OHL Guelph Storm

Storm and Gryphons Participate in Coach4food

Published on October 26, 2011 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


The Guelph Storm in conjunction with the Guelph Gryphons and the Guelph Food Bank are pleased to announce that they will participate in the successful Coach4Food program throughout the 2011-12 season.

Originating in North Bay, Coach4food is a program started by Tom Hedican, a professional goaltending consultant and University of Guelph alumnus, wherein his coaching services at local minor hockey practices is offered in exchange for food donations.

Over a three week period in December the program started in 2005 raising 1,000 pounds of food and has since exploded to 107, 969 pounds raised in 2010, just its sixth year running. The program has become the North Bay Food Bank's single largest fundraiser.

"Coach4Food is especially meaningful for us because its founder, Tom Hedican, is a University of Guelph graduate and played goal on back-to-back provincial championship teams," said Guelph men's hockey coach Shawn Camp.

"This is a win, win, win situation. Local minor hockey players get a chance to be coached by some of the top coaches in North America; the food bank gets some much needed supplies at a critical time of the year; and young hockey players get a chance to contribute to their community, particularly to those who may be a little less fortunate and in need of a hand. The hockey community has a reputation for being generous and this is another example of the Storm, the Gryphons and youth hockey working together for a common goal," Storm Vice President and GM Mike Kelly said.

This year the Storm and Gryphons will exchange high calibre, NHL style drills for donations to the Guelph Food Bank. All minor hockey teams are encouraged to participate with the top four earning (donating) teams winning a practice ran by the Guelph Storm and the University of Guelph Men's Hockey team. The team that donates the most food to the food bank will receive free tickets to an upcoming Storm game as well as on ice recognition with a puck drop to start the game.

If teams would prefer they can donate money instead as every dollar collected is equal to approximately 1.5lbs food and allows the food bank to purchase things they don't get donated such as diapers, baby food etc. The cutoff date for collecting all food and money is December 9th at 5:00pm.

Everyone from NHL Stanley Cup and Olympic Gold Medal winning coach Ken Hitchcock, to rock legend Bruce Springsteen, a vocal supporter of food banks, has endorsed Coach4Food.

Hedican is based in North Bay but works as a goaltending consultant for professional hockey teams in the top league in Switzerland. He will be co-ordinating the effort in the Niagara-St. Catharines region with the Niagara IceDogs and Brock Badgers and in Guelph with the Storm and Gryphons.

If your team would like to take part, you can contact Sarah Twigger at stwigger@guelphstorm.com or 519-837-9690 ext. 104.

Stay tuned to guelphstorm.com for details on the Coach4Food dates and times.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2011


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