NEWS
Hockey 4 Youth in the News
Catalyst Conversation II: Grassroots Reality - how is hockey becoming inclusive? (2023 Carnegie Initiative Summit)
Marco DiBuono, Canadian Tire Jumpstart President; Moezine Hasham, Hockey 4 Youth Founder and Executive Director; Brock McGillis*, LBGTQ+ Advocate; Anthony Stewart, Hockey Equality Chairman and Retired NHL Player. Moderator: Mari Horita, Seattle Kraken Senior Vice President, Social Impact & Government Relations
2023 Herb Carnegie Trailblazer Award - Moezine Hasham (The Carnegie Initiative)
To follow in the footsteps of Herb Carnegie and to receive an award with his family name on it is truly humbling. I dedicate this award to my entire immediate and extended family who arrived in Canada 50 years ago as refugees, to my wife Monika Amlani and Paul Hillman who were 2 of the first people who supported my journey to build this charity and to all of the newcomer youth and sidelined teens who continue to skate, fall and get back up.
Left to right: Stephane Friday, Nathaniel Mata, Zarmina Nekzai, Alexandria Briggs-Blake, Moezine Hasham, Kirk Brooks, Brock McGillis.
“To follow in the footsteps of Herb Carnegie and to receive an award with his family name on it is truly humbling. I dedicate this award to my entire immediate and extended family who arrived in Canada 50 years ago as refugees, to my wife Monika Amlani and Paul Hillman who were 2 of the first people who supported my journey to build this charity and to all of the newcomer youth and sidelined teens who continue to skate, fall and get back up.
Thank you to Bernice Carnegie & Bryant McBride and members of The Carnegie Initiative for selecting me as 1 of the first 7 Herb Carnegie Trailblazer Award recipients.I am incredibly humbled and proud to be accepting this award named after and pioneer Herb Carnegie, alongside Alexandria Briggs-Blake, Kirk Brooks, Brock McGillis, Nathaniel Mata, Stephane Friday and Zarmina Nekzai.
Please check out all of our stories and how we are making hockey more inclusive and accessible at https://carnegieinitiative.com/hcta/” - Moezine Hasham, Founder & Executive Director, Hockey 4 Youth
Moe is the youngest of four siblings, born in New Westminster, B.C., and grew up in Vancouver. His parents, Ismaili Muslim immigrants from Uganda, moved to a cooperative housing complex in in 1972. That year, all people of South Asian descent were expelled from Uganda by President Idi Amin. Hasham was attracted to street hockey and spent much of his time playing with the other neighborhood kids.
Hasham’s dream was to work with youth in hockey. He had met Willie O’Ree years earlier and never forgot the inspiration he’d felt observing firsthand the extensive advocacy work of the NHL’s first Black player. Hasham wanted to do something meaningful — he wanted to start his own organization and work with teenagers who were newcomers or from high-priority neighborhoods. His father offered straightforward advice: ‘Go and chase your dream.’
Hockey 4 Youth formed in 2015 and has since worked with over 500 teenagers from more than 34 countries of origin. It began running programs in Toronto, and has since expanded to Montreal and Ottawa, working with a total of nine high schools. By October, programming in Hamilton will be included, raising that number to 11.
ABOUT THE HERB CARNEGIE TRAILBLAZER AWARD
The Carnegie Initiative, in partnership with Canadian Tire Corporation, is excited to announce the launch of the Herbert Carnegie Trailblazer Award (HCTA) program. HCTA aims to honor the unsung heroes of the hockey world, recognizing those who use the sport as a vehicle to create positive social change, embodying the CI’s mission of ensuring that hockey is inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.
A Herbert Carnegie Trailblazer Award recipient is an unsung hero in the hockey community who, through their work and leadership in the sport, are paving the way for others, using the sport as a vehicle to create positive change. The HCTAs will be presented to each trailblazer at the historic Hockey Hall of Fame during the 2nd annual CI Summit in Toronto, January 2023.
The Hockey Jersey (Scotiabank)
Drumroll please 🥁...
We are THRILLED to announce that Hockey 4 Youth are the lucky recipient of proceeds coming from Scotiabank‘s new children's book, ‘The Hockey Jersey’. Since 2021, Scotiabank has set out on a mission to make hockey more inclusive.
Presenting ‘The Hockey Jersey’ - A modern children's hockey book that will help more kids see themselves in the game.
Drumroll please 🥁...
We are THRILLED to announce that Hockey 4 Youth are the lucky recipient of proceeds coming from Scotiabank‘s new children's book, ‘The Hockey Jersey’. Since 2021, Scotiabank has set out on a mission to make hockey more inclusive.
Presenting ‘The Hockey Jersey’ - A modern children's hockey book that will help more kids see themselves in the game.
To create the book, Scotiabank partnered with BIPOC children's author, Jael Richardson, and BIPOC illustrator, Chelsea Charles, crafting a beautiful hockey story with a diverse cast and modern storyline.
The book is officially available today at Indigo. Purchase your copy today and support Hockey 4 Youth: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/title-to-be-announced/9781552674840-item.html
Thank you to Scotiabank for including us in this incredible project!
“A story that will help change the face of hockey.”
Story Synopsis
It’s the day of the first hockey game and Kareema is about to take a big step into the locker room and into the world of hockey.
Overwhelmed and unsure of what’s ahead, Kareema enters the changeroom and meets her new teammates — a group of young players who are also wondering if they will fit in with the team and find their place in the game.
When their coach arrives with a bag full of brand new uniforms and hands each player their jersey, Kareema and her teammates will discover something special while they get dressed for the game.
As they take to the ice in their new uniforms, ready to play for the first time, Kareema will realize something unique about the game of hockey as her biggest fans cheer on.
““I wish I had a book like this – with a little girl on the cover when I was growing up.””
Hockey 4 Youth
This book doesn’t just help kids imagine themselves in the game, it helps them get on the ice. All proceeds from The Hockey Jersey will be donated to Hockey 4 Youth Foundation, an organization that fosters social inclusion for newcomer and high-priority youth through free ice hockey and its off-ice life skills program.
“A beautiful story that reflects the childhood dream we all share.”
Suzuki, Stacey, and Poulin Give Back in Montreal (Bauer Hockey)
Via Bauer Hockey: “Doing everything for the game means bringing hockey to underserved communities so all feel welcomed to play.
Last month, we teamed up with Hockey 4 Youth program to create a one-of-a-kind experience where girls would be gifted with full sets of new equipment.
The big surprise, however, was that Nick Suzuki, Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey were on hand to help us fit the players before testing the gear at a nearby rink.”
Via Bauer Hockey: “Doing everything for the game means bringing hockey to underserved communities so all feel welcomed to play.
Last month, we teamed up with Hockey 4 Youth program to create a one-of-a-kind experience where girls would be gifted with full sets of new equipment.
The big surprise, however, was that Nick Suzuki, Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey were on hand to help us fit the players before testing the gear at a nearby rink. Thank you to Sports Rousseau for helping us create these unforgettable moments. #EverythingForTheGame”
hockey for all | Welcome to Hockey – Hockey 4 Youth (Scotiabank)
Since 2015, Hockey 4 Youth has worked with over 550+ newcomer and high priority teens across the country. Scotiabank is proud to provide new Canadians the opportunity to become socially included in their communities through hockey.