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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

IRELAND WELCOMES HOCKEY HEROS

Abbott School principal, Brad Mamchur, was one of four people associated with the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) program who took to the ice in Ireland this past summer. The visit was organized by HEROS founder Norm Flynn and Tony Kennedy, CEO of Cooperation Ireland, a non profit group formed in 1979 to better relations between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. "Cooperation Ireland heard about the work Norm was doing with HEROS here in Canada and felt the program matched their mandate," says Mamchur.

The trip to Ireland was one year in the making and during that time, new equipment was bought and stored at Montrose School, one of the HEROS schools in Edmonton. The equipment was purchased with funds provided by TELUS, CIBC Wood Gundy's Children's Charities Fund and the National Hockey Player's Association's Goals and Dreams fund. The equipment was shipped in advance and remained in Ireland with the kids.

Kids are kids regardless of religion

The goal of Cooperation Ireland is to get to kids aged 12 and 13 before they feel the sting of the religious issues. In the end, the HEROS program really highlighted the fact that kids are kids regardless of their religious upbringings. HEROS worked well in Ireland because there were no preconceived ideas about hockey. "It's not a sport that is entrenched in their history or religious disputes like football," says Mamchur. "The kids started at exactly the same skill level since none of them had skated before."

Thirty-five boys and girls aged 12 and 13 years old participated in the week-long session. Mamchur, Flynn and two other HEROS supporters worked alongside leaders from Cooperation Ireland and six youth workers who accompanied the kids who were from Finglas in Dublin, and Short Strand and East Belfast in Belfast. The kids and adults all stayed together in the residence at Ulster Folk Museum, which allowed Mamchur and his fellow Canadians to develop relationships with the kids. "It was really beneficial since we were able to understand where the kids were coming from, especially if they had issues on the ice," says Mamchur.

Ice skates are hockey boots in Ireland

Because hockey was so foreign to the kids, the leaders used soccer terms when teaching hockey. "Hockey skates became ice boots; kids weren't forwards they were strikers," says Mamchur. To further help the kids with the game, Todd Kelman, a Canadian and the General Manager of the Belfast Giants hockey team, sent over a few Canadian players. By the end of the week, the kids were skating more confidently and Mamchur noticed they were interacting with each other more. "For the first couple of days there was no talking in the dressing rooms. At the end of the week kids were talking and helping each other with their equipment," says Mamchur.

In addition to their time on the ice, the players and leaders visited local attractions like the Belfast Zoo and did some personal development sessions. Each evening, Cooperation Ireland ran group activities for the kids to help them break down barriers.

Parents sat together in the stands

On the last day, the parents were brought to the arena so they could watch a game. Teams featured kids from both Protestant and Catholic backgrounds, and while there was still a noticeable religious tension amongst the parents, they sat next to each other to watch their children play. "Cooperation Ireland worked with the kids and parents prior to the project and there was a lot of hesitation from the parents that this wouldn't work," says Mamchur.

See you next season

The next time the participants will come together will be at Easter and Mamchur hopes to be there with them. "We weren't able to be part of the debrief that took place after our initial trip there so it will be great to go back and see the kids and hear the learning that has taken place." A new HEROS Ireland group will begin in mid-August 2009, and Mamchur is hopeful additional staff from the District will be on hand.

HEROS history

Norman Flynn began the HEROS program in 2000. He is an ex-WHL player who is committed to using hockey as a means to instill positive values and self-esteem in elementary school aged children who come from economically challenged backgrounds. The HEROS program began at Montrose, Abbott and Rundle schools in the fall of 2007. The program combines teamwork and learning the game of hockey with four HEROS behaviours, which are: listening; respect; discipline; and fun.

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