"We are trying to create somewhere fun and something different:” Rink Rebels making a difference on and off the ice
What started as an idea between two friends has grown into a nationally recognized hockey program.
Doug Grandy and Ryan Burns have been involved in the female hockey system in Fredericton for a while. Their daughters both played the sport and came through the local ranks. As a result, they saw firsthand the fallacies and challenges within the system.
In response to what they saw, Grandy and Burns asked what could be done to better support female players in the community. The need for change inspired Grandy to set up his garage and taught players how to shoot.
Things only snowballed from there.
"When the girls came over, we had a lot of talks about hockey and confidence ... and it blossomed to start doing on-ice sessions with the Fredericton High School team," said Grandy. "And then it went into spring … By that time, we had a lot of attention and a lot of families just asking what's next."
Today, Grandy has made it his mission to help young female hockey players succeed both on and off the ice.
He and Burns have built Rink Rebels, a female-based hockey organization, into a place where young women can come and feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves.
"We are trying to create somewhere fun and something different," he said.
Grandy and his staff find that the time when young female athletes are between the ages of 14 and 16 is a "crucial time" in their athletic journey. He saw his sister climb the ladder of women's hockey before having nowhere left for her to play.
Therefore, creating a place like Rink Rebels can hopefully keep young women playing the sport for a longer period and help keep them out of trouble.
“I feel like we've created a good little buzz here. We really want to stick to our motto and make sure that everybody who wants to be involved can be involved," said Grandy.
"We're not going to accomplish that every time. There's obstacles that you must go through, but if we stick to that core idea and that core movement, I think we're going to be okay.”
One of the ways the organization is making a difference in the community is through their annual Friendship Tournament. The event, which fosters a sense of connection between female hockey players, took place in early August. Participants came from across the Maritimes, Ontario and as far as Nunavut.
This year’s Friendship Tournament doubled in size from last year.
These events also give players the opportunity to learn from female role models. Abby Hustler was someone who provided guidance at the Friendship Tournament. Hustler is the first player from Prince Edward Island to play in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Former St. Thomas University (STU) Women’s Hockey players have also not shied away from donating their time. Kat Pelowich and Katie Sweeney helped with the camps last summer, while Claire Nimegeers has also been part of the group.
"It's been a cool little partnership over the years,” said Grandy. “The girls loved learning from those players. Having those two role models come out of St. Thomas has been nothing short of amazing — we’re always looking for those university players to come down and leave an impression on these girls.”
Grandy recently received recognition for his work with the Rink Rebels from the National Hockey League. He was nominated by Bill Hunt, a local journalist, for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award.
The award is given to someone who has had a positive impact on their community through hockey.
Winning the award was something Grandy called a "huge honour." However, he credited the victory to the people around him. Grandy is only one part of the puzzle of the work that goes on with the Rink Rebels.
Still, seeing his name beside O'Ree's is "pretty special."
"Rink Rebels is not something I did on my own … The work [Ryan] puts in is intangible ... So the kudos is really to him and to the community around me. I had an idea and everybody around me is what executed it," he said.
"It makes me happy that I'm able to help connect these people, connect with these families and see the parents and kids happy.”
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