Hockey begins

The Placentia Intertown Minor Hockey Association (PIMHA) has begun with a full slate of practices that began this past Sunday, Oct. 19 at PARC Arena in Placentia.
Children from ages six years of age or younger can join, as can youth in age groups right up to 17 years of age, both males and females, in pre-novice, novice, atom, peewee, bantam and midget hockey.
Lisa Gambin is the PIMHA president for this year. She's been involved with the association for only one year but said her daughters, aged five and eight have been playing hockey and loving it, a great reason to keep this mom involved.
"One daughter started when she was three and my other daughter started when she was four. They love it," said Ms. Gambin.
She said there are usually approximately 110-120 children involved in minor hockey in the area, with boys signing up more often than girls.
She said hockey is a busy time of year, and the association is always looking for more volunteers, more parents to help out with everything that goes on throughout the season.
"We only got four people on our board right now. I am the president. Our secretary is Dodie Blanche, our treasurer is Deanne Cahill and one of our directors in Glenn Murphy," said Ms. Gambin. "It is really hard to get volunteers. Really hard. We had an AGM in September and only six parents showed up."
Ms. Gambin said the sad thing about that is that it is the children who suffer when there aren't enough adults to volunteer to help out.
"It is so sad because this area is hurting and it is only going to get worse, and if you don't have volunteers who are willing to put the time into it, and it is a lot of time, there won't be anything for the kids to do."
She said often, volunteers burn out fast, so more volunteers really would make a difference, and make it easier for them to offer all the exercise and fun they do for the children who are interested in hockey.
Ms. Gambin said students at Laval High School volunteer time as part of their Career Education program and earn credits for helping out with the minor hockey association, which is a big help to the association.
"They come over and they get their hours by helping out with the younger kids, helping the coaches out, putting pile-ons out and just helping the kids, even if it is just encouragement to the younger ones, telling them, come on, you can do it, let's go, egging them on and getting them going," said the PIMHA president.
And, she said, they do have lots of plans.
Hockey practices have begun and will continue Sunday through Thursday at times between 5 and 8 p.m. Anyone interested can contact PIMHA for more details but are reminded to show up for registration 30-45 minutes before practice.
Special events for the next while include AAA tryouts, the Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey Jamboree, a Christmas visit with Santa Claus, tournaments and games every weekend starting in November.
"We have the Triple AAA tryouts here on the 8th and 9th. We have a couple of home tournaments this year," said Ms. Gambin.
As well, she wished to remind everyone of their fundraisers throughout the year, including the Cash Draw Ticket Sale, Hockey pools, and the Lions Club Bingo on Channel 10 in which the Placentia Lions Club have donated Game 13 in January to PIMHA.
For more information on PIMHA, please contact Lisa Gambin at 227-7989 and look out for a PIMHA website to be announced.
editor@thecharter.ca