The storm that hit Saskatchewan earlier this week left many roads closed and many residents stranded or stuck.
One of the many was the U13A Thunder Hockey Team, practicing at the Stardome in Balgonie.
The team, which is made up of kids from Balgonie, Pilot Butte, and White City, started practice at 6:15 p.m. and after a couple of parents tested the weather, Adriel Picard, assistant coach for the U13A Thunder, said they realized that they would be stuck at the rink longer than expected.
That’s when the rink staff and parents stepped up.
“The rink staff put on some burgers and made burgers and fries for all the kids. Then the guy who drives the Zamboni and takes care of the facility came to talk to us and offered to do an ice cleaning so we could continue to practice since there was nothing else to do.”
Picard says they went and practised for a couple more hours before one of the parents brought them hot chocolates for the team.
He said overall, they were stuck for five hours, but looking back wouldn’t have changed a thing.
“As annoying as it was for some of the parents to be stuck for that long, the boys and girls all keep talking about it, and it seems a very memorable experience for all of them,” Picard said. “It’s kind of the small-town feel where everybody takes the best of a poor situation and just helps out. It was very kind of the staff to do that,” he said. “It’s nice to have that person that cares and doesn’t just want to abandon and helps the kids out to have a good time.”
He added that the kids had a blast with the whole experience.
