ALBERTON, P.E.I. — Jason Milligan was surprised and delighted when he heard that he’d won an outdoor rink building kit from Canadian Tire’s Operation Puck Drop.
“I was pretty excited, to be honest,” he said. “I’ve always had a little bit of luck … but it’s been a while since I won anything. It really caught me off guard.”
Milligan heard about the contest one night in November. He was watching television with his wife, scrolling through his phone when he saw the email about it in his inbox.
Since he’s volunteered with the Alberton Minor Hockey Association for about the last 20 years, the email caught his attention. His son and his friends also play hockey.
Through volunteering as a coach, he’s always utilized different programs, including ones through Canadian Tire.
“I just kind of put the two things together and thought, why not take a stab at an application?” Milligan said.
When he told his wife about his intention to apply, he said it would be “just for fun.” He didn’t expect anything to come of it.
He filled out the online application, explaining why Alberton would benefit from the rink. It wouldn’t be private, in his yard for just his family to enjoy. He would donate it to his town, for everyone around to take advantage of.
“I believe I mentioned COVID a little bit,” he said, since the pandemic has limited recreation options for youth.
With the submission complete, Milligan tucked the contest away in the back of his mind. Christmas came and went. He busied himself with hockey and volunteering with the local fire department.
“I’ll tell you the truth, I kind of forgot about it.”
In fact, he hadn’t been completely certain Canadian Tire received his application – that is, until he got a call in early January letting him know he won.
Winners were divided into two categories: silver and gold. As a silver prize winner, Jason won a collection of hockey pucks, a hockey net, Hockey Canada hats, and brackets and liners to help build the 20 by 40-foot outdoor rink.
According to a spokesperson for the contest in an email to the Journal Pioneer, Operation Puck Drop strives to support local hockey, giving families a way to get active and "create special moments" together. It wants to do this by providing rinks for families to enjoy, especially during the pandemic, when opportunities for indoor activity and training have been limited.
When looking through contest entries, judges looked for people devoted to community hockey, with stories to share of how it had a positive impact on themselves and their communities.
More than 11,000 Canadians with passions for the sport tossed their hats in the ring, but there could only be 200 silver and three gold winners. There were four lucky Islanders; Milligan was the only West Prince resident to take home a prize.
“Everybody was appreciative, for sure,” he said. “People really appreciate things like that. It’s something that the whole community can use.”
When looking for community leaders who help keep the spirit of hockey alive, Milligan was a perfect fit.
Though it’s only been the last few decades he’s been coaching, he said hockey has always been part of his life. He played as a kid and turned to volunteering once he finished hitting the ice, himself.
“In rural Prince Edward Island, up here in the Western part of P.E.I., hockey is huge.”
Outside of hockey, Milligan also volunteers with the local fire department, which has maintained Alberton’s other, larger outdoor rink this winter. Both rinks are by the town's fire hall.
Though it was Milligan who won the rink kit, taking care of it hasn’t been his responsibility alone. In the spirit of community, retired schoolteacher and volunteer firefighter Tom Murphy, who
Milligan called a “master rink maker,” has helped maintain both rinks.
Kenan Wilkie, Alberton’s recreation director, said having outdoor activities, such as the rinks, available has been beneficial for the community – especially during COVID-19.
“People feel so restricted, and that they have to be stuck inside,” he said. “Having things like this rink is awesome because it gets people out of the house.”
Both rinks, Wilkie said, have seen use from everyone from children to seniors, eager to get out for physical and social activity.
Since the rinks were ready for the public to skate on, the larger one has been used mainly for hockey, while Milligan’s smaller one has seen more general use.
Winter in Prince Edward Island may have had a slow start, but the uncharacteristically tepid January didn’t stand in the way of putting the rinks to good use.
“We all worked together to get it done,” said Milligan. “It’s used a lot. There are people there every day.”
Kristin Gardiner is the Journal Pioneer's rural reporter.
