Four years ago, the Reach Forth Hockey organization struggled to attract local youngsters to play hockey in Drayton.
From two teams in 2012, the league has grown to eight teams with 99 children registered for the 2015-16 season.
“We heavily promoted the organization for two years solid to the schools, churches, friends and basically word of mouth to get where we are today,” said administrator Dirk Kuepfer.
“The organization has gone from barely getting two teams together to attracting players from Wellesley, Elora, Listowel, Arthur, Elmira and all points in between.”
Reach Forth is a Christian-based hockey organization that promotes non-competitive hockey for boys and girls aged 5 to 14. Each team is allotted an hour and 15 minutes for drills, development of skills, scrimmages and a devotional time off ice in the dressing room. Ice time is scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays after school and Saturday afternoons.
“Hockey players of every ability, from beginners to rep players, register with us. Some players go on to play rep hockey and others who have played rep don’t want the commitment that organized hockey requires,” Kuepfer explained. “They don’t want the travel or to spend the time required and like the non-competitive nature of this organization.”
Registration fees allow the Reach Forth organization to supply a jersey for each player, plus goalie pads for each goalie. Also included is a year-end banquet with each player receiving a team and individual picture and a trophy.
The guest speaker at this year’s banquet on March 21 at the PMD arena was Charles Spaling. He and his wife Lorrie raised four active children who were heavily involved in Sports.
“God has blessed our children over the years. We have and still continue to enjoy Sports and have made many lifelong friends. Our family is happy and excited for Nick and his NHL career. The community has been very supportive,” Spaling said.
Daughter Nicole played on the first girls hockey team in Drayton and on the high school hockey team. She pursued a college education and currently works as a dental hygienist. Nicole is mother to the Spalings’ first grandson.
Sons Nathan and Nick enjoyed hockey careers beginning with minor hockey in Drayton, progressing through the ranks to Triple A in Huron-Perth and Waterloo.
From Junior B in Listowel the brothers moved onto the OHL, with Nathan playing with the Guelph Storm and Nick the Kitchener Rangers. Nathan went on to play Canadian university hockey and is engaged to be married this summer.
Nick has played with four NHL teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. Working together Nick and Nathan have established a hockey school in Drayton.
Natasha, the Spalings’ youngest daughter, played baseball and volleyball as a youngster. After playing with the University of Waterloo volleyball team, Natasha now travels to schools in the Waterloo Region talking to students about Sportsmanship, being a team player and a role model. She plans to pursue a career in coaching.
“Life is more than Sports. Sports teaches life values. Athletes should act as Christians on and off the ice and sitting in the stands as spectators. They are representatives of their family and of God. It’s important to work together with everyone, wherever God leads you,” Spaling said. “Nick speaks to youth groups about the battle he faces being a Christian in the NHL.”
Spaling shared photos of his children on the ice as youngsters and the same picture was redone as they became adults.
“In closing, have fun and never give up your stand as a Christian,” Spaling said.
For more information on the Reach Forth program email reachforth@hotmail.ca.
