A set of hockey sticks used by members of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose have been given new life at the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre (WASAC), where they’ll be used by local youths dreaming of becoming the next Mark Scheifele or Jocelyne Larocque.

The sticks, which were damaged or broken during game play last season, were donated to Red River College by True North Sports and Entertainment, and repaired to nearly-new quality by students in RRC’s Aerospace Manufacturing program.

As part of the program’s curriculum, the students fixed the sticks using a variety of composite materials, then delivered them to WASAC, which since 1999 has been providing Indigenous and inner-city youth with access to sport and leisure activities.

“The kids and staff at WASAC really represent the spirit of community, and we are thrilled to provide them with this new equipment,” says RRC President Paul Vogt. “This project is a fantastic training opportunity for our students, who are learning to work with different composite materials, and as a bonus we are able to provide the younger generation of Winnipeg’s youth with opportunities to grow through sport.”

Vogt was joined at WASAC by RRC instructor Terry Morris (who led the project along with Chris Marek), to present the 18 sticks to WASAC participants, and join them in a game of hockey.

“We are humbled and excited to be recipients of NHL hockey sticks,” says WASAC Kids Camp coordinator Kate Doer. “These sticks were given to our children at summer camp and I know they’ll create many special road hockey memories as the kids imagine themselves as their hockey heroes.”

WASAC helps children and youth develop leadership skills and seeks to remove barriers that prevent them from reaching their goals. Its summer camps provide programming for kids from more than 70 schools from across Winnipeg, supplying transportation, nutrition and equipment.

“WASAC was born from the question ‘What if all children had access to sport?’ says Doer. “We were given the chance to answer this question thanks in large part to incredible partnerships like this one. These relationships were based on the belief that there is nothing too much to ask when making change for future generations.”

RRC’s composites model factory is located at the Stevenson Campus in Winnipeg, and is designed to replicate the environment in an aerospace composite manufacturing facility.