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In anticipation of Canada’s sesquicentennial celebrations, the Citizen’s Bruce Deachman has been out in search of Ottawans — 150 of them — to learn their stories of life and death, hope and love, the uncommon and the everyday. We’ll share one person’s story every day until Canada Day.
Joe Kuffner: “Both our boys, Brendan and Ryan, play hockey. Ryan, our oldest, is playing at Princeton University. Brendan plays intramural at Queen’s. When they were younger, they played summer hockey with the Sens Triple-A. Hence we got some hand-me-down fan apparel.
“We had no idea that the kids would be interested in sports. Debbie’s an academic and former principal. I’m a former director in the government. But then the kids start waking you up at six in the morning, asking to be taken to the rink.
“Really, it was around 2000 – Ryan was born in 1996 – and he got all the information from his friends and told us we had to sign him up. Hockey for both boys was from 7 to 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Brewer Arena. Ryan was the one who made sure we all got there on time.
“We lived on Fourth Avenue and in the winter months, we had a city rink next door, in the Mutchmor schoolyard, that had been there since 1932. But it was impossible for little kids to get on the surface as it was packed with all the community. So we built a backyard rink – 25 feet by 40 – a tiny, little spot. And all the four- and five-year-old kids in the neighbourhood came over to play. We even had a viewing area for the parents from our kitchen.”
Deb Kuffner: “I remember this one time the kids did not want to come in for supper, they didn’t want to come in and take their skates off, so we brought this big long table outside and brought this spaghetti supper out to them.”
Joe: “It’s one of those moments that you hear about, and you don’t necessarily realize that it is happening in every community in Canada. So we were just being Canadians.”
Deb: “Watching the boys grow up up playing hockey, and Joe playing as well, I knew that I would like to give it a try. So, when I retired, I said, ‘Oh my gosh, if you can’t beat them, join them,’ and Joe got me suited up with full equipment and I played hockey in a mixed league.
“That year, too, with the help of a few friends, we organized an auction for Heroes Hockey, an organization out of Toronto, and we were able to put 20 disadvantaged kids on the ice for one year with the proceeds from the auction. And Brendan raises money every year for Hockey Helps the Homeless tournament. And I would love, love, love to see everyone who signs up for hockey pay a little extra, say $10, and have it put in a pot to get more disadvantaged kids on the ice.”
— Deb and Joe Kuffner. Lansdowne Park, May 23, 2017.
bdeachman@postmedia.com
查看原文...
Joe Kuffner: “Both our boys, Brendan and Ryan, play hockey. Ryan, our oldest, is playing at Princeton University. Brendan plays intramural at Queen’s. When they were younger, they played summer hockey with the Sens Triple-A. Hence we got some hand-me-down fan apparel.
“We had no idea that the kids would be interested in sports. Debbie’s an academic and former principal. I’m a former director in the government. But then the kids start waking you up at six in the morning, asking to be taken to the rink.
“Really, it was around 2000 – Ryan was born in 1996 – and he got all the information from his friends and told us we had to sign him up. Hockey for both boys was from 7 to 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Brewer Arena. Ryan was the one who made sure we all got there on time.
“We lived on Fourth Avenue and in the winter months, we had a city rink next door, in the Mutchmor schoolyard, that had been there since 1932. But it was impossible for little kids to get on the surface as it was packed with all the community. So we built a backyard rink – 25 feet by 40 – a tiny, little spot. And all the four- and five-year-old kids in the neighbourhood came over to play. We even had a viewing area for the parents from our kitchen.”
Deb Kuffner: “I remember this one time the kids did not want to come in for supper, they didn’t want to come in and take their skates off, so we brought this big long table outside and brought this spaghetti supper out to them.”
Joe: “It’s one of those moments that you hear about, and you don’t necessarily realize that it is happening in every community in Canada. So we were just being Canadians.”
Deb: “Watching the boys grow up up playing hockey, and Joe playing as well, I knew that I would like to give it a try. So, when I retired, I said, ‘Oh my gosh, if you can’t beat them, join them,’ and Joe got me suited up with full equipment and I played hockey in a mixed league.
“That year, too, with the help of a few friends, we organized an auction for Heroes Hockey, an organization out of Toronto, and we were able to put 20 disadvantaged kids on the ice for one year with the proceeds from the auction. And Brendan raises money every year for Hockey Helps the Homeless tournament. And I would love, love, love to see everyone who signs up for hockey pay a little extra, say $10, and have it put in a pot to get more disadvantaged kids on the ice.”
— Deb and Joe Kuffner. Lansdowne Park, May 23, 2017.
bdeachman@postmedia.com
查看原文...
