Kevin Cassidy has been “making hockey go on” in Centre Wellington for 26 years.
As a top 100 finalist in the Kraft Canada Hockey Goes On competition, he’s hoping people will vote to help him earn $100,000 to support the Centre Wellington Minor Hockey Association (CWMHA) and its 875 players.
“It’s a great opportunity for us … It would go a long way to supporting all we do,” said Cassidy, who has been president of CWMHA for the past two years.
Thinking about the future of hockey in the region has been a commitment of Cassidy’s since he moved to the area in 1986. A year later he joined the league’s executive as a hockey dad and volunteer coach in the local league.
“I’ve played hockey all my life,” Cassidy said. “Twenty-six years later I’m still doing it so the kids can go out and play the game of hockey and have the best year they can.”
Cassidy has served as a local and rep league director, scheduler, OMHA convenor, referee-in-chief and vice-president of rep and the CWMHA.
“He’s really driven and he is really here for our kids and the growth of Centre Wellington Minor Hockey,” said Christine Cook, vice president of CWMHA.
“Kevin believes in every kid having a chance to play and making it accessible.”
In his nomination bid Cassidy was recognized for his role in the amalgamation of the Fergus and Elora leagues: “When registration dropped at the older age groups, Kevin was one of the main instigators in the amalgamation of Fergus and Elora Minor Hockey to form Centre Wellington Minor Hockey, and was instrumental in seeing it through to a successful conclusion in 2008.”
Cassidy recalls the amalgamation was a difficult growth period for the association.
“We were creating a divide that didn’t exist. We created a Centre Wellington league because that’s what we are, Centre Wellington,” he said.
“We make decisions some times that aren’t popular, but that’s part of it [volunteering in the league]. The rewarding part is come September and October when you see the kids out on the ice. That makes it all worthwhile.”
Cassidy has recruited, developed and mentored many officials for both CWMHA and Grand River Girls Hockey in his role as referee-in-chief, another volunteer position.
Cook, who has worked with Cassidy since the amalgamation of the leagues, says Cassidy is approachable to the parents and the players.
“He’s pretty dynamic. He likes to be involved. He loves rep and local league. He loves hockey,” she said. “He knows what’s going on in all the leagues. He’s a good promoter of hockey for the local kids.”
In 2003, Cassidy was elected as president of the Tri-County Minor Hockey League, a position he has held ever since.
According to his wife, Cindy, who is also a volunteer and secretary for the CWMHA, her husband’s dedication to the promotion of the sport is tireless.
In an interview with the Advertiser, Cindy said, “It would take days to mention all the things he’s done behind the scenes every day for hockey. He lives for hockey.”
She adds that despite no longer having children in the sport, his commitment to the league has not waned.
“He’s always coming up with new ideas to make things better,” she said, noting his start of the Midget all-star team.
“Kevin has the right personality to handle the situations as they come … and he can turn things around.”
Cassidy credits his role as a referee for helping to balance the stress of volunteering in a sport that can be challenging.
“You have to be able to separate the people’s emotions and the game itself,” he said.
For Cassidy it all comes down to what hockey does for youths.
“Out there having fun on the ice, they get to play the game, they are developing life skills, hockey skills, social skills … that’s all that matters.”
Cassidy believes all children should have an opportunity to play and develop their skills, be it house league or select or rep hockey.
“If we don’t give them the opportunity, they will never know [what they’re capable of] and we will never know,” Cassidy said.
When asked why he loves the sport, Cassidy said, “I love the intensity, the camaraderie of the team, the friendships with the families on the teams, the skill level. It’s a fast-paced game.”
If he’s lucky enough to secure a spot in the top five of the Kraft Hockey Goes On contest, Cassidy said, “The money would go to minor hockey development, ice time, speciality clinics, programs, things like goalie clinics, all to develop the sport,” he said.
Five Hockey Canada-affiliated minor hockey associations will each receive $100,000 and 20 additional will each receive $20,000. Votes will help determine which hockey associations receive these donations.
Win or lose, CWMHA has benefited from 26 years of Cassidy’s dedication, and while he’s unsure what the future holds after his term as president ends this season, his passion for the community’s association is evident.
“I don’t’ think I’ve hit my best-before shelf life just yet … I am considering running for re-election. If I do, hopefully I can continue making Centre Wellington Fusion a great program.”
The contest’s online voting runs this weekend, from March 23 at 9am until March 24 at 11:59pm. To vote visit www.Krafthockeygoeson.ca. Participants can vote more than once. For more information and complete competition details, visit facebook.com/KraftHockeyGoesOn.
