Nova Scotia community rallies to support Newfoundland hockey players who lost their gear

Paul Hollingsworth shares the story of how a community in Nova Scotia banded together to help three minor hockey teams amid a massive March Break tournament.

COLE HARBOUR, N.S. – The two arenas at Cole Harbour Place are known for producing hockey superstars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. Long before they were NHL players, both grew up playing at this facility in the suburban Halifax area.

The arena is also famous for being home to the Joe Lamontagne Memorial Hockey Tournament, where 160 minor hockey teams will play hundreds of games over March break.

Three of those teams are from Newfoundland and Labrador and landed at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport over the weekend, ready to play. But there was a huge problem.

“When they arrived, they went to the baggage area to collect their gear,” said tournament chair Jeff McPhee. “Unfortunately, the gear wasn’t here. Their gear bags were left back in Newfoundland.”

It was a devastating setback and the Under-11 Caps team from St. John’s was prepared to head back home, disappointed.

“We thought that this trip was going to be one where the kids would be sad, upset, and wouldn’t be able to play,” said Caps head coach Steve Barnes.

That’s when tournament organizers and community members quickly stepped in and rallied to find a solution.

“So, what do you do when you’re a hockey community? You step up and make sure the kids get on the ice,” said McPhee.

They put a call out on social media for donations, and the response was overwhelming. Within hours, the multi-purpose room at the rink was jam-packed with every piece of gear the players needed.

“We probably had gear to outfit 20 or 25 kids,” said McPhee. “Teams started coming from Newfoundland and they were able to grab everything they needed to outfit their kids.”

The three teams were able to play on the ice, but off the ice, they were overwhelmed by the support.

“A lot of people reached out, and so did local businesses,” said Barnes. “Individuals that we don’t know, and they just wanted to help in any way to create a special moment for these kids.”

McPhee said Cole Harbour is a place where neighbours watch out for each other, and the community will do anything to support children playing the game they love.

“It’s the hockey community coming together and taking care of everybody, just like we always do,” said McPhee.

The U11 Caps team won the championship for their division at the tournament. Their head coach called it a gold medal finish and a heartwarming hockey experience.