U11 Rona Tigers Show Appreciation

On March 24, the Vermilion U11 Rona Tigers Tier 1 co-ed hockey team took time from their lunch period at school to visit Rona in Vermilion and present store owner Patrick Willis with a team photo as a token of appreciation for sponsoring their team this season.

Willis expressed his gratitude to the team, thanking them for the thoughtful gesture.

After their stop at Rona, the team made their way to Vermilion McDonald’s, where they presented owners James and Tamara Richer with a special golden jersey, signed by the entire team, in recognition of the McDonald’s sponsorship through the AtoMc Hockey program.

“The AtoMc Hockey program is a fantastic program to help support Minor hockey in the communities.  Especially Minor hockey at the U11 age group of 9-10 year old kids. Having two Grandkids in Minor Hockey myself, I understand the cost to both teams and parents, and proud we can support in this way. Supporting over 50,000 kids a year takes a lot of work, a quick shout out to Lia McKay in Toronto that works to make this a reality,” commented James Richer.

Now in its 14th year, the AtoMc Hockey program, organized by McDonald’s Canada, provides U11 house league teams across the country with a free set of primary game jerseys, socks, and coaching resources. This year, the Vermilion U11 Rona Tigers Tier 1 team was among the fortunate recipients.

Richer added, “We’re proud to play a small part in keeping kids active and engaged in sports.”

The program also includes a “Golden Moment” jersey, awarded to a player after each game who exemplifies dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The player also receives an iron-on patch to mark their achievement, which they can affix to their jersey, jacket, or hockey bag.

With support from generous local sponsors like Rona and the McDonald’s AtoMc program, it helps foster a positive and affordable experience for U11 players and their families, ensuring that hockey remains a fun and rewarding part of growing up in Vermilion.

“Our U11 Tigers Tier 1 Team would like to thank Vermilion Rona and McDonalds for supporting our local athletes and Minor Hockey Association. Our team is grateful for their support,” said Paul Hopaluk.