Central GM owner Tom Bachynski would like to see every five-year-old registered with the 100 Mile House Minor Hockey Association this season receive a free helmet.
It’s part of the Chevrolet Hockey Helmet Program, and the former local minor hockey association president says it’s a fairly simple process for parents to get their children a helmet that fits properly.
“I think it’s a great idea. We tend to put kids out for their first time on the ice with full equipment and their older brother’s helmet.
“I think we’ve hit the nail on the head by getting these kids helmets that are the right weight, size and fitted properly to start their hockey careers.”
Bachynski notes this will reduce the chance of concussions because the young players will learn right from the day they start playing hockey how it feels to wear a proper hockey helmet.
Hopefully, he adds, this will become ingrained in them, so they will wear a properly fitting helmet in order to prevent head injuries on the ice for the remainder of their hockey-playing days.
Bachynski says parents only need to register online at www.chevrolethockey.ca and put in their address.
“We get pinged immediately and then we set up everything from there. Eventually, we’ll notify them to come down to pick up their helmets.”
Noting the youngsters will be receiving a Bauer 2100 helmet from a designated Forzani retail outlet in the area, he points out the nearest outlet is in Kamloops.
Travelling to Kamloops to pick up a helmet doesn’t really work, Bachynski says, adding he’s currently working on having the helmets shipped to Central GM, so they can disperse them locally.
“Once everybody gets registered, we’re planning on having all of the helmets here on a Saturday before the start of the hockey season and have them fitted properly.”
He notes people will have to keep in touch, so the Central GM staff can make sure they know when to drop in to pick up the helmets.
Bachynski says the helmets will virtually fit any five-year-old as they are for five- to eight-year-old children, but the helmets may need to be adjusted.
“We really need people to register now, so we know the numbers because it does take a bit of time to get them.”
So, parents who have a five-year-old registered with the 100 Mile House Minor Hockey Association this year and want their young hockey players to receive a free, properly fitting hockey helmet should go online to register at www.chevrolethockey.ca.
