The U10 AAA Peterborough Petes were in the giving spirit as the team gave presents to children treated at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) on Thursday.
There were 17 Petes who participated in the event along with their families and coaches to spread holiday cheer to the PRHC. The team collaborated with the health centre a week ago to arrange a day for all the children to meet for the gift exchange.
Each Pete was given a gift request from the children at the PRHC. The team fulfilled those wishlists and returned with nine presents for the hospitalized children.
“It was a good learning curve for the U10s to give back and that’s what we wanted to teach them,” said Chad Cavanaugh, U10 Petes head coach. “We wanted to do something for the community and the kids wanted to give back.”
This act of generosity was a feeling of moral obligation that Cavanaugh wanted to instill in his players. That there is more to life than just hockey and giving back was vital, regardless of status.
“I think it’s good for kids to learn lessons outside of hockey and help kids that they may not have the skills or health that they have,” he explained.
The team participated in an exhibition of parents versus kids hockey on the same night.