PMHC Supports Kawartha Komets

Here is the story written by Mike Davies that appeared in the Peterborough Examiner:

This is a special week for the Peterborough Minor Hockey Council for two reasons.

This weekend the PMHC’s AAA Petes will host their annual earlybird tournament for novice and atom players with a new name – the Pat Larock Kawartha Earlybird Tournament. The new name honours the the longest serving volunteer in PMHC history and the only person awarded a lifetime membership with the organization. Mr. Larock died in May 2011.

The PMHC also announced Wednesday during a press conference at East Side Mario’s that it has chosen the Jack McGee Kawartha Komets as its charity of choice for the 2012-13 season.

PMHC president Walter DiClemente presented Komets officials with the first of three $1,000 cheques to assist the special needs hockey program.

“As an organization, the Minor Petes have always been blessed with remarkable community support, both from our team and tournament sponsors and from some amazing and committed volunteers,” DiClemente said.

“The Kawartha Komets is a fabulous not-for-profit organization and they do great work. The Komets were launched in 2009 to give girls and boys, teens and adults with physical, emotional or neurodevelopmental challenges the opportunity to play the game we all love so much. It’s an opportunity for us to give back, to assist in some small way, to make sure young people with autism, Aspberger’s syndrome, ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome, Down syndrome and other challenges, have a chance to get out on the ice and have fun. After all, that’s what hockey is all about.”

DiClemente said the PMHC is pleased to honour Mr. Larock who volunteered selflessly for more than 50 years in minor hockey in Peterborough, many of them on the PMHC executive and board.

“Pat was Peterborough hockey,” DiClemente said. “It was all about the kids for Pat. His spirit will be on the ice with the kids this weekend for sure.”

The tournament features 45 teams, 15 in each division. Games will begin at 8 a.m. each day with action at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre, Evinrude Centre, Kinsmen Civic Centre and Northcrest Arena.   

mike.davies@sunmedia.ca