For some it would be a dream to play hockey with Canucks legend Kirk McLean, for others its a dream to play hockey at all. Now for 54 Greater Victoria kids, that dream is a reality. 

Hockey 4 Youth (H4Y) started in 2015 with a mission to foster social inclusion for newcomer and marginalized youth. The program provides kids with access to equipment, coaching, and a chance to play a sport they might not have otherwise been able to try.

香蕉视频直播淢y formative years were spent playing road hockey after school. I got my first set of equipment from a neighbour, Mrs. Brown, who still lives across the street from my mom,香蕉视频直播� said Moezine (Moe) Hasham, the executive director and founder of Hockey 4 Youth, and a second-generation immigrant whose family came to Canada in 1972.

香蕉视频直播淚t gave me that feeling of being connected to the kids in the community.香蕉视频直播�

According to Hasham, 71 per cent of Canadian newcomers want to play hockey but only one per cent will get to, H4Y was founded as a way to get those newcomers off the sidelines. 

Hasham played hockey through university and eventually founded H4Y with his brother, Nazim Hasham. Now, they香蕉视频直播檝e partnered with the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks for Kids, the Greater Victoria and Sooke school districts, Westshore Parks and Recreation, and the Westshore RCMP to provide free hockey for kids who want to play.

香蕉视频直播淲hat香蕉视频直播檚 really important is that these kids are not only showing up with smiles on their faces, but when we ask them for feedback, it香蕉视频直播檚 so positive. And that香蕉视频直播檚 really special,香蕉视频直播� said Hasham.

On March 12, 54 students from schools across Greater Victoria involved in H4Y, gathered at Juan de Fuca Arena to take part in their final practice of the season. Before taking the ice, the students gathered to receive a medal from McLean and Hasham in honour of the work they put in this year. 

The diverse group included kids from Canada, Mexico, Iran and Peru, among other countries.

They were joined by McLean, best known for backstopping the team through most of the 香蕉视频直播�90s and taking them to the Stanley Cup finals. Now an ambassador for the Canucks, McLean helps grow the game. Fin, the team香蕉视频直播檚 lovable 香蕉视频直播� but mischievous 香蕉视频直播� mascot, was also in attendance.

香蕉视频直播淪eeing a girl from Iran out there, or a boy from Peru, kids from Mexico and African nations 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 so cool,香蕉视频直播� McLean said of hockey香蕉视频直播檚 growing diversity.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not going to be too long before there are showcase games down in Mexico. Seeing a young fellow [here] from Peru is pretty cool.香蕉视频直播�

For McLean, programs like H4Y are essential.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a no-brainer for us to support this, because that香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檙e all about 香蕉视频直播� growing the game, especially at the grassroots level,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淭he game is so pricey now. Once upon a time, it was a blue-collar sport. Now, you need money to play it, and a lot of new Canadian communities or underprivileged kids who can香蕉视频直播檛 afford it aren香蕉视频直播檛 getting the chance to play. And they want to play.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 a chance many of the kids involved are thankful for.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been a great opportunity for me. I played ball hockey for most of my life, but I was never able to get into hockey due to the cost and whatnot,香蕉视频直播� said Logan Schulte, a West Shore Secondary student.

香蕉视频直播淭his has been a great opportunity for me to step into the world of ice hockey. It香蕉视频直播檚 really opened the doors for me.香蕉视频直播�

Schulte said it香蕉视频直播檚 been the simple things that have made some of the best memories for him at H4Y.

香蕉视频直播淛ust stepping on the ice again 香蕉视频直播� I did some power skating when I was younger, but since then, I haven香蕉视频直播檛 been on skates. I forgot how much I liked it. I香蕉视频直播檓 just super grateful for it.香蕉视频直播�

In ranking his own hockey achievements 香蕉视频直播� which include all-star teams and Stanley Cup appearances 香蕉视频直播� McLean said getting involved with programs like H4Y is 香蕉视频直播渄efinitely up there.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 just love seeing the smiles on their faces. Some of them have never seen ice before,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淲atching the fun and joy of holding a stick and skating on a quarter-inch blade 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 pretty cool. It香蕉视频直播檚 Canadian.香蕉视频直播�