It is amazing how much a junior hockey program gives back to the youth of the community.
For the Humboldt Broncos they have been giving back quite a lot this season.
Between the Bowl for Kids Sake, the Teddy Bear Toss, the Skate with the Broncos and a tour of the dressing room and a skate with the Broncos for a kindergarten class there has been a lot of things the Broncos have been doing lately for the community.
Doing these events is vital for everyone in the community.
The Broncos get to learn about the importance of giving back to the community, and the young kids get the opportunity to get to know the Broncos a little more than just as someone who plays hockey.
Mentorship is an important part of a young child’s life and while the Broncos do not spend a great deal of time with all of the youth even the little bit of time they do spend can go a long way.
I had the chance to stick around after the Broncos game against Nipawin on Family Day for the Skate With the Broncos and you could tell the kids were having a great time.
Smiles stretched across the faces of the kids who were having a great time with a Broncos team. Despite a tough overtime loss to the Hawks did a great job of putting that aside to have as much fun as they could with everyone who came out.
That does not seem like much but for a lot of those kids it meant a lot.
Aside from the Skate With the Broncos a number of other initiatives the organization has undertaken go well beyond the rink as both the Bowl for Kids Sake and the Teddy Bear Toss are great ways for the Broncos to give back to a community that is there to support them.
Some of the Broncos players worked hard raising money for the Bowl for Kids Sake, which helps support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Humboldt and area so they can continue to do their work providing support to youth in the community.
Yet another way the Broncos provide mentorship to the children, just in a little more of an indirect way.
And the bears collected at the Teddy Bear Toss game went to the hospital so they could provide a little pick me up to children who are in the hospital.
Again, it seems like a pretty simple gesture, but for some child in the hospital I am sure it means a lot.
That is a credit to not only the Broncos but also to members of the community who stepped up to bring a teddy bear to the game.
I grew up in a small town with a Junior A franchise and I can tell you that I do not remember having these same opportunities that the Broncos are providing kids this year so the Broncos deserve a great deal of credit for giving back.
There is more to life than just hockey and the Broncos are demonstrating that in a great way.
