The City of Lloydminster has received the cheque from the Lloydminster Minor Hockey U13 Blazers Girls Hockey Team that won the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup in 2022.
The team which was also named the Alberta Team of the Year in 2022, donated $90,000 for inclusion facilities at the Cenovus Energy Hub which is being built on the city’s east side just south of the Gold Horse Casino.
Councillor David Lopez expressed high praise for the team’s efforts.
“These girls. This is what you do as a coach to bring the next leaders of the community around. You have to give the coach, parents, and the girls credit. They did above and beyond than any other team in Canada,” said Lopez.
Some of the features to be added to the new arena include barrier-free accommodation for wheelchairs, telescopic railings for standing and wheelchair viewing, barrier-free shower stalls in the dressing rooms, specialized rink boards for para-hockey players to access the ice, and accommodations for sledge hockey.
Lerisa Mack who was one of the players who worked on the project said it means a lot to bring inclusive facilities to the hockey rink.
“We worked very hard to get that. It’s nice to know that more people can be included in the sport that we all like,” said Mack.
The team which became the first female team to win the Good Deeds Cup also donated $10,000 to Inclusion Lloydminster who helped them with the grant process.
“It’s not only about the dollar amount that comes into our community and helps the Cenovus Energy Hub to be accessible and inclusive – to me and our organization, the bigger picture around creating an inclusive and accessible community where everybody feels a sense of belonging,” said Stacey Andrews, senior advocate with Inclusion Lloydminster.
The Lloydminster team also won the 2023 Alberta Recreation and Parks Association Inclusion Award.
The cheque was presented at City Hall on Monday, July 8, 2024.
