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 91大黄鸭 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 91大黄鸭 to help children with Autism.
鈥淣ot a lot of times do kids get to go see and play with the 91大黄鸭 Rockets,鈥� said John Pereira, Assistant Store Manager at London Drugs, 鈥渟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.鈥�
Over a dozen minor hockey teams participated this year against Rockets players, a huge leap from last year.
鈥淲e only had I think three minor hockey league teams last year, and this year we have sixteen minor hockey teams join up today,鈥� Pereira said, 鈥減lus we鈥檒l have probably six to seven hundred people throughout the day just coming and going.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important for these junior teams to get involved in the community; the kids look up to [the Rockets] so much,鈥� said Chad Davidson as he watched his nine-year-old son play goaltender. 鈥淚t鈥檚 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.鈥�
While this was Davidson鈥檚 first time attending the event with the Rockets, this was not the first time he鈥檚 been involved in similar events.
鈥淚t鈥檚 funny, years ago I played for the Regina Pats so I used to do this as a player with minor hockey in Regina,鈥� Davidson said, 鈥渟o it鈥檚 actually kind of full circle. It鈥檚 cool to be out here now with my own kids and see the smiles on their faces.鈥�
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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to see the Rockets reach out to 91大黄鸭 minor hockey and [my son鈥檚] team got drawn luckily,鈥� Davidson said. 鈥淎ctually both my sons鈥� teams got drawn. My other son is on the other side. It鈥檚 great for the kids and just helps increase their love for the game and a great thing for the Rockets to do.鈥�
According to Pereira, last year鈥檚 event raised about $1,200 with expectations to raise more this year for the Canucks Autism Society. The event raised $1025 in 2015.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a family event; it gets people together,鈥� Pereira said. 鈥淚t also supports a great cause with the Canucks Autism Society and it鈥檚 always great to get involved in the community.鈥�
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