Jordan McCreenor couldn't wipe the smile off of his face.
Standing in the Brennan Park community hall Tuesday (Sept. 21), McCreenor eagerly dug through and ripped off the plastic of his brand new hockey equipment.
It was all there - hockey skates, helmet and perhaps the most important piece of equipment of all, the jock strap.
It wasn't McCreenor's birthday and the gear was not just bought at a store, it was donated by the National Hockey League Players Association, KidSport B.C., KidSport Squamish and the Squamish Minor Hockey Association (SMHA)
McCreenor, a second year Pee Wee player, was one of five lucky SMHA players who won a random draw to receive a complete set of hockey equipment.
"It's awesome," he said, smiling as he tried on his shoulder pads. "I was totally amazed when I found out I won."
His father, Jordan McCreenor said he didn't even know his son was entered.
"They called us about two weeks after registration to ask for Jordan's sizes and that we had won a random draw for a full set of equipment," he said.
"We weren't even aware we were entered. It was really surprising but it's a good surprise, especially because we have three boys who play hockey and it's not a cheap sport."
Darwin Cardiff was another lucky recipient and his mother Cindy was brought to tears after seeing the brand new goalie equipment for the aspiring young netminder.
"Every year we let him pick out one new piece of equipment," she said. "So for him to have everything new is really special."
Tracy Parra's son Manny, a midget rep player, was another one of the winners.
"I was completely shocked," she said. "I was told that our name was put into a draw a month ago but we didn't enter anything. It really means a lot for us."
She said her son has been looking forward to the day for a while.
"He's been really excited and been counting down the days to come down and try the equipment on," she said.
David Thomson, the president of the SMHA explained that whenever KidSport opens up a new chapter, they donate sports equipment to help young athletes in the community.
The SMHA selected five names at random to represent five different age groups. He told the recipients to "pay it forward" by returning any equipment they grew out of back to the SMHA so another player could use it.
Other winners who weren't in attendance at the equipment pick-up ceremony on Tuesday (Sept. 21) were Evan Flett and Dexter Clarke.
For more information on KidSport B.C., visit www.kidsportcanada.ca.
