Two Clippers Novice teams recently got a taste of the big leagues, when on Sunday, November 3 the Clippers Novice B and C Blue teams faced off against each other under the bright lights of Bell MTS Place in downtown Winnipeg, as part of the Manitoba Hydro Big Ice Challenge.
The teams include players from both Niverville and Ste. Agathe.
“It was a hard-fought battle for both teams, with goals on both sides,” says Ashley Chamberlain of Clipper Ice Sports, adding that the game was officiated by the Atom A team’s own Ethan King and Carter Fast. “Both boys did a great job. All around, everyone had a great day!”
Chamberlain says that the opportunity for teams to participate in the Big Ice Challenge is open to minor hockey teams through the True North organization on a lottery basis.
“Novice B was offered the opportunity and invited C Blue to join as opponents for the game,” she says.
Coach Darrell Couzens of Novice B says the biggest perk for the kids was hearing their names announced when they came out onto the ice and when they scored.
“It was just like they’ve seen when their hockey heroes score,” says Couzens. “That was awesome for them… I think all of the players, parents, and officials took away memories that they won’t forget any time soon.”
Couzens points out that the players were also excited to take in the Moose game beforehand.
“That was also a great opportunity for the kids, and parents, to hang out together,” he says. “The kids thought it was pretty cool that they ended up on the jumbotron a couple of times, too.”
As a parent of one of the players, Chamberlain adds that her eight-year-old son Isaac was really excited to sit on the Jets bench and play on their ice.
“He scored a hat trick during the game, which for him felt amazing,” she says. “He attends some of the Jets and Moose games throughout the season and so hearing his goals announced the same way that his hockey idols’ goals are announced was exhilarating.”
Couzens is thankful for the opportunity provided by the True North organization.
“Having True North provide this and other opportunities to our minor hockey kids is just another way they give back to the minor hockey community,” he says. “These kids look up to those players and many of them dream of playing professionally on that ice one day themselves. To have them have this experience at this age is something that I am really grateful we were offered.”