From September 8-12, 2014, Jean-Marie Larochelle and two of his friends went to Jamaica to organize a ball hockey camp for kids at Drapers All Age School and Port Antonio Primary School.
It is his passion for hockey in all its forms which led him to organize this project:” Last January, during my first trip to Jamaica, I spoke with people from the little town where I was living in and hockey quickly came on the topic. They told me I should come back to teach ball hockey at their elementary school. After a few months of preparation, we decided on a date and the project was launch”, he explains.
Jean-Marie and his friends organized morning sessions at Drapers All Age School, and afternoon ones at Port Antonio. The young participants were aged between 6-14 years old and the project targeted girls as much as boys. “People just loved it and we drew crowds sometimes. I just learned last week that the kids were still playing after I left. I gave all the hockey sticks and ball to the school so they could practice every day.”
Given the success of his camp, he plans on returning next January for the second phase of his project where he plans on organizing games between the two schools.
He concludes saying: « It honestly was one of the best experiences in my life. To see all these kids learn a new sport and adapt it that quickly and easily was very impressive.” He also mentions that there weren’t any gyms in the schools and they had to play on a bad quality basketball course. Yet, the kids were doing very well. “Imagine the potential they would have on gym or real ball hockey floors. I guarantee you they would be excellent players!”
Amongst others, he thanks Tony Iannitto and George Gortsos from the CBHA and ISBHF for donating hockey sticks and balls, Roy Larochelle Avocats inc. for the t-shirts, Sean Wilson from Coast to Coast Hockey shop and the people who participated to his Indiegogo fundraising.
You can watch videos and pictures from his trip here:
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