Hometown News Staff
The official votes are in and the Pee Wee Smiths Falls Bears are now off to the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup final. Moving on to the final of the competition means that the team has earned an extra $5,000 towards their charity of choice — the Salvation Army. Getting past the first round earned them $2,000 towards the charity.
The Bears “are all winners in my heart. They worked so hard,” said Coach Keith Rhoden.
The next steps will be for the team to come up with a creative way to convince the judges that should be the Good Deeds Cup Champions.
“This has been tremendous. To get kids to volunteer with an organization they’re not familiar with, and to see them build their team this way, has been so positive,” said Heather Knapp-Irvine, mother of player Riley Irvine. “Helping the community and even the process of doing the video has been such a great opportunity for the team to learn to work together. And the community — we never expected such community involvement. Seeing the whole town cheering for my kid — for their team — has been such a proud mama moment. I’m so proud of this community.”
Competition organizers, Chevrolet, are encouraging each team to continue to rally the community around them.
The official champions announcement will be made on Feb. 26 during TSN’s national coverage of the NHL trade deadline. The Smiths Falls Bears intend to hold a gathering so that they can be together when the final announcement is made.
I am Gabe Size’s Gran, and I am very proud of the work these kids have done. I am very happy for their win but I’m even happier for the lessons they’ve undoubtedly learned. Giving of oneself is rare these days. These kids have learned how to lessen someone else’s suffering a little, how to care for a stranger, they learned how to show loving kindness to a fellow Earthling.
I am grateful to all the parents, siblings, grannys and grandads, to the coaches and team management people and the Community of Smiths Falls for getting behind the kids and showing them that team work does wonders. You guys rock!!😁