To kick off the start of their new season, the Thorold Amateur Athletic Association (TAAA) is organizing a free skate and barbecue at the Walkers Sports and Abilities Centre in the Canada Games Park on Saturday, September 10.
“The game plan is to showcase the new facility because we haven’t had the opportunity to skate on the surface,” the association’s president Mike DeGasperis tells ThoroldToday. “The TAAA board of directors will be there as well, barbecuing for everybody. This is our opening kick-off to start the new hockey season.”
DeGasperis hopes that the event will encourage more kids to enrol in Thorold Minor Hockey.
“We’re trying to get more registrations and kids that haven’t had the chance to—whether they’re really young or haven’t been able to skate—an opportunity to go out,” he says. “The biggest thing is giving everybody the opportunity to see the new facility.”
This year’s minor hockey season will be played in the Frank Doherty Arena in downtown Thorold and the Canada Games facility.
“I am excited,” DeGasperis says. “There’s been some ups and downs with scheduling, but other than that it’s been a relatively smooth process. We’re just looking forward to getting everything underway.”
It won’t be the first time DeGasperis is setting foot in the arena. He was able to tour the Canada Games facility with City Hall staff a little while ago.
“It was really neat,” says DeGasperis. “It’s a beautiful facility. There’s lots to do for the community: there’s multiple basketball courts, the two arenas, the walking track. They did a really good job. I really hope that the community gets full use out of it.”
With the free skate and barbecue, DeGasperis hopes to bring together the community.
“It’s open door, come on in,” he says. “Come for a skate, grab a hot dog, and hopefully register and sign up for some hockey.”
The free skate and barbecue at the Canada Games park will take place this Saturday, September 10, between 10:15 a.m. and 12 p.m.
