With no OHL season yet, Kitchener Rangers stay active off-ice with charitable work
Rangers outreach program inspired 4 players to promote their own charities
The OHL season may be on ice until further notice but that hasn't stopped the Kitchener Rangers and some of its players from taking part in community outreach programs for local charities.
They're all virtual events including the popular Don Cameron Potato Night, now in its 25th year which collects potatoes to provide a meal and help families in the region.
Chief operating officer Joe Birch and his team readjusted a number of live events held through their community program called Rangers Reach.
"We have a platform and we have the ability to help through the great partnership and collaboration of Rangers Reach," said Birch.
"Our whole goal was to give and to help and to find ways to just use our platform and to find ways to not miss things that would be normal for people."
That includes the online version of the Potato Night. As well the team changed its annual Teddy Bear toss to a virtual event that sold T-shirts. During the annual Thanksgiving Day game food drive, the team took part in a food drive at a local Zehrs grocery store.
Birch says Rangers Reach is also planning to announce initiatives connected to BIPOC programming and another the team will announce by the end of February.
The team outreach also inspired four players to support their own causes during the pandemic.
- Francesco Pinelli, who was named Community Champion for Family and Children Services (FACS).
- Reid Valade is a Hockey Gives Blood Ambassador.
- Jesse Fishman is an Ambassador for Colorectal Cancer.
- Donovan Sebrango is an Ambassador with National Service Dogs.
Missing the game
But Birch, like other members of the organization, misses the game. The team is maintaining virtual contact with the players until they receive official word on when training camps can start and the games can begin.
"To the credit of Mike McKenzie, our general manager and head coach, and his hockey operations staff, they meet almost weekly with the players, whether it's through group settings or individual settings," said Birch.
"What they've been trying to do is to stay engaged with the kids and just make sure that they're OK, because this would be really, really difficult for all of them. Whether you're a 20 year old entering his last season or you're a young guy entering his first year, this isn't easy for anybody."