Cyclones female hockey program recipient of Kruger Big Assist grant
By Lethbridge Herald on March 18, 2022.
By Justin Seward
Lethbridge Herald
The Lethbridge Cyclones female hockey program was one of 15 recipients for a $10,000 Kruger Big
Assist grant recently.
Kruger is Canada’s leading paper manufacturer of Cashmere, Purex,
Scotties and SpongeTowels, and donated $150,000 to keep kids on the ice
to play the game they love and by doing so helping 15 minor hockey
associations across the country.
“We had a parent from our Cyclones program just mention it to us and
then our management group just kind of looked a little more into it and
just following social media of past winners,” said Chris Fantazir,
director of the female hockey program under the Lethbridge Minor Hockey
Association.
“We were notified a while ago that we were a recipient of this First
Assist, which is amazing, and then we’re in the running for the Second
Assist (a $50,000 grant) as well—which is a fairly large grant — so
it would be nice to win and be great for our association and the focus
on female hockey.”
Fantazir said the application was based on expanding female hockey in
Lethbridge.
“That was the application basis is building the female hockey and
getting rid of some of those barriers and making it more accessible to
those that don’t know female hockey and haven’t got involved in
playing female hockey,” he said.
Part of the funds will go more into more of awareness and getting more
girls involved, says Fantazir.
Funds will also go into registration fees.
“It’s a little more difficult for finding funding for female
hockey,” said Fantazir.
“There’s been a lot more awareness over last few years. But it’s
still tougher to get the support for the female hockey and to be
recognized and having the opportunity to build and help grow the game
that we all love.”
“All sports, particularly hockey in Canada, play an integral role in
the development of children both physically and mentally, and we are
proud to assist current and potential hockey families across the country
participate in the game we love,” says Susan Irving, CMO
Kruger Products and a hockey mom of two.
The criteria were based on reaching those in the community in need of
financial assistance, inspiring youth to fall in love with the sport,
supporting youth to achieve their dreams through sport and encouraging
diversity and inclusion in the community through hockey initiatives.
The selected associations were:
* Avalon Minor Hockey Association – St. John’s, Newfoundland
* Cape Breton Blizzard Female Hockey Association – Cape Breton, Nova
Scotia
* South Shore Lumberjacks Minor Hockey Association – Southern Shore
Counties, Nova Scotia
* NDG Minor Hockey Association – Montreal, Québec
* Association de Hockey mineur de Saguenay – Saguenay, Québec
* Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario – Ottawa, Ontario
* Gloucester Centre Minor Hockey Association – Ottawa, Ontario
* Canadian Blind Hockey Association – National
* Weston Minor Hockey Association – Toronto, Ontario
* Thompson Minor Hockey Association – Thompson, Manitoba
* Drake Minor Hockey Association – Drake, Saskatchewan
* Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association – Lethbridge, Alberta
* Creston Valley Minor Hockey Association – Creston, British Columbia
* Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association – Yellowknife, Northwest
Territories
* Fort Smith Minor Hockey Association – Fort Smith, Northwest
Territories
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Great work, Chris! What you’ve done with the Cyclones program in Lethbridge is amazing. Our girls have all benefited from what you’ve done on and off the ice!