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JERSEYS DONATED TO NORTHERN REMOTE TOWN
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Christmas came a little early this year for a number of aboriginal hockey teams in northern Saskatchewan with an RCMP officer from Charlottetown and three P.E.I. minor hockey associations teaming up to play Santa Claus.
The North River, North Star and Kensington minor hockey associations recently donated 15 boxes of hockey jerseys to Patuanak, Sask., where local RCMP officers delivered them to community teams.
The idea came about this year when Const. Gregg Garrett, a Charlottetown resident now assigned to Patuanak, discussed the idea with Mike Hammill, president of the North River association. Midland Transport Group also contributed to the project as they transported the jerseys to Saskatchewan free of charge.
Bill McGuigan, head coach of the Charlottetown junior A Abbies hockey club, wasn't surprised to hear of Garrett's initiative. Garrett was an assistant coach with the Abbies over two years ago. "He's a great guy and did lots of work for the Abbies organization," McGuigan said. "He was a pleasure to have around."
The sweater project also drew appreciation from RCMP officials on P.E.I. "The RCMP would like to recognize the positive efforts of members of the North River, Kensington and North Star minor hockey associations who donated 15 boxes of hockey jerseys to minor hockey teams in northern Saskatchewan," said Sgt. Denis Morin of L Division Media Relations and Community Policing.
He also singled out the efforts of RCMP officers in Patuanak. Morin said these minor hockey jerseys, which were not in use anymore, were received on Oct. 29 in Patuanak and were distributed to the local communities by RCMP officers Const. Tyson Drabinasty, Cpl. Thom Grant, Const. Matt Strader, Const. Mark Svaren and Garrett. "RCMP members of Patuanak detachment like Const. Garrett are actively involved in their community, coaching minor hockey and men's senior teams.
This idea to help remote communities originated between Const. Garrett and Mike Hammill, president of the North River association," said Morin.
In an interview with The Guardian, Garrett said the reserve has some 800 residents and they got three sets of sweaters. Nearby reserves also received some sweaters and they had to be delivered to plane.
"These jerseys will benefit local minor hockey teams in the community of Patuanak and other surrounding communities. These donations were made possible by the generous help of Midland Transport Group under the direction of Andrew McDonald, who donated transport cost," said Garrett.
"We're pretty happy with the way things turned out. The teams all enjoyed the sweaters. Not every team here had matching jerseys and they appreciated getting them," said Garrett.
Garrett grew up playing in the Sherwood/Parkdale minor hockey association and coached there for several years. He later assisted with the Charlottetown Abbies just over two years ago, before he joined the RCMP. "Billy McGuigan was a great mentor for me," said Garrett. "He really showed me the ropes."
He noted that of three other coaches he worked with in Sherwood, two have also joined the RCMP as Steve MacPhee is stationed in Windsor, N.S., and Philip Skeffington is working in northern Manitoba. They all joined the national police force within several months of each other and all are working at their first postings. Garrett said this is his second year in Patuanak and he may be transferred elsewhere next September.
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IMPORTANT DATES
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