Halifax group brings street hockey to Mulgrave Park

Halifax group brings street hockey to Mulgrave Park

FUNSports aims to break down financial barriers keeping kids out of the game.

Dozens of Halifax kids gathered at a basketball court in Mulgrave Park on Saturday, but they weren't there to shoot hoops.

Instead, a local organization transformed the space — setting up nets on both ends of the court, handing out sticks, and fitting kids with protective gear so they could try their hand at road hockey.

David Green, the founder of FUNSports, said the event was designed to give children the chance to experience the sport at no cost to their families.

“Basketball is king here for sports, but of course a lot of kids want to try other things — whether it's hockey, tennis or baseball. They get excited to try something new,” Green said.

The Mulgrave Park public housing development was built in the 1960s. Green said that the rising cost of fuel, food and housing has hit families in this community particularly hard, often pricing them out of organized sports.

“What we like to do is bring in all the equipment so that the kids have access to it, bring in some great coaches, let them learn from qualified people, and ultimately, emphasize the fun,” he said.

Seven-year-old Farrah Miah-Falle said she takes any chance she can get to step on the pavement and play hockey. She said she appreciates the coaches coming directly to her neighbourhood.

“I support all the hockey players," she said, adding her dream is to one day play in the PWHL.

The young players weren't just learning from anyone; they were learning from local hockey royalty. Winnell Jackson, a volunteer with Hockey Nova Scotia, spent the afternoon teaching kids puck-handling, stick safety, and how to properly don their gear.

“I've already seen them pick up some skills. There's some pretty good players already, so hopefully we're going to see a few of these kids in the Olympics or playing for Team Canada someday,” Jackson said.

Jackson has been playing hockey since she was seven years old, a passion that runs in the family—she is the great-niece of hockey legend Willie O'Ree, the first Black player in the NHL.

For other kids, the day was simply about community connection. Semir Kadir, 11, has only been playing hockey for a month, but said the event was the perfect backdrop to hang out.

“I’m just here to chill and play with some friends,” Kadir said.

The event, officially called the Everybody Plays Celebrity Hockey Game, also brought out former NHLers, Olympians, and national-level athletes to play a game and raise awareness for FUNSports.

This year’s event held special weight, dedicated to the memory of Bill Riley, the first African Nova Scotian to play in the NHL and the third Black player in league history. Riley died earlier this year at age 75 after a battle with cancer.

Green described Riley as a “true gentleman.” He recalled first watching him play in the 1980s in Green's home province of Newfoundland. Even though Riley faced racism from the stands, Green said the trailblazer never stopped standing up for his community or mentoring the next generation.

“Bill Riley was doing a lot of work in the community promoting hockey with Black kids," Green said. "I had the pleasure of meeting him, and the conversations that I had with him stuck with me.”

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Giuliana is a journalist originally from Lima, Peru. She is interested in stories about rural Nova Scotia, science, the environment and more. If you have any story tips, you can reach her at giuliana.grillo.de.lambarri@cbc.ca.