Hockey in the Cayman Islands is aiming to promote itself in new ways. The latest is a fresh take on a Canadian tradition.
Club House sports bar, at Treasure Island on West Bay Road, will stage Hockey Day in Cayman. The inaugural event takes place this Saturday, 11 February, from 2pm to 11pm.
Serving as chief organizer is Julie Hughes, a major volunteer for the Logic Youth Roller Hockey League (Cayman’s national junior hockey competition). She states Saturday is about highlighting the sport here.
“This is a highly anticipated day for hockey fans, especially those from Canada, as this is the day where all Canadian teams play each other,” Hughes said. “We plan to have activities such as Hockey Bingo, a raffle, hockey pick’em, skills competition, 50/50 draw, a card trading table for the kids and more.”
As Hughes mentions, Saturday’s festivities are a spin-off of Hockey Day in Canada, an annual Spring celebration that takes place over a number of days. All seven of the National Hockey League’s Canadian teams are in action in the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets.
Small communities across Canada play the sport on a large scale and there are special events like all-night pick-up hockey games. This year’s spectacle takes place 8-11 February with the grand finale, showcasing all of the pro Canadian teams on the ice, happening this Saturday from 2pm.
Aside from a celebration of hockey, the Club House event is a fundraiser for the Cayman Islands Kings travel team. Made up of national junior hockey players, the C.I. Kings have grown to represent almost six complete teams and intends to represent Cayman in three events this year, including one on home soil. Last year, the side earned gold and silver medals at the Sunshine State Games in Fort Myers, Florida (which is backed by the Florida Sports Foundation and the East Coast Hockey Organization).
In anticipation of the tournaments, the side began training last month using beach fitness sessions and power skating routines. C.I. Kings Team Manager Nicole Hastings states enthusiasm for the squad is at an all-time high.
“It’s really great to see that so many kids have joined the programme – from 12 kids last season to over 40 this season,” Hastings said. “It is fantastic to help grow the programme, seeing how many kids are excited about hockey and are willing to get up at crazy times in order to practice.
“We have a great group of kids and parents and we are really excited about our first trip to the US. Personally, I can’t wait to see the kids’ hard work pay off when they score their first goals in the US tournaments – it’s so exciting when you see a kid’s arms go up in celebration the moment they realize they scored.”
News of Hockey Day in Cayman comes after the second annual street hockey tournament at Camana Bay last month. Widely regarded as a success, that competition attracted dozens of youngsters and raised thousands of dollars for the Cayman Hospice Care and UNICEF Cayman Kids charities.
To get involved in Saturday’s event, contact Julie Hughes at [email protected].
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