As the BCHL's Penticton Vees continue to inspire the local stars of tomorrow, Matt Taylor says it's an exciting time for minor hockey in the South Okanagan.
Taylor, treasurer of the Penticton Minor Hockey Association (PMHA), praised the Vees' community outreach initiatives that have helped "ignite and strengthen interest in sports and hockey" in the city.
One of which, on Jan. 18, saw members of the Junior A club take part in the skills competition with a local U11 team on Penticton's outdoor rink.
"The kids were all amped up for today," Taylor said last weekend. "They really look up to the Vees, so it's really important for these events to go on."
The Vees' ongoing commitment to minor hockey, he added, has aided PMHA's recent growth.
Taylor says 527 kids are registered in PMHA for the 2024-2025 season, up from the 471 who played for the association in 2022-2023.
He also hailed the non-profit's recent efforts to keep the sport accessible locally as rising costs pose challenges for families nationwide.
An "amazing" board of directors volunteer more than 100 hours of their time every year for the cause, the association's treasurer said.
"Hockey's getting more and more expensive, so we do our absolute best to keep it as affordable as possible," said Taylor, who is also assistant coach for a local U11 team. "With this year, in sort of a testament to that, we've seen our best numbers since well before COVID."
The hosting of around 15 B.C. tournaments annually and "generous community support from local businesses" helps with the association's affordability efforts, he said.
Along with the creation of a "hardship fund" 鈥� a local program for registrations that may not qualify for outside funding 鈥� PHMA also lobbies for grants from organizations like Hockey Canada and KidSport, Taylor said.
A record number of kids registered in the association's U5 program (21), as well as seven female teams, has provided PHMA with optimism as it looks ahead to the next few years.
The local female program's growth was highlighted on the provincial stage in the spring of 2024 when the Penticton U18 team captured the B.C. championship.
"The future is bright with minor hockey," Taylor said
Taylor spoke to the Western News during the Frost Fest winter carnival, as the Vees and U11 entertained a crowd at the downtown facility.
Players on both sides took part in the fastest skater and accuracy shooting challenges, among others.
PMHA organized the day, in conjunction with the Vees, as Penticton celebrated its annual Frost Fest winter carnival.
Vees players, including one of their leading scorers this season, Luke Posthumus, also took part in drills with the kids as early as 8:45 a.m. Saturday.
Fraser Rodgers, the Vees' play-by-play commentator, could be heard calling all the action to give the event a big-game feel.
The skills competition succeeded "Skate with Harvee," an event that welcomed other community members to hit the ice with the Vees' mascot.
