Montreal hockey program inspiring girls from diverse communities

Inspiration glides on the Raymond Bourque Arena ice in Montreal’s Saint-Laurent as the Hockey 4 Youth Foundation and former NHL player and Hab, Georges Laraque, launched a hockey program for girls from diverse communities.

“It’s really fun,” said Maddie, one of the 28 girls participating in the initiative. “I’m learning how to skate!”

“It’s really fun being with them,” added another participant.

Helping to facilitate social inclusion, the mission offers free hockey and off-ice programming to the girls in grades five and six.

Former Montreal Canadiens Player & NHLER, Georges Laraque, helps participant tie skates. (Credit: Pamela Pagano/CityNews)

Laraque, among others, helped fund the program.

“We often talk about equality and inclusion, and it also includes girls,” explained the former Montreal Canadiens Player. “This foundation that provides free equipment to these girls, and we’re teaching them how to skate, it’s just awesome.”

Hockey 4 Youth has been offering programs to girls and boys since 2015.

“It costs almost $4,000 a year to get an 11- to 17-year-old into the game,” said the foundation’s founder, Moezine Hasham. “So we’ve removed all of those barriers.”

The foundation has worked with over 600 children and youth from 38 countries of origin including: Syria, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Vietnam and more.

Hockey 4 Youth founder, Moezine Hasham, helping a participant gear up for practice on Feb. 3, 2023. (Credit: Pamela Pagano/CityNews)

“We’ve learned how to jump,” said one participant.

“And we’ve learned how to pass pucks to each other,” added another.

According to the Institute of Canadian Citizenship, 71 per cent of newcomers express an interest in hockey but only 1 per cent will have an opportunity to play.

“It’s very important for girls to see that they belong on the ice,” said Hasham. “Especially girls of diverse backgrounds.”

“If they can see it, they can be it,” he added.

#WATCH: "It’s really fun," says Maddie, one of the 28 Montreal girls participating in @hockey4youth’s initiative facilitating social inclusion through free ice hockey and life-skills programming.

FOR MORE NEWS: https://t.co/Mkgse1PlDd pic.twitter.com/UMCoc4iCUd

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) February 4, 2023

Hockey 4 Youth’s Program Coordinator, Nayyara Shabbir, coaching the young girls in the program on Feb. 3, 2023. (Pamela Pagano/CityNews)

“I’ve been playing hockey for a long time,” said Nayyara Shabbir, the foundation’s project coordinator. “Being able to coach a bunch of girls is a dream come true.”

“I feel excited,” explained one of the participants skating alongside Shabbir. “I’m really honoured to be here.”

The Hockey 4 Youth Foundation team poses for a group photo on Feb 3, 2023. The initiative is for hockey program for girls from diverse communities. (Credit: Pamela Pagano/CityNews)

The practices in Montreal, not their only location.

The foundation is also inspiring at 11 high schools in Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa – launching more across the nation this year.

“Other than having a chair, I could just be there, hold them up and teach them how to skate,” said Laraque. “I didn’t have that when I was a kid, and I wish that I did.”