Hockey Day in Orillia

Introduced in 2007

Hockey Day in Orillia has been created and organized to pay tribute to everyone in our city who volunteers, coaches, sponsors, manages, supports and plays the game of hockey.  It is one day a year where everyone can come together to celebrate the game and take pride in our Orillia hockey heritage.

This year's Hockey Day in Orillia will be held from Thursday January 21, 2010 through to Sunday January 24, 2010.

Hockey Day in Orillia 2010 Announcement

The Orillia Minor Hockey Association and the Jim Wilson Couchiching Terriers have officially announced that Saturday January 23, 2010 will be the date for Orillia's third annual "Hockey Day in Orillia" celebration.  Together the Orillia Minor Hockey Association and the Terriers will co-organize and manage this year's celebration of hockey as it is played and loved both in and around the city. 

Last year the two organizations came together to honour and pay tribute to former long serving Orillia Minor Hockey Association member Randy Salmon (now the Terriers head coach) and equaling recognizing former Terriers player (Orillia Travelways at the time) Jamie Clarke (now an assistant coach with the Terriers).  Both Salmon and Clarke have made considerable contributions to our game of hockey and both have grown to be well respected within our hockey community.  In addition to the honouring of Salmon and Clarke, last year's Hockey Day in Orillia was highlighted with day long events that celebrated Orillia's love for the game throughout the city.

This year the focus and the theme for Hockey Day in Orillia will remain the same.  The day is to pay tribute to everyone in and around our city who volunteers, coaches, sponsors, manages, supports and plays the game of hockey in all forms of the sport.  It is Orillia's one day a year where everyone can come together to celebrate the game and take pride in our Orillia hockey heritage and pride in all our hockey accomplishments.

Hockey Day in Orillia will officially kick-off a little different this year than it has the last two years as it will begin on Thursday night January 21^st as the Terriers play host to the Villanova Knights at the Rama MASK.  Special pre-game ceremonies will mark the evening and the Terriers will officially unveil their brand new third jersey which has been created to promote the Terriers "Stick to Reading Club" presented by Tim Hortons.  The Terriers are inviting all children under 12 years of age to join them for their game against Villanova at no charge when each child is accompanied by a paying adult.

The main attraction for the 2010 Hockey Day in Orillia celebration will take place on Saturday January 23^rd.  Representatives from the Orillia Minor Hockey Association will be joining the Terriers to drop special commemorative 2010 Hockey Day in Orillia pucks before each scheduled Orillia Minor Hockey Association house league game played on the Saturday.  The special ceremonial puck dropping at each game is to ensure all players, coaches, volunteers, parents, fans and sponsors share in the day and understand the true meaning behind the day.  Following each game members of the Terriers will visit each dressing room and present player of the game awards as this year's commemorative pucks and player of the game awards are being sponsored by Dr. Jerry Collins and his staff at West Ridge Family Dentistry.

Off the ice on the Saturday and beginning at noon, Orillia's Ball Hockey International will again share in celebrating Hockey Day in Orillia.  BHI will be honouring and inducting individuals (players/officials/builders) who have played key roles in the development and growth of Orillia's outdoor game.  Last year during Hockey Day in Orillia celebrations, BHI created the "Orillia Outdoor Ball Hockey Wall of Honour" as six individuals were chosen as the first to be inducted.  BHI will be proudly adding to their induction membership this year through special induction ceremonies.  Nominations for this year's inductions can be emailed to couchichingterriers@hotmail.com and the closing date for sending nominations is December 18^th.

Beginning at 2:00pm also on the Saturday, will see Terriers players at McDonalds on Memorial Avenue to kick-off the McDonalds Upper Deck Hockey Card Trading Day.  This has been a very popular component to the Hockey Day in Orillia celebrations and fans of the McDonalds Upper Deck card series are invited to come out an participate in a day of hockey card trading dedicated to them.  The Terriers will facilitate the trading and help collectors keep the deals fair and fun and also provide Terriers fans with a chance to meet them in person.

The 2010 Hockey Day in Orillia festivities will be capped off on January 24^th with two special presentations planned to take place prior to the Terriers Sunday afternoon home game at the Rama MASK against the Bramalea Blues.  The Orillia Minor Hockey Association and the Terriers will be honouring two members of our hockey community who have made positive contributions to our game through representing the Orillia Minor Hockey Association and representing the Terriers organization.  The Terriers will again be inviting all children under 12 years of age to join them at no cost when accompanied by an adult.

The Hockey Day in Orillia Mission Statement reads:

Hockey Day in Orillia is about loving the game and saying thank you to those who make our game possible.  The day is to demonstrate to our children playing the game or wanting to play the game that it is important to believe in their dreams and goals and to stay with hockey because dreams do come true.  It is also important to demonstrate that contributing to the dreams of others and to the community is just as important and equally satisfying.

Hockey enthusiasts young and old are encouraged to get out whether it is on the ice at the arena or in the driveway, get out, enjoy the game and help celebrate our Hockey Day in Orillia.

If you'd like to include your team/organization with an event to include in the participation of this year's Hockey Day in Orillia, or if you have a suggestions on an event(s) that could be added to the day, please email the Terriers at couchichingterriers@hotmail.com