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OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Frontenacs Unveil Down Syndrome Awareness Sock and Game Initiatives

March 19, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


Kingston Frontenacs Down Syndrome Awareness Socks
Kingston Frontenacs Down Syndrome Awareness Socks
(Kingston Frontenacs)

Kingston --The Kingston Frontenacs, along with Tara and Pip McCallan from Happy Soul Project, unveiled the details of the Ontario Hockey League team's awareness initiatives for their Down Syndrome Awareness Game on Friday, March 20, 2015. The unveiling included special theme socks the team will wear for the game, to support the World Down Syndrome Day "Rock Your Socks" initiative that encourages people to wear different colour, bright, bold, mismatched, socks to make a statement that different is beautiful. The team is the first in hockey to use theme socks on their own, without a special theme jersey, to bring awareness to cause. The socks were designed by siblings Pip and Noal McCallan, who's mother Tara created Happy Soul Project, which is about striving to be grateful no matter what happens in life. It's about accepting the life fate gave you, seeing the beauty in the challenges and the hope in the hardships. It's about finding joy unexpectedly, becoming a kinder person and continuing to always have an open mind.

"When you open the conversation about the things that make us different, you break down the stigma in those differences and create safe place where differences really are beautiful," said Justin Chenier, Executive Director of Business Operations with the Kingston Frontenacs. "This is such an easy and worthwhile initiative that get involved in."

The team approached Tara McCallan in the fall about working on the initiative together, and with the help of McCallan's children Pip and Noal, the socks were designed and approved by the OHL and CCM/Reebok for use in the team's final regular season home game on Friday. The family will also take part in the pregame ceremonial puckdrop. "If you told me two years ago I'd be celebrating World Down S yndrome Day with thousands of people cheering on my little girl, I would never have believed you," said McCallan. "Two years ago I barely knew this day even existed. Two years ago Pip was in heart failure and I was just starting to wrap my head around this part of her called Down Syndrome. And now it's something I'm so fiercely proud of and we are so excited to celebrate the beauty in differences with the Frontenacs."

The game on Friday will raise awareness for Down Syndrome but will also help raise funds for Happy Soul Project. McCallan's initiative also involves focusing her fundraising on her Kick- I t Capes, super hero inspired capes for children and their siblings who are facing serious illnesses or vast differences that need and extra boost of super hero strength.

"Happy Soul Project is an amazing initiative that really shows how we all should be connected in helping our community," said Chenier. "When we've worn theme jerseys for Remembrance Day or Breast Cancer Awareness, we've worn complimentary socks for those special designs. This is the first time we've worn special themed socks for a game, and the first time in hockey a team has worn special socks for World Down Syndrome Day. It fits so naturally with the World Down Syndrome Day "Rock Your Socks" initiative to wear different socks to create awareness and spark conversation. Having our team continue that message on the ice is unique and special."

For more information on Happy Soul Project (http://www.happysoulproject.com) and Kick-It Capes (http://www.happysoulproject.com/2014/04/kick-cancers-arse-capes.html).

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Kingston Frontenacs Down Syndrome Awareness Socks
Kingston Frontenacs Down Syndrome Awareness Socks
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2015


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