Hockey Eastern Ontario & Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association - Media Advisory

OTTAWA, April 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Hockey Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association invite you to a press conference to introduce the launching of the Respect in Sport Parent Program.  A recurring theme which has been communicated at the rinks, in the media and at meetings during the season has been the message of "Respect in Hockey.  The Respect in Sport Parental Program is an opportunity to enhance education and awareness of the Respect in Sport message with stakeholders, to enhance the minor hockey experience.

Keeping Hockey fun and safe for kids remains a priority for Hockey Eastern Ontario. Beginning with the 2015/2016 hockey season, HEO will be requiring one parent or guardian of each IP or Novice player to complete the one-hour on-line Respect in Sport – Parent Program. Over 225,000 Parents in Canada are currently certified in this program, which is designed to help good parents become better sport parents, by helping to educate parents on their role in their child's engagement in sport, and how they can protect and support their child.

HEO becomes the seventh of the thirteen Hockey Canada Branches, which have made this program a requirement.

"We are committed to improving the culture of hockey, to ensure the game remains fun and safe for kids. We also want to ensure those supporting our kids, including coaches, officials and the many volunteers who make youth hockey happen, are protected and respected", says Mike Depratto, President of HEO. 

"The vast majority of parents are great at supporting their kids in hockey", says Debbie Rambeau, Executive Director of HEO. "However occasionally situations do arise where parents act inappropriately which detracts from the game. The Respect in Sport Parent Program helps to empower bystander, by educating parents on how their behavior may impact the game" says Rambeau.

Fast facts:

There are 24,280 minor hockey players within HEO which has jurisdiction over that part of Ontario lying east of and including the Counties of Lanark, Renfrew, and all of Leeds except the town of Gananoque and the portion west of Highway No. 32, and south of Highway No. 15 in the Provinces of Ontario.

Hockey Eastern Ontario will hold a Press Conference on Monday April 20^th, 2015 at 2:30 PM at the Richcraft Sensplex 813 Shefford Road, main lobby to launch the Respect in Sport Parent Program and will be joined by parents, players and former NHL player and abuse survivor, Sheldon Kennedy.

Participants:
Sheldon Kennedy, Co-founder Respect Group
Wayne McNeil, Co-founder Respect Group
Mark Allen, Respect Group, Ontario Director
Mike Depratto, President, Hockey Eastern Ontario
Denis Dumais, President, Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association
Jim Powell, Director of Risk & Safety, Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association
Ron Thompson, Risk, Safety & Conduct Management, Hockey Eastern Ontario

SOURCE Hockey Eastern Ontario

Image with caption: "Hockey Eastern Ontario & Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association - Media Advisory (CNW Group/Hockey Eastern Ontario)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150413_C7838_PHOTO_EN_14234.jpg

HEO: Rebecca Charette, [phone] [email protected]; Respect in Sport: Mark Allen [email protected] [phone]