By Mark Dreger
Despite the windy weather, the sun was out Sunday for kids and parents to enjoy an afternoon playing road hockey with Rocky Racoon and the Kelowna Rockets.
The Rockets hosted the third annual Family Day event in front of London Drugs to raise money for the with 100 per cent of all proceeds staying in Kelowna to help children with Autism.
香蕉视频直播淣ot a lot of times do kids get to go see and play with the Kelowna Rockets,香蕉视频直播� said John Pereira, Assistant Store Manager at London Drugs, 香蕉视频直播渟o we have an open form where kids can just come in and play with the Rockets, meet their favourite player, get autographs, and take pictures with them.香蕉视频直播�
Over a dozen minor hockey teams participated this year against Rockets players, a huge leap from last year.
香蕉视频直播淲e only had I think three minor hockey league teams last year, and this year we have sixteen minor hockey teams join up today,香蕉视频直播� Pereira said, 香蕉视频直播減lus we香蕉视频直播檒l have probably six to seven hundred people throughout the day just coming and going.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 so important for these junior teams to get involved in the community; the kids look up to [the Rockets] so much,香蕉视频直播� said Chad Davidson as he watched his nine-year-old son play goaltender. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 different to go to a Rockets game in Prospera versus see them without their helmets, talk to them, and interact with them. It just lights the kids up for sure.香蕉视频直播�
While this was Davidson香蕉视频直播檚 first time attending the event with the Rockets, this was not the first time he香蕉视频直播檚 been involved in similar events.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 funny, years ago I played for the Regina Pats so I used to do this as a player with minor hockey in Regina,香蕉视频直播� Davidson said, 香蕉视频直播渟o it香蕉视频直播檚 actually kind of full circle. It香蕉视频直播檚 cool to be out here now with my own kids and see the smiles on their faces.香蕉视频直播�
According to , Davidson played 56 games as a goaltender for the Regina Pats from 1999 to 2002 and played alongside Calder Memorial Trophy winner and recently retired St. Louis Blues defenceman Barret Jackman.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 nice to see the Rockets reach out to Kelowna minor hockey and [my son香蕉视频直播檚] team got drawn luckily,香蕉视频直播� Davidson said. 香蕉视频直播淎ctually both my sons香蕉视频直播� teams got drawn. My other son is on the other side. It香蕉视频直播檚 great for the kids and just helps increase their love for the game and a great thing for the Rockets to do.香蕉视频直播�
According to Pereira, last year香蕉视频直播檚 event raised about $1,200 with expectations to raise more this year for the Canucks Autism Society. The event raised $1025 in 2015.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a family event; it gets people together,香蕉视频直播� Pereira said. 香蕉视频直播淚t also supports a great cause with the Canucks Autism Society and it香蕉视频直播檚 always great to get involved in the community.香蕉视频直播�
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