HOW TO APPLY FOR KRAFT HOCKEYVILLE CANADA
I grew up in Roberval, a city of around 10,000 people on the southwestern shore of Lac-Saint-Jean. Like a lot of communities in Quebec, everyone ends up at the arena. No matter what age you are, you have some connection to the rink -- as a player, a parent, grandparent, referee, coach or a fan. Our local rink was a place to play and a place to connect.
The arena was the heart of our community and it had the wear and tear to prove it. I remember the boards and glass were terrible. We also badly needed to renovate the dressing rooms. Maintaining rinks is expensive and our town didn't have the money to make the repairs.
Having and maintaining a place to play is only one of the many barriers that exist in hockey.
During my own journey to the NHL, there came a time when my family could no longer afford to put both me and my brother Jérémy through organized hockey. We were both playing AAA midget hockey, which is very expensive. It's a major financial commitment and a major barrier for many families in Quebec.
My brother Jérémy selflessly stopped playing so that I could continue to pursue my hockey dream. While I am grateful for the sacrifice he made, I can't help but wonder how many players and their families have been forced into similar decisions.
Private programs and corporate funding have a major role to play and have helped to break down barriers to make hockey more accessible to all Quebecers. I know this firsthand.
When Roberval was nominated for Kraft Hockeyville, the community really came together. After several weeks of voting, making signs, and showing our hometown pride, Roberval ended up winning the competition.
Living in Roberval, we were, of course, all Montreal Canadiens fans. I remember sitting on the sofa in my living room, watching television, cheering for Saku Koivu, Tomas Plekanec, and Andrei Markov. To me and many of my friends, they were heroes. They were larger than life. We played the same sport and lived in the same province, but the NHL seemed like a different world.
The day that Roberval won Kraft Hockeyville, the Canadiens were coming to our world, to our town. Now we were going to get the chance to host a preseason NHL game, get our arena repaired, and get the title of Canada's most passionate hockey community.
When the Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Buffalo Sabres in Roberval, at our arena, I got to attend my first NHL game. When I watched that game something changed for me. Before that moment I never considered I could play in the NHL but being a part of that action made it seem possible. It made me want to be a part of something bigger.
