RBC and Steve Yzerman help build a community of skaters in Cochrane

The $10,000 RBC Play Hockey Grant to Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre is the most recent in a long line of contributions RBC has made to the Alberta hockey community.

CALGARY, Aug. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - RBC Play Hockey Ambassador, Steve Yzerman, will welcome Cochrane's Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre to Team Canada's centre ice at WinSport to receive a 2013 RBC Play Hockey grant of $10,000. RBC Play Hockey is a wide-ranging, multi-year commitment to grow the game of hockey that to date has provided more than $1.5 million in grants to over 120 grassroots hockey programs across North America.

"I have spent my life playing hockey and have seen firsthand the benefit this sport has on Canadian families," says Steve Yzerman, RBC Play Hockey Ambassador. "I am proud to be here today, on behalf of RBC, to honour the great people behind the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.  Their commitment will ensure increased access to the sport of hockey for the community of Cochrane with the goal of getting more people out on the ice enjoying this great game."

Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLS FSC) was awarded an RBC Play Hockey Grant to fund three unique hockey initiatives designed to introduce the game in a fun and approachable way.

• SLS FSC Play N Skate is public skating with a twist. During this time, toys, plastic sticks, pucks and nets are set up on the ice and kids age 3-6 can play while learning the basic elements of hockey.
• SLS FSC Hockey Kids.  Kids new to hockey are given the opportunity to learn some of the finer points of skating, shooting, passing, and playing the game in a non competitive environment.
• SLS FSC Ladies Shinny.  Giving females the opportunity to get out on the ice, this program introduces women to the sport and provides them the opportunity to develop their skills.

"The RBC Play Hockey Grant enables us to introduce programs that we haven't offered before and to build on the idea that hockey should be open and accessible to everyone in our community," said Robin Mitchell, General Manager, Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre. "We can't thank RBC enough for giving us this opportunity to keep kids on the ice in Cochrane for years to come."

RBC Play Hockey is a collection of programs and partnerships focused on helping build a nation of skaters, from ponds to podiums, so everyone can play hockey. Nearly 570,000 kids play hockey in Canada and the game continues to be a defining characteristic for Canadians.

"The game of hockey relies on volunteers, coaches and supporters to help grow the sport and engage youth from a young age," said Mike Maloney, Regional Vice President, RBC. "At RBC, we're proud to support the hard work and dedication that helps make hockey happen in communities in Alberta, and across the country."

As a premier partner of Hockey Canada, RBC is an official sponsor of the men's and women's national teams, the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, and Canada's National Junior A Championship - the RBC Cup.  RBC sponsors amateur sport in communities across Canada, from grassroots programs to national sport associations and elite-level athletes. For more information, visit rbcplayhockey.com. To apply for a grant or for more information about the RBC Play Hockey program, visit rbcplayhockey.com.

SOURCE: RBC Calgary

Pamela Brown
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, RBC Alberta and the Territories
403.292.3372 (w)
[email protected]