Brockville Winter Classic Expands Mission to Grow the Game for All Kids

New Additional $21,000 Funding Pool Announced on Tuesday to Support Minor Hockey Families

Brockville — Since 2015, the Brockville Winter Classic has proudly supported the ongoing revitalization of Rotary Park, transforming it into a hub for community, connection, and Canada’s game. Now, the Winter Classic is continuing to expand its mission — from rebuilding a rink to building the game itself.

On Tuesday, May 27th, the Brockville Winter Classic committee announced at Rotary Park in Downtown Brockville new initiatives they will be supporting.

Announcement below courtesy of Facebook/Brockville Winter Classic:

This past year, the Winter Classic launched its first major initiative, Little Blades, aimed squarely at growing the game. The organization committed to fully subsidizing ice costs for U7 programs within the Brockville Minor Hockey Association (BMHA) and the Brockville Angels, eliminating financial barriers for young skaters entering the sport.

The results were nothing short of incredible:

• 62% increase in Brockville Angels U7 registration
• 44% increase in BMHA U7 registration

“Our Little Blades pilot was about opening the door,” says the BWC team. “Every child should have the chance to play hockey, even if it’s something their family never thought possible.”

The next phase of the Winter Classic’s vision focuses on retention, giving families the support they need to keep their children in the game beyond the first season.

The Brockville Winter Classic is proud to announce the launch of a $21,000 BWC Plays It Forward fund for the 2025–2026 season. This initiative aims to support up to 70 players from U9 and up in both the Brockville Minor Hockey Association (BMHA) and the Brockville Angels by providing bursaries to help offset registration costs.

This exciting new program comes in addition to our ongoing commitment to the Little Blades U7 Initiation program, where we plan to maintain—and likely increase—our funding support for the 2025–2026 season with the potential for higher enrollment numbers.

To ensure the program’s success, the Brockville Winter Classic is proud to partner with Their Opportunity, a national charity with proven experience managing funding programs that increase access to sport. Their Opportunity will lead the application process, program oversight, and distribution of bursaries — all in line with the Winter Classic’s core values and criteria.

Adding a personal connection to the initiative, Randy Gill, a proud Brockville native, will lead the partnership on behalf of Their Opportunity. “It’s exciting to be part of something that’s not only growing the game, but investing in the kids and families of my hometown,” says Gill.

This new initiative is one of many steps the Brockville Winter Classic is taking to ensure that cost is never a barrier to participation in the sport that defines our community.

Another example of our commitment to community collaboration is our partnership not only with Their Opportunity but also with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Leeds and Grenville to support the development of their Big Fan Program. This initiative pairs a caring mentor with a child for the duration of a sports season, with the mentor committing 2–8 hours per month to attend practices and games, provide transportation, and cheer them on from the stands.

The Brockville Winter Classic is proud to promote and help connect community members with this program. By becoming a Big Fan, mentors ensure every child has the opportunity to play, grow, and feel supported both on and off the field. To learn more or sign up, visit: https://mentoringmatters.ca/our-programs/.

In addition to the Little Blades & BWC Plays It Forward Programs, the Brockville Winter Classic is excited to announce the early development of a new Equipment Exchange Program, aimed at further supporting local families. Set to launch in time for the 2025–2026 season, this initiative will offer gently used and new gear to young players in need, reducing one of the biggest financial barriers to entry and continued play. The Winter Classic is proud to be working alongside Canarm, Racer’s Edge, and Canadian Tire as foundational partners in bringing this vision to life.

“The BWC team is excited to fully develop our long-term vision of supporting kids getting into—and staying in—hockey while offering meaningful ways to offset the cost,” says the Winter Classic team. “We believe this effort will not only support the growth of the game but also allow more families to experience everything hockey has to offer.”

The Brockville Winter Classic invites media and community members to join us for our official press event on May 27th at 11:30 a.m. at Rotary Park to celebrate this announcement and our collective commitment to inclusion, community, and the love of the game.

For more information about the bursary program and other Winter Classic initiatives, visit www.brockvillewinterclassic.ca.