Xavier Beaucage, 14, of Nipissing First Nation, likes to set an example both in hockey and in life.
"I like helping out kids,” Xavier said
“Being a leader is amazing and having people look up to you.”
Last year, he came up with the idea to donate some of his hockey gear to kids with disabilities who play the game.
"One day, I was at the rink and I saw them playing and I thought ‘Maybe there are some kids that don’t have equipment’ and that I should give back,” he said.
But the defenceman said he wanted to do more.
So he rallied his Burlington Blyth-Deerview AAA 15U teammates to scrounge up more equipment and they agreed to chip in.
"They were really happy to help out,” Xavier said.
Over the Christmas holidays, he donated 14 hockey bags full of equipment in good condition -- including sticks, gloves and pads -- to the Shooting Stars, a team in the North Bay North Stars program.
The North Stars is a hockey program for players with disabilities.
“It feels great giving them the stuff they need to play hockey,” Xavier said.
“For them, having the equipment to play is just amazing.”
His parents say they are proud their son has taken up this initiative.
“It’s amazing to see him give back to the community and give back to the kids who are not really privileged to afford the equipment,” said Xavier’s father, Joseph Beaucage.
Shooting Stars coach Debbie Moss said the team and families are grateful for Xavier’s leadership and donation.
"With autism services being cut back in funds, families have to choose lots of time between what they have available to their child,” said Moss.
“We’re making the door open again.”
Moss said when Xavier first dropped equipment off last year, he also purchased water bottles for each player using his own money.
“He wishes more players that are local would come out and skate with us and support us,” said Moss.
The Beaucage family cites Xavier’s team's guiding principle of players conducting themselves in a courteous manner all the time, both in hockey and in personal life.
"He’s absolutely scoring on and off the ice,” said his mom, Terresa Beaucage.
“Last year, he was able to go right out on the ice with the kids from Shooting Stars and spend a whole practice with them.”
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Xavier SAID he can be a difference maker in tight games -- and also when helping others.
"I’m probably going to try and keep it up as long as I can,” he said.
