REGINA - SaskEnergy is teaming up with KidSport Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) to help more kids participate in sport.
Under the Goals for KidSport program, SaskEnergy will donate $20 to KidSport for every home goal scored by an SJHL team during the league’s 2022-23 regular season—up to 1,000 goals or $20,000. KidSport will use the funding in its mission to provide grants to help cover the costs of enrollment so that all kids aged 5-18 years in Saskatchewan can play a season of sport.
“We’re thrilled to join with the SJHL and KidSport Saskatchewan to bring back ‘Goals for KidSport’ for its ninth season,” SaskEnergy’s Community Engagement Supervisor Allix Schweitzer said. “Enrolling young people in sport for can be expensive for them and their families, and this program helps reduce those financial obstacles.”
During its first eight seasons, Goals for KidSport raised nearly $210,000 to help more Saskatchewan youth participate in sport across the province.
“The SJHL is honoured to continue this partnership and bring back the Goals for KidSport program,” SJHL Director of Marketing and Partnerships Jacob Faith said. “Partnerships like this that give back to the community while engaging with on-ice play are the types of relationships that are valuable beyond measure for our league. We’re all looking forward to the race for the KidSport Cup this season!”
“This amazing partnership is such a good alignment between SJHL teams in our communities and our KidSport chapters,” KidSport Provincial Coordinator Tammy Hoffart said. “We know the kids in these communities dream of being on the ice for their team where their role models skate out to play. We love that we can provide the opportunity, through this initiative, for more kids to get on the ice to work toward their dreams.”
This year’s Goals for KidSport program features 11 SJHL Game Nights that will include intermission activities—such as “Shooter Tutor” and “Chuck-a-Puck”—to help get the crowd involved. All funding raised during the Game Nights will stay in the home team’s community.
The Game Nights begin on October 7 and conclude at the end of February:
- October 7: Battlefords North Stars
- October 15: Notre Dame Hounds
- October 22: La Ronge Ice Wolves
- November 4: Weyburn Red Wings
- December 7: Humboldt Broncos
- January 13: Kindersley Klippers
- January 20: Melfort Mustangs
- January 21: Melville Millionaires
- February 10: Estevan Bruins
- February 21: Nipawin Hawks
- February 28: Yorkton Terriers
“Many of our SaskEnergy Network Members also get involved by donating a matching amount for their local team’s Game Night goals, or by donating a matching amount for their home team’s season-long goal total,” Schweitzer added.
As part of this year’s program, the KidSport Cup will be awarded to the SJHL team that scores the most home goals during the season. In addition, Volunteer Champion Awards will be presented to deserving volunteers in each SJHL community. And the SJHL player who scores the symbolic 1000th goal—representing a $20,000 donation from SaskEnergy to KidSport—will also receive an award.
