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NHLPA goal is nuturing game’s grassroots in Canada:
Players join Allstate Insurance to create program to reach youngsters

Adam Bowen, For the Calgary Herald, April 12, 2012

In 2010, the National Hockey League Players’ Association partnered up with Allstate Insurance Company of Canada to create the Allstate All-Canadians program, a platform for NHL players, past and present, to give back the game of hockey and help foster grassroots hockey in Canada.

Thanks to the success of the initial camp, the All-Canadians program is back and has included Calgary as one of the locations to hold a regional mentorship camp on April 21.

“We wanted to spread the program out as much as we could geographically and Calgary is sort of a central point for southern Alberta,” said NHLPA Director of Corporate Partnerships Colin Campbell. “Hopefully, we’ll have kids go onto the All-Canadians website to register for their opportunity to win a chance to attend the camp.”

“In a perfect world we’d love to do these camps in every city, there’s three more this year and hopefully we’re going to have some success with those and then we’ll continue to grow and expand.”

In its first year, the program was open to 42 of the best bantam-aged players from throughout the country, but the All-Canadians program has expanded its scope to include boys and girls of any skill level, which will give even more children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive some of the best instruction from NHLPA members and experts of the game.

“These one-day camps will be very productive for kids at every skill level to get something back from our NHL players.”

Campbell hopes the program will help foster balance within the lives of the kids who grow up playing hockey in Canada.

“The name of the program itself, ‘All-Canadians’ encapsulates the program in general, what we’re trying to do is to provide some mentorship to how players can become All-Canadians on, and off the ice,” said Campbell.

The response from members of the NHLPA looking to volunteer their time has been overwhelming; with players attending camps as well as shooting personal videos with hockey related tips that are placed on the All-Canadian program’s website, allcanadians.com.

“Once our players went to the website themselves they got a clearer idea of what it was that we were asking them to do and have been quicker to volunteer their time to shoot their own videos and explain what helped them as an up-and-coming hockey player,” said Campbell. “The digital side is really the most accessible way for kids to engage, anyone can go online and access the information on the website, but it is the opportunity to attend the camp in person is quite a special opportunity.”

Former NHL defenceman and Stanley Cup Champion Mathieu Schneider is one of a host of NHLPA members who will be attending the various camps throughout the country, and believes it is important for professional players to be good ambassadors of the game of hockey, and foster the development and the love for the game within younger generations.

“A program like this gives an opportunity to young kids to hear what the current players have to say, some of the stories of how they made it and what it takes to get there,” said Schneider, who also is also involved with the NHLPA as a special assistant. “We have such a diverse cross-section and so many different messages that this program gives us that vehicle necessary to get the right messages out to the kids.”

The unique insights and information NHL players can provide is an invaluable resource, one which Schneider believes should be shared with those dedicated to the sport of hockey.

“The players are the keepers of the game. The game has evolved and changed so much over the years, but it’s such a unique perspective, there’s so much experience and so much knowledge in each NHL player that you really kind find anywhere else. There is such a small percentage of people that make it, and because of that I think we can be a voice of reason, to players and to the parents.”

Kids of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to sign up for their chance to attend one of the camps, and can do so by visiting http://www.allcanadians.com.

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."