Learning to skate is a common rite of passage for young Canadians, whether on a frozen lake or a local rink. Just about anyone who lives here, including those new to the country, will be compelled to try it out at some point.
Mahmoud Almsalama has five children, four of whom have participated in ISANS’ New to Hockey program. The program goes from October to March each season, teaching the fundamentals of hockey while emphasizing teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership skills.
Shadi, 14, and his younger brother Abdalrohman, 13, have been doing the New to Hockey Program for four years. Mohammed, 7, has just started the program; he enjoys playing freeze tag as one of the hockey drills.
“I like hockey because you get to meet new people and play with them,” says Abdalrohman. “I like learning new tricks and playing games. And you get to skate and race people.” One of his favourite tricks is jumping up and stopping on the ice. Shadi similarly loves to skate, and now that the boys have all the basics, they want to join a local team and keep playing.
“I put them in hockey because they can go and skate,” Mahmoud tells us. “We are here in Canada, so hockey was the first sport we put them in.” He tried skating without much luck, joking that his children are much better.
Mahmoud and his family are originally from Syria. In 2012, when the country’s ongoing conflict spread to his area, they lost everything, so he and his wife took their three children to live in Jordan. Around three years later, they got a call from the United Nations letting them know they were approved to come to Canada. Mahmoud asked if Canada would be good for his children, and when the UN agent said yes, Mahmoud said, “ok, let’s go.”
When they first arrived in Canada, Mahmoud’s family took time to settle, the kids started school, and they worked on their English-language skills. Then, Mahmoud explored more ISANS programs, and after hearing about the New to Hockey program from a friend, he discovered all the ways his children could participate in sports and the many benefits participating in sports have for the whole family.
The kids have made great friends, expanding their community outside their school peers. And Mahmoud, too, has made friends. By talking and spending time with the parents of his children’s teammates, he’s made connections while also getting to practice his English.
Participating in New to Hockey also encouraged the kids to try swimming, judo, and kickboxing. Through these sports, and in all parts of his children’s lives, Mahmoud wants to push them to succeed and do everything he can to foster their passions.
Shadi has his bronze medallion in swimming and is now working toward his first-aid license. He says that “when you get in the water, you just calm down and work hard. You get to learn new swimming techniques or how to save someone.”
Abdalrohman says he likes swimming simply because it’s fun. In the future, he may work as a lifeguard during the summers; but, he would rather be a hockey player, he says, smiling.