Westfort Atom A Dynamix Machine Shop Rangers

SUBMITTED BY: Glenn Clausen

TEAM CITY: Thunder Bay
TEAM NAME: Westfort Atom A Dynamix Machine Shop Rangers
ADDED: March 13th, 2010

We are entering this contest on behalf of the Westfort Atom A Dynamix Machine Shop Rangers, a very inspirational group of children. We are from Thunder Bay, Ontario, a City that has been hard hit by the recession. Massive job losses have forced people to change their way of life. We realize, hockey is no longer a birth right, it's a privilege... and that's where our story begins. Eight months ago, our season began. We practiced and played, like all other teams do. We lost more than we won throughout the year, in fact, we only won four games. But you would have a hard time telling these 9 and 10 year olds who scored their first goal, or the goalie who got his first shut-out, that they weren’t winners. What sets these children apart from all others, however, is what they have done off the ice. Throughout the year, the players and families made the time and effort to give back to the City with a "Giant Heart." On Remembrance Day, the players each wrote a letter to a soldier serving in Afghanistan. They thanked them for providing freedom, and thus, the opportunity to play hockey in this great country. They even autographed Westfort League T shirts as gifts for the soldiers. At Christmas, the Team again gathered, this time volunteering for the Salvation Army during their annual Kettle Campaign. If you walked through the mall, you might remember them, singing carols, handing out cookies and raising money to help the unfortunate in our community. By the end of the season, these 13 players became a Team, nine boys and four girls working together. They represented Thunder Bay, and Canada, in Minneapolis, MN, at the Richfield Tournament in February, 2010. Remarkably, each and every player earned at least one point, en route to capturing the Championship. Now, as the season is winding down, the children are playing hard in the playoffs, and hoping to secure a spot in the league finals. These children were champions long before their Minneapolis victory. They are true ambassadors of the game, the Westfort Hockey League, the City of Thunder Bay, and Canada. They are upstanding young citizens, and they understand the concept of supporting each other and their community. They have worked very hard towards success in all of their endeavours, and now they need your support to help them "Bring Home the Cup."