by PAUL RAYNER

When the Boissevain Broncos put on new jerseys, there will be an extra reason for the community to be proud.

The high school hockey team has hit on a unique way to help raise funds for the new duds. According to coach Travis Laing, it came from a program both he and his co-coach Corey Billaney were familiar with from the Brandon University Bobcats. The university had an “adopt a Bobcat” concept which linked members of the hockey team with members of the Brandon community. They both felt an expanded project of this type would help the local program.

“We’ve been looking at getting new jerseys, because the ones we have are 12 years old,” Laing explained. “ We priced out home and away jerseys at about $5,000. The whole town has been fundraised to death, so this was a way to give something back.”

The basic concept of the Adopt a Bronco program is for a business in Boissevain to sponsor one member of the squad to pay for a home and away jersey. For the $200 price, the business will get recognition through a sign in the rink and some ad space in Bronco programs. Perhaps more importantly, they will get something in return from their Bronco.

The plan is for each sponsoring business to receive 80 hours of volunteer labour from a member of the hockey squad. Spread out over ten years, this is eight hours per annum. There are many positives to this.

“It will help us make more friends in the community, maybe bridge that generation gap, get the kids known by more of the adults in the community.”

Volunteering is an important part of life in Boissevain at any rate, and is encouraged within the school. Laing said part of the hockey program in BCI is expanding the lessons learned beyond the ice, and this will help accomplish this.

“We are all about the skills you use in life,” he stated. “They will go and introduce themselves, help in a business. This helps promote life skills. The whole idea works on three levels. We can get new jerseys, the businesses get volunteers and advertising and the kids enhance their names and give us a few fans.”

They have been approaching businesses, and Laing said at this point, only one has said no. At the time of speaking, they had 17 jerseys spoken for. They are looking at getting around 20 sponsored, but Laing said they are happy enough with the progress they have made.

“We went around in August and the response has been terrific. We didn’t expect it to go so well.”

Businesses do have the option of requesting a specific player. But one has to remember; many will be filling the role over the ten-year period of the donation. It gives an opportunity for people in the business community to meet a whole generation of student players.

“It will help put faces to names. This could be of long-term benefit for us and the sponsors. Doing this will be one of the requirements for being on the team.”

Helping maintain the image of young people in general is an important issue in itself. Often, the bad actions of a few can tarnish the names of the many. On the other side of the coin, sometimes there is a lack of understanding of the damage thoughtless actions can have. Laing hopes the Adopt a Bronco program can play a role in correcting the situation.

“When something goes bad, they say ‘those kids’ or ‘those Broncos’,” Laing stated. “It’s a good idea to bridge that gap, show people another side. For the kids, they might think before they do something stupid, because they know that person.”

Not all of the money for the jerseys will come from the program. The school’s Youth in Philanthropy program has contributed, they have done fund-raisers, they plan to sell the old jerseys and the family of former Bronco James Turtle has also contributed.

The plan is to start the year off, at their annual tournament in October, with the new uniforms. By the time the roster is set, the Broncos will be ready to be matched with the businesses. For Laing, the whole situation is a win-win.

“The businesses get volunteer time and 10 years of advertising in the rink, we get new jerseys, the kids get a good image around town and we get some new fans. In theory, this will work and I can’t see it not working.”