According to Morden Minor Hockey (MMH) President Steve Mullin, hockey has been a substantial foundation for the City of Morden, both through their programming and the events they've hosted.

He says in their initiation program alone, nearly 60 youth are involved in minor hockey in Morden, and the city strives to continue offering programming and events that promote hockey in the region.

Initiation involves four and five-year-olds right up to U18 hockey.

Those early years can be incredibly beneficial, says Mullin, with younger kids learning to develop their social skills and improve their confidence on the ice and in the locker room atmosphere.

"When you think of hockey, the first thing you think of is it being a team sport. I think that's one of the big benefits that gets swept under the rug. They're participating on a team and the majority of the team they'll be playing with teammates that aren't in the same class as them or not even in the same school. So you're making new friends, you're making new connections, and sometimes those are things that can last a lifetime."

Mullin says it's fascinating to see how these kids grow through the years. From learning the ropes and becoming comfortable in the sport to young adults in the U18 league who are given full responsibility as players and moving onward onto other teams or finding ways to continue to play on their own time.

The goal in minor hockey is to create a sense of community and to create a community; you need to provide opportunities to those who may not have the means.

"There are several different programs, and we have information for all of those," says Mullin. "At the same time, we do have some money set aside, so if there is somebody in need who wants to get involved, we have programs available. We've had sponsors in the past who've been able to sponsor kids, so if there is someone who wants to do hockey, we do everything we possibly can to give them the opportunity."

Kids Sport, First Shift, and Jumpstart are just a few of the programs that are working to make the sport more accessible to everyone.

After the recent Women's U18 Championships, both Morden and Winkler were presented a cheque from BDO Goals For Kids for $8,600.