Sharing a love of the game
By Mel (as dictated to fellow volunteer and CLBC Facilitator Meaghen Taylor-Reid)
Hi, my name is Mel and I live in East Vancouver. My love of hockey started at a very young age. I grew up watching hockey games with my Dad and going to hockey Halloween parties at Rogers Arena. I’ve always been hooked. I even met a few NHL players who gave me some tips.
Mel (centre) shares a passion for hockey with the players and coaches involved in the HEROS program.
I started to learn how to skate when I was about 5 years old. When I was 16, my friend at Britannia Arena asked if I was interested in joining the high school girls hockey team. I also participated in Special Olympics figure skating.
For a few years I wasn’t able to skate, but about 12 years ago I learned about the HEROS hockey program in East Vancouver at Britannia Arena. HEROS stands for Hockey Education Reaching Out Society. It’s a hockey program for kids who wouldn’t normally be able to learn how to skate and play hockey. They meet once a week and their values are: listening, respect, discipline and fun. HEROS started in Vancouver but is now all across Canada and even overseas in Ireland.
I was asked to volunteer and help in the girls’ dressing room and with scorekeeping. I would sometimes practice with them. Then, Executive Director Norm Flynn asked me if I wanted to be on the ice and brush up on my skating skills. I said “Yes!” right away. From there, I worked on my puck handling, cross-overs and rules of the game.
I got so good I was asked to be a junior coach and then a coach. I was so proud to get my first participation medal and my first coach’s track suit. They’re some of my prized possessions and mean a lot to me. I still help in the dressing room with tying skates, equipment, and taping. I chat with the girls about my favourite teams: the Canucks, Senators and Giants.
Other great memories from my time with HEROS includes: a Christmas party at Rogers Arena when we got to skate on the ice and tour the dressing rooms; going to Canucks and Giants games; attending an Olympic hockey game; skating at the Richmond Oval; and all the holiday parties. I also participate in the summer camps which are a lot of fun.
HEROS makes me feel more confident. It keeps my self-esteem up. It teaches me about learning to manage anger, how to have discipline and respect others. It helps me to get better at playing hockey. I like seeing everyone each week. I like making friends and getting to know new people. It’s fun to see the kids’ siblings join the program.
It’s also fun seeing the HEROS kids play the coaches. The other coaches are helpful teaching me about hockey as well. They talk to me about working with the kids and I can talk to them if something is bugging me. I also like to meet all the partners of HEROS like CIBC, TELUS, Vancouver Police Department, and the Western Hockey League.
I enjoy HEROS and hockey so much, I’ve started to do other hockey things again. I’ve just started volunteering for a high school group and I’m taking a skating for adults course. I’ve also rejoined figure skating with Special Olympics. HEROS helps me out a lot. It’s a caring and safe group, but best of all, it’s so much fun!
Learn more about the HEROS program online at www.heroshockey.com.
