03/26/2024
The Frozen Forces Youth Development Program is a not-for-profit community engagement initiative that was established in 2024. Its focus is to provide young individuals with barrier-free access to hockey and hockey programs, irrespective of their gender, race, socio-economic status, geographic location, or skill level. The program aims to create a positive environment for the youth to build relationships and work collaboratively with local police officers to enhance their hockey skills and increase community engagement.
The program was established in 2024 by Jason Fransky, a native resident of Bancroft and an alumnus of Ontario Provincial Jr.A, NCAA, and OUA Hockey. Following his time as a student-athlete, Jason pursued a career in policing and is currently a member of the Bancroft Ontario Provincial Police Detachment. Bancroft is a small, rural, and low-income community where many families struggle to enroll their children in extracurricular activities and sports. The financial and geographic barriers make it difficult for Bancroft residents to access hockey programs. Jason's goal is to address this issue and provide access to hockey programs for the youth of the community.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of Bancroft is facing a difficult situation. Due to the lack of municipal funding and recent increases in overhead costs, they are struggling to keep their arena open. However, our community is coming together to support the arena, as we believe that here in Bancroft, hockey truly is a part of our DNA. To ensure that the youth in our community remain engaged in the sport and that public interest stays high, we have established the Frozen Forces Youth Hockey Development Program. This program provides a safe and fun environment for children to learn valuable life lessons while enjoying the sport they love. Hockey also offers unique benefits to our youth's mental and physical well-being. By participating in the sport, children can develop a range of social, emotional, behavioral, and psychological skills that will serve them well in the future. Ultimately, we believe that supporting the arena and the sport of hockey is a crucial investment in our community's future.
After participating in the hockey program, the young athletes will gain an understanding of the importance of respect, responsibility, and community involvement. They will collaborate with local officers from the Bancroft Ontario Provincial Police Detachment to complete volunteer initiatives. Our community members and businesses have always been invested in shaping our youth into future leaders. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the youth require our support and encouragement to regain their self-confidence and sense of belonging within the community. In a world that has lost its sense of touch and togetherness, we aim to reignite this relationship and foster an inclusive sense of belonging for all through the sport of hockey. By instilling these values in our youth, we hope to pass down this sentiment to future generations and create a brighter tomorrow.
In March 2024, the Frozen Forces Youth Hockey Development Program organized a free 3-day hockey program for 19 young participants. The program included several benefits such as individual hockey sweaters and socks, Timbits and other treats, 4 hours of on-ice training, water bottles, road hockey balls, and numerous other goodies and prizes. These benefits were provided by Tim Hortons Corporate, our local Tim Hortons restaurant owners, Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart, the UOIT Ridgebacks – Men’s and Women’s Hockey Program, and Ultramar - Home Heating. In return, the youth will participate in volunteering initiatives throughout the Town of Bancroft to demonstrate their gratitude towards the sponsors, the community, and the sport of hockey.
The Frozen Forces Youth Development Program is excited to plan and organize new hockey programs! Our goal is to keep local youth interested and engaged in the sport while fostering positive relationships and teaching valuable life skills. We believe this program will be an excellent opportunity for young people to develop their hockey skills and grow as individuals.
Don't be surprised if you see our young Frozen Forces hockey players sporting their Tim Hortons Jerseys while completing their volunteering initiatives in the community.
If you are interested in helping support this cause and would like to donate towards future programs please reach out to Jason at:
[email protected]
