NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN The Medicine Hat Cubs celebrate after scoring a goal against the Sylvan Lake Wranglers in a Heritage Junior Hockey League game on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 at the Kinplex.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
The Medicine Hat Cubs will have some extra motivation to score at the Kinplex this season.
The team announced Saturday its new Goals for Kids promotion, in which sponsor Home Stay Inn and Suites will contribute $10 to KidSport Medicine Hat and Redcliff for every single goal the Cubs score on home ice this season.
“We just want to give back to the community at the end of the day,” said Cubs general manager Dave Kowalchuk. “We’re going to try to keep a tally up every week, how much money, how many dollars are going to KidSport. We’re really excited about it.”
With eight goals scored at home heading into the weekend, followed by a 5-3 win over the Sylvan Lake Wranglers Saturday and an 8-0 shutout of the Ponoka Stampeders Sunday at the Kinplex, the Cubs have already drummed up $210 in support of the cause.
KidSport Medicine Hat and Redcliff chair Connelly Sherwick says every lit lamp will help ensure a child in the Gas City will be able to take part in organized sport – whether hockey, baseball, soccer or any other sport under the sun.
“We’re so grateful for the partnership and we’re excited to see how many goals the Cubs score at home this year,” said Sherwick. “It’s always so great for KidSport when, at the professional level, we’re getting those teams giving back to sport at the grassroots (level) and to help kids who can’t necessarily afford to participate in sports. This is just such a perfect fit.”
Home Stay director of sales Glen Erickson says they were looking for a way to expand on their sponsorship contributions to the team and community, and after sitting down with Kowalchuk and team president Richard Fritzler, they came up with Goals for Kids – so all kids can play.
“Our management team was excited to roll up its sleeves to try and create some additional opportunities to work with the Cubs,” Erickson said in a press release. “We all agreed KidSport Medicine Hat and Redcliff would be a terrific partner as well, and Dave was able to pull it together.”
Kowalchuk added Goals for Kids is one of the many ways the Cubs have been creating a more positive, family-friendly atmosphere – from putting a winning team on the ice to serving as role models in the community.
“The board, everyone down to our players, they see the importance of us putting a good product on the ice, and as well off the ice,” said Kowalchuk. “Our guys are going to be back in the schools reading to the kids. We want to get the families in here, understanding this is junior hockey and we have a really special program that’s been around for 46 years.”
Cubs goaltender Brett Vanderveer added the promotion will serve as a fierce motivator for the team on home ice this season as well – as every goal brings them one step closer to a championship while creating a brighter future for a child who might even be watching from the stands.
“It’s a huge motivation,” said Vanderveer. “Giving back to the community, giving back to kids less fortunate than us, it’s just super nice.”
Mason Fischer took the promotion to heart this weekend, netting a hat trick in Saturday’s win over Sylvan Lake before adding two more goals in Sunday’s landslide victory over Ponoka.
Levi Schlosser also potted a pair Sunday, while Brandon Hauck, Noah Irvine, Mackenzie Fritzler and Brayden Anderson all added individual tallies.
Dawsen Savage stopped 15 shots to lock up Sunday’s shutout victory.
Additional statistics from Saturday’s game were not available by press time.
The Cubs are now riding a three-game winning streak with a 5-2-1 record. They return to the Kinplex Saturday to host the 10-0-0 Okotoks Bisons at 7:45 p.m.
