Main photo: Fairvern resident Elizabeth Boothby and dietary aide Sam Leslie (back right) with Huntsville Peewee Rep Otters (back from left) Walker Crawford, Reed Summers Arndt, Austin Waters, Keegan Shirtliff; (front from left) Owen Decaro, Jacob Wood, Toby Johnson, and Peter Perentesis.
The Huntsville Auto Repair and Tirecraft Peewee Rep Otters aren’t just winning on the ice—19 games so far this season—they’re winning hearts thanks to their commitment to community.
The team of 11 and 12-year-old boys have taken the time to understand and do random acts of kindness to support and give back to their local community.
The Peewee Rep head coach, Kyle Shirtliff, sat down with his bench staff, assistant coach Tyler Ralph and trainers Steve Perentesis and Nick Crowder, in the summer to discuss their upcoming season. They knew that hockey was an important sport to everyone but it wasn’t the only thing to practice.
“Although I am a demanding coach with how these boys play on the ice, it was very important that we as a bench staff were going to put a big focus on becoming better people as well as better players,” said Shirtliff. “One night while I was sitting at home watching a Toronto Maple Leafs game I saw a commercial that was for the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup which is only for Peewee teams across Canada. So I applied this team and was accepted. So not only do we continue to better our hockey skills but improve ourselves off the ice and supporting the community.”
The team wanted to make others feel important this holiday season so the boys decorated Christmas ornaments for the residents of Fairvern Nursing Home.
At their Peewee gives back night on Thursday, December 20, the entire team gathered to bring some Christmas cheer to the home by handing out Christmas ornaments and helping to serve a special meal while mingling with the residents to discuss game play and expectations for the season. Lots of smiles and laughter were seen and heard throughout the evening.
The Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup recognizes a Peewee team that goes above and beyond their ice play and our Huntsville Peewee Rep Otters are doing just that. If they win, the team will receive a $15,000 donation to a charity of their choice, but even if they don’t they’ve already won in the eyes of their community.
All of the team members were happy to give back and the overall response by both players and residents was that they loved it. The residents were thrilled to welcome the boys and thanked them throughout the evening.
Hunter Crawford #12 said, “I am not doing this just for myself, I am doing this for everyone in the community.”
Damon Buttus #19 shared that making someone’s day means a whole lot to him.
The team will be visiting the residents again in the new year once they know their schedule in January and February.
In addition to the Fairvern experience, the team has been collecting non-perishable food items at their home games, with the visiting teams also bringing donations. They collected 800 pounds of food for The Table food bank, which they delivered on Monday, December 17.
The team’s on ice accomplishments this season include: West Ferris Tournament A Champions, Tillsonburg Tournament semi-finalists, and the South Muskoka Tournament semi-finalists.
Off the ice, they have conducted a food drive for The Table food bank, helped serve up some Christmas cheer for the residents of Fairvern Nursing Home, and learned about social media and cyber bullying from a local OPP officer.
Still to come this season, the team has a tournament in Niagara Falls from December 28-30, and a local student athlete will be coming to speak with the players and parents about how to juggle school and sport along with all their other everyday stuff.
“These boys are truly great young adults and it is a pleasure to be their coach, and I know I speak for all the coaches,” said Shirtliff.
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Sharon Stahls says
I am so proud to live in a community where sports teams promote good character. Hats off to everyone involved in putting smiles on residents of Fairvern. It truly does take a community to raise a child. Well Done!??
Retired Proud Principal
Sharon Stahls
Sher McGrath says
Well done coaches and team. We’re all proud of your commitment to your sport and your community. Bill and Sher McGrath