Kimberley Dynamiter fans have never had a night quite like Friday, Oct. 13. A crowd of some 700 attended the game between the Dynamiters and Grand Forks, and while they cheered and enjoyed the Dynamiter victory, the arena was buzzing from a big pre-game announcement.

Just prior to the game, it was announced the Mike Gould, born in Cranbrook and raised in Kimberley, was committing to donate $7.5 million to the Dynamiters and Kimberley Minor Hockey.

Gould grew up playing hockey in Kimberley. He lives in Kimberley, although he does spend some time in Calgary as well.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a hockey guy,B次元官网网址� he said.B次元官网网址滻 love the sport.B次元官网网址�

He was looking for a way to give back to the community he loves, and it occurred to him that with his love of hockey, it was a natural fit.

Gould wants to see the money used for a number of things B次元官网网址� to keep the Dynamiters stable and solvent for years to come; to help kids who want to play and whose families may not be able to afford it; and to keep hockey-playing kids in Kimberley.

Keeping kids in town is one of the reasons he wants some of the funds ear-marked to the new Triple A team in Kimberley. That team, just embarking on its first season, provides high level hockey and allows kids to stay at home.

There isnB次元官网网址檛 a lot of hockey here, he says, especially once you get to the upper levels like midget, and itB次元官网网址檚 incredibly expensive.

B次元官网网址淭his is an opportunity for me to publicly thank the community where I grew up, to pay it forward,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗ockey is everything to me. And I think itB次元官网网址檚 something my mother, if she was still here, would have supported. I want to help out the community that helped me out.

B次元官网网址淢y Mom loved going to games. And she always gave what she could. Any kid who came to our house was treated like one of her own.B次元官网网址�

Gould says he doesnB次元官网网址檛 want a lot of recognition for the gift.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 doing it because I can,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 want to do this because it will help out. Whether the money goes to fees, or ice time or better equipment, if it helps kids stay in hockey and stay in Kimberley, thatB次元官网网址檚 what I want.B次元官网网址�

One of the things the Dynamiter board has already discussed is perhaps using some of the funds to purchase a bus, for both Dynamiter and Minor Hockey use.

B次元官网网址淚 love the idea of buying a bus,B次元官网网址� Gould said. B次元官网网址淚 hope they get a skookum one.B次元官网网址�

Anyone who plays hockey in Kimberley has to do a lot of travelling. Gould would be more than pleased if their own bus allowed the teams to travel in comfort.

Gould says he got a little emotional at the announcement on Friday night.

B次元官网网址渋B次元官网网址檓 really happy to do it. IB次元官网网址檓 happy to carry on my MomB次元官网网址檚 legacy of helping youth. And I think if she could have been here, she would have said, B次元官网网址渢hatB次元官网网址檚 my boy.B次元官网网址�