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The Huron Expositor • March 29, 2006 Page 13
Sledgehawks and ABATE get together for annual friendly game
Jennifier. Hubbard
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It's a unique partnership —
but it works.
For more than 10 years,
the Huron Sledgehawks and
the local All Bikers for
Awareness of Teaching
through Education (ABATE)
organization have been get-
ting together for a friendly
game of sledge hockey.
And while the game is
overwhelmingly one-sided —
this year's score was 10-4
for the Sledgehawks -
ABATE member Julie
Geddes, of Seaforth, called
it an amazing experience.
"Very rarely do you get a
middle-aged bunch of bikers
on the ice to get their butts
kicked by kids," she
laughed.
• "Not only is it fun, but it
gets awareness out to the
public. about the team,
which relies strictly on
donations, fundraising and
public support."
Prior to the March 11
game, ABATE presented a
$1,500 donation to the team.
Geddes said the money was
raised through prize ticket
sales at the group's
Christmas party.
"We play so the kids know
we're not just a money
machine. We care about and
believe in them," she.
explained.
"We want to be on the
front lines and be able
to see them enjoy the
game."
Bob Snell, of Clinton,
has been involved with
ABATE for ,15 years.
Taking on a coaching
role this year, he
recalled playing in past
match -ups.
"Every year we have
a game with them and
•we've never beat .them
yet," he commented.
"It's nice when you
finish the game and
•one of the little guys
comes up to you and
says 'nice game' even
though you know damn
well they just kicked
your butt!
"They're great kids to
work with."
Sledgehawk parent
volunteers Mary
McLagan and Linda
Markham, of Mitchell and
Zurich respectively, said the
ABATE donation is very
much appreciated and used
to cover team expenses,
such as ice time and equip-
ment.
The team's eight players
hail from as far away as
Mitchell, Monkton, Zurich,
Goderich, Dublin and
Bayfield. Past roster num-
bers have climbed as high
as 21.
Because of a wide range in
age and skill, the team had
a recreational focus this
Jennifer Hubbard photo
Huron Sledgehawk's player Tyler Markham works on keeping the puck
away from ABATE player Brian Geddes.
year. However, some players
joined larger teams in the
region for tournaments.
Adam O'Reilly, Shaun
O'Reilly and Tyler
Markham participated in
the first ever Paralympic
Ontario Winter
Championships in January
with the southwest regional
team, which is made up of
intermediate players 16
years of age and older from
Huron, Kitchener, Windsor
and Sarnia.
Both parents said they
saw their children benefit-
ting from their on -ice expe-
.
riences.
"My son Eric has been
playing for five years. He's
made new friends and it's
given him more confidence
in his abilities," McLagan
said.
Calling her son Tyler a
"hockey fanatic," Markham
said the Sledgehawks team
has given him "a sport of his
own."
"Kids are always talking
about their games, tourna-
ments and how many goals
they scored. This gives Tyler
a chance to participate in
those discussions too," she
explained.
Community support — like
the donation received annu-
ally from ABATE — is essen-
tial to the club's success.
"We get excellent support
from the community and
area service clubs that
enables us to keep registra-
tion costs low. Many fami-
lies travel quite a long way
to play with the team,"
Markham said.
"Everyone you talk to
about the Sledgehawks tick-
ets, just buys them right
up," Snell added.
The Huron -Perth ABATE
organization currently has
over 50 members- from
throughout both counties.
Being an active part of the
community — making dona-
tions to a variety of area
causes including the.
Dolphin swim team in
Vanastra, Huron County
Children for Chernobyl and
Community Living — does a
lot to absolve the existing
`biker' stereotypes, said
Geddes.
"There definitely is a stig-
ma," she added. "We don't
promote violence, drugs or
guns, but rather work to
make people aware of differ-
ent issues in their communi-
ty. We do what we do for the
benefit of others.
"You have the Lions Clubs
and the Kinsmen ... we're
like them, but on a smaller
scale."
ontariowait times. corr
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