For some it would be a dream to play hockey with Canucks legend Kirk McLean, for others its a dream to play hockey at all. Now for 54 Greater Victoria kids, that dream is a reality. 

Hockey 4 Youth (H4Y) started in 2015 with a mission to foster social inclusion for newcomer and marginalized youth. The program provides kids with access to equipment, coaching, and a chance to play a sport they might not have otherwise been able to try.

B次元官网网址淢y formative years were spent playing road hockey after school. I got my first set of equipment from a neighbour, Mrs. Brown, who still lives across the street from my mom,B次元官网网址� said Moezine (Moe) Hasham, the executive director and founder of Hockey 4 Youth, and a second-generation immigrant whose family came to Canada in 1972.

B次元官网网址淚t gave me that feeling of being connected to the kids in the community.B次元官网网址�

According to Hasham, 71 per cent of Canadian newcomers want to play hockey but only one per cent will get to, H4Y was founded as a way to get those newcomers off the sidelines. 

Hasham played hockey through university and eventually founded H4Y with his brother, Nazim Hasham. Now, theyB次元官网网址檝e partnered with the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks for Kids, the Greater Victoria and Sooke school districts, Westshore Parks and Recreation, and the Westshore RCMP to provide free hockey for kids who want to play.

B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 really important is that these kids are not only showing up with smiles on their faces, but when we ask them for feedback, itB次元官网网址檚 so positive. And thatB次元官网网址檚 really special,B次元官网网址� said Hasham.

On March 12, 54 students from schools across Greater Victoria involved in H4Y, gathered at Juan de Fuca Arena to take part in their final practice of the season. Before taking the ice, the students gathered to receive a medal from McLean and Hasham in honour of the work they put in this year. 

The diverse group included kids from Canada, Mexico, Iran and Peru, among other countries.

They were joined by McLean, best known for backstopping the team through most of the B次元官网网址�90s and taking them to the Stanley Cup finals. Now an ambassador for the Canucks, McLean helps grow the game. Fin, the teamB次元官网网址檚 lovable B次元官网网址� but mischievous B次元官网网址� mascot, was also in attendance.

B次元官网网址淪eeing a girl from Iran out there, or a boy from Peru, kids from Mexico and African nations B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 so cool,B次元官网网址� McLean said of hockeyB次元官网网址檚 growing diversity.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not going to be too long before there are showcase games down in Mexico. Seeing a young fellow [here] from Peru is pretty cool.B次元官网网址�

For McLean, programs like H4Y are essential.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a no-brainer for us to support this, because thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e all about B次元官网网址� growing the game, especially at the grassroots level,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭he game is so pricey now. Once upon a time, it was a blue-collar sport. Now, you need money to play it, and a lot of new Canadian communities or underprivileged kids who canB次元官网网址檛 afford it arenB次元官网网址檛 getting the chance to play. And they want to play.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a chance many of the kids involved are thankful for.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a great opportunity for me. I played ball hockey for most of my life, but I was never able to get into hockey due to the cost and whatnot,B次元官网网址� said Logan Schulte, a West Shore Secondary student.

B次元官网网址淭his has been a great opportunity for me to step into the world of ice hockey. ItB次元官网网址檚 really opened the doors for me.B次元官网网址�

Schulte said itB次元官网网址檚 been the simple things that have made some of the best memories for him at H4Y.

B次元官网网址淛ust stepping on the ice again B次元官网网址� I did some power skating when I was younger, but since then, I havenB次元官网网址檛 been on skates. I forgot how much I liked it. IB次元官网网址檓 just super grateful for it.B次元官网网址�

In ranking his own hockey achievements B次元官网网址� which include all-star teams and Stanley Cup appearances B次元官网网址� McLean said getting involved with programs like H4Y is B次元官网网址渄efinitely up there.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 just love seeing the smiles on their faces. Some of them have never seen ice before,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淲atching the fun and joy of holding a stick and skating on a quarter-inch blade B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool. ItB次元官网网址檚 Canadian.B次元官网网址�