Rinks to Links Exposes Cochrane & Calgary Kids to the Game

On July 28th, 30 kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cochrane and Calgary took part in Every Kid Every Community’s Rinks to Links program injunction with the 2015 ATB Financial Golf Classic.

In the second year of the Rinks to Links event, PGA Golf Professionals Spence Fulford, Chase Seiffert, and Justin Snelling took time out of their busy PGA Canada Mackenzie Tour schedules to spend the morning with the kids on the golf course. During their tour of The Links at GlenEagles Golf Club in Cochrane, the pros put on putting, driving, and chipping tutorials for the kids.

From there, the kids were shuttled to the Cochrane Arena where they were outfitted in head to toe hockey equipment to not only use that day, but also to take home and keep thanks to Hockey Alberta Foundation’s partnership with Comrie’s Sports Equipment Bank, United Cycle, and ATB Investor Services. As if this "Christmas in July" wasn’t enough, the kids were visited by two-time Women’s Hockey Olympic Gold Medalist, Carla MacLeod and ECHL Colorado Eagles Goalie, Jason DeSerres; who both joined the kids and volunteers on the ice for an hour long session.

“Any chance you get to be involved with a group like this you jump at it,” says MacLeod. The kids were eager to take photos of themselves wearing her medals. “Just to see their reactions and their faces light up, and then to go out on the ice to see the real magic - it was nice to be able to share their enjoyment.”

Since the launch of Every Kid Every Community in 2011, more than $205,000 has been distributed to groups across Alberta. These funds have supported programs and individuals in over 30 communities and more than 2000 kids.

Click here to view photos from the event. For a behind the scenes look at the Rinks to Links day in Cochrane, watch the video below courtesy of the Mackenzie Tour.