Osoyoos Coyote #25 Bryson Rody on the ice during the team’s last game of the season on Saturday night. (Vanessa Broadbent photo)
Dear Editor:
As a father of a young man chasing a dream of his to play higher levels of hockey, a lot of times things get lost along the way of paths not unlike this.
Whether you’re playing in small or big-town Canada or the USA, this journey is not shared alone.
Communities come together to support these kids and bring them into their families in situations such as billet homes, who offer a safe, not unlike home, place of refuge.
Local restaurants, out of the kindness of their hearts, give these kids a team discount and make them feel like special, not unlike celebrities.
The local community continues to leave their homes on game nights and pay a fee to watch these young men whose last names change from year to year, but the community support never seems to waver.
• Read more: Coyotes’ season ends, but not without a fight
The local broadcaster makes all feel welcome with shout-outs to the players’ parents and family members watching throughout North America.
Team personnel work above and beyond behind the scenes, whether it be doing laundry, selling 50-50, taking tickets, working the booths, or simply cheering in costume and sometimes out, or posting social media updates and pictures.
The team owner works tirelessly providing an opportunity for 23 young men to continue their search for growth both as hockey players and people in society.
The coaches give of themselves when the financial reward is secondary to the gratification that they have indeed created an impact on these kids’ lives.
A shout-out to all who do this year in and year out in places all around North America… but especially the wonderful people in Osoyoos, B.C. for providing all that and more throughout this past hockey season for my son and his great teammates on the Osoyoos Coyotes hockey team.
Vaughan Rody, Bryson Rody’s dad
