Tigers score big in community outreach, skating with families in Ralston

“We pull up in the bus and they’re all banging on the glass just waiting for us,” says Tigers player, Shane Smith. “It’s pretty special. I know as a kid I looked up to junior teams in places I played. And yeah, it’s just a great feeling knowing that we mean a lot to them and being able to give back to the community.”

The community spent Tuesday night getting autographs and skating with their favourite Tigers players.

Many kids at the skate were children of British soldiers stationed at the CFB Suffield. This includes Simon Reynolds, a British Army Officer.

Reynolds says since being in Canada and watching the Tigers, hockey has become a big part of his family’s life.

“I mean, I’ve only been here for a short time and you know, I came to Canada and I said, ‘oh, so do I have to play ice hockey?’ And I was instantly told, ‘it’s called hockey out here,'” laughs Reynolds.

Facilities Coordinator Wayne Cooper says that love for hockey has been a common theme for many on the base.

“There’s still a lot of British families here and the British fall in love with the sport of hockey, they love the game. The British kids have got their own league out here, so when they see the Tigers come in the door, they love it,” explains Cooper. “They go and watch the games, I’m sure most of them, if not all of them, were at the Teddy Bear Toss game on Saturday evening as well.”

This community’s love for the game, only heightened by the Tigers appearance yesterday.

The Medicine Hat Tigers also dropped off Teddy Bear’s at the Medicine Hat hospital today, which was their last community event until the new year.

by Lisa Parent

Tigers score big in community outreach, skating with families in Ralston

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