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Helping kids play Darrell Greer Northern News Services Published Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association (RIMHA) president Ken Beardsall said this was the second year the Ottawa team donated gear. He said the team was known as the Novice Blazers when it sent equipment in 2010, but is now the Ottawa Centre Atom B Warriors. "My good buddy, Geoff (Red) Tomlinson, and his brother-in-law, Jeff Pouw, are based in Ottawa, and they did a big equipment drive for Rankin this past year," said Beardsall. "They collected even higher-quality gear this year and Canadian North was nice enough to fly it in for us." The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees female hockey team sent kit bags along with the donated gear. Beardsall said all the gear donated in 2010 was used by local kids. He said a number of RIMHA members were present when the equipment was being dispersed to help parents select the proper gear and sizes. "The only stuff that doesn't get used are the old jerseys, so we asked them not to send any this year. "We'll probably use the same system to distribute the gear when hockey is ready to go again this year. "Last year, we put a bit of a priority on the girls because female hockey seemed to have the biggest need. "I'm not sure if we'll take that same approach this year, but I'm confident most of the gear will be used." Beardsall said he's heard quite a few girls still need equipment in Rankin, and the Gee-Gees were excited to learn RIMHA is trying to reinvigorate female hockey. "The Ottawa team also bought a bunch of new sticks to send to us and we really appreciated that. "Another lady couldn't sell her son's goalie gear, which is in great shape, so she sent it to us. "Now we have a set that belongs to minor hockey, and the kids can share it as the need arises so the teams will always have at least one goalie on the ice. "We don't expect to have any gear left, but, if we do, we'll look at sending it to a Kivalliq community that could really use it."
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