Over the Christmas holidays, one local team learned that while it’s good to have goals, sometimes it’s the assist that’s more important — especially off the ice.
Don McGugan’s U12 B/BB team had a team bonding experience unlike many, not only helping volunteers at the Inn of the Good Shepherd with sorting donations, but also assisting a family in need, in making Christmas a little brighter.
“It was amazing, it was great to see,” said McGugan, who was approached by Jessica Ysebaert, a parent on the team, with the idea to participate in the Adopt-a-Family program through the Inn as a team-building initiative.
“She came to me with an idea of doing two things,” McGugan said of Ysebaert.
One of those ideas was the Adopt-a-Family program, which assigns participants to a family in need; participants shop for gifts to be donated to the family for Christmas.
“At first, I wanted to organize some type of team-building for my son's hockey team — something that would bring them closer as a team both on and off the ice,” Ysebaert said via email. “Different ideas were tossed around, but most of them would end up costing money and have no real lasting impact on the kids.”
That’s when she reached out to Lynn Lafaive, the Inn’s Volunteer Coordinator, looking for any volunteer opportunities for youth.
“Lynn… quickly responded to my inquiry and also informed me of the Adopt-a-Family program. I passed this information along to the parents and without hesitation, everyone was on board.”
In addition to the program, McGugan’s team also spent a Saturday volunteering and learning about the different services offered by the Inn, as well some insight on how much the programs are relied upon — something McGugan says really opened his players’ eyes.
“We got a tour of the Inn,” McGugan told the Journal. “When the volunteer coordinator went through the amount of food they go through, and the amount of people they serve as well as the other services they provide, like the tax returns, you could have heard a pin drop in the room. The players were incredibly attentive and it really opened their eyes to a lot of things.”
“It is hard to express in words how I felt after leaving our volunteer session at the Inn,” Ysebaert added. “As a team, we went there to sort various items, but left with much more.
“Not only did we leave with a breadth of information as to everything that the Inn offers, but the lesson that people, individuals, and families don't choose this for themselves.”
Indeed, Ysebaert said it was a remarkable and eye-opening experience to see all the moving parts and services offered by the Inn, in person – something she believes taught the kids something.
“There are so many incredible organizations and groups that run and collect for the Inn, I wanted the boys to see what happens to everything afterwards,” Ysebaert continued.
McGugan said he believes his role as a coach is more than just leading his team to victory.
“We’re trying to teach better wrist shots, defensive zone coverage and fore-checking, but I am also trying to teach other things in life — bigger picture things — and this was one of them, and it was really well received by the players.”
When it came to the Adopt-a-Family, McGugan says they were given a budget that his team exceeded as they went shopping for the family they were assigned.
It was an experience that Ysebaert said left her feeling proud.
“The Inn matched us with a perfectly fitting family… once the monetary donations were collected, a handful of the boys, another mom and myself went shopping. The boys were given a task, a wish list and a budget, and they nailed it. It was a great experience.”
It’s something all minor teams, in any sport, should participate in, Yseabaert added.
“Not only will it bring teams together, it will hopefully keep players humble, both on and off the ice.
“Teach them to be kind, respectful humans. You never know the struggles of one person, so just be kind and give back when you can.”
Both McGugan and Ysebaert were extremely proud of their boys and feel they all learned a lot from the experience — and that even the simplest of gestures can help those struggling.
“That smiling or saying hello to someone who is struggling could change the course of their day,” Yseabaet said. “It is easier to be nice and smile, than to be rude and ignore.”
As for on the ice, the team is sporting a 6-4-4 record, qualified for the tier 1 loop, and has been a finalist in two tournaments so far.
Next up for the U12 B/BB team — a trip to Buffalo for an outdoor tournament.
For those who wish to help out with the Inn of the Good Shepherd in the coming new year, contact Lynn LeFaive, the volunteer co-ordinator with the Inn by email at [email protected] or give the Inn of the Good Shepherd a call at (519)344-1746.