An innovative capstone project by some Grade 12 Delta Secondary School (DSS) students could turn into an annual event for the South Delta Minor Hockey Association.
As part of the high school graduation requirements, DSS seniors Ryan Carleton, Tyler Allan and Hayden Powell had initially planned to revive the DSS Grad Hockey Game that has been dormant for a number of years. However, COVID and the insurance liability made it impossible for the game to proceed. That’s when Plan “B” went into action.
“At that point we thought why not do the game for South Delta Minor and have these kids organize it for us?” said SDMHA vice-president Todd Allan. “So we called it the Grads versus Alumni Game.”
A 90-minute ice slot was secured on April 12 at the Ladner Leisure Centre and the game proved to be a big hit. The Alumni line-up included former Pittsburgh Penguin and two-time Stanley Cup winner Ken Priestlay who was fresh off guiding the South Delta A1 Storm to the provincial A2 championship.
The Graduation roster featured boys and girls and each was presented a SDMHA jersey and a commemorative puck during a special second intermission ceremony. Through tickets and raffle sales, the game also raised more than $500 for the Delta Hospital Community Health Foundation.
Now the plan is to make it an annual event.
