dart Foundation and Ernst and Young.
One example of that is with Noah Booker and Ethan Finlason. The nine year-olds played while Ethan’s dad and noted local goalie Andrew Finlason served as referee. Both youngsters, who have played in the Atom (10 and Under) division of the Logic Youth Roller Hockey League at Kings Sports Centre, enjoyed the street venue.
“I go to Montessori (By The Sea) and this is the first time doing street,” Booker said. “It went pretty good, it was fun. I like hockey a lot, in fact I love it.”
“I loved it too, it was really fun,” Ethan said. “I love playing street hockey, it’s better than roller to me.”
The Camana Bay tournament benefits local hockey and the Cayman Hospice Care and UNICEF Cayman Kids charities. Aside from the hockey, the event saw other fundraising initiatives like a silent auction with items such as a one-month CrossFit membership, a Bubba Tailgate propane grill from Home Gas and a Florida Panthers signed jersey. Those endeavours figure to raise loads of money as last year’s efforts generated over US$10,000.
Judging by the general response among the kids, more tournaments are to come in the future. Even if some youngsters like Tynan Klein, 13, found it rough. Tynan is the son of local hockey personality Norm Klein, who hails from Ontario, Canada. An Appleby partner and Cayman Airways director, Norm is one of the founding members of the Cayman Breakaway ice hockey team that has travelled to Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, Canada for the World Pond Hockey Championships.
Tynan has followed in dad’s footsteps, playing local youth roller hockey. However he says he would rather skate indoors than play outside in the sun.
“I go right here to Cayman International School and I live on West Bay Road,” Tynan said. “I just wanted to win out here. It was fun but hot as heck.”
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