TORBAY, N.L. — The Northeast Eagles are this year’s winner of the nationwide Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup, bringing the trophy - and its hefty dollar prize - to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Out of the 170 teams that entered the competition, the Torbay-based peewee hockey team won $100,000 to donate to Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Riding Centre, the charity chosen by the team.
That’s in addition to the $21,500 the team already donated to Rainbow Riders as their good deed which entered them in the contest.
This new banner will be a constant reminder that with GOOD DEEDS everyone WINS! @ChevroletCanada @SheriLeeChamber @JBRegional pic.twitter.com/fGkY3UuNfh
— Northeast Eagles (@ne_eagles) March 1, 2020
“I was really surprised, very proud and very happy,” said goalie, 11-year-old Sam Chaulk, after the announcement at the Rainbow Riders barn on Mount Scio Road in St. John’s on Saturday.
Sam’s brother, 19-year-old Nathan Chaulk, has cerebral palsy and participates in the equine therapy offered at the barn.
Nathan said it meant a lot to have his brother’s hockey team support the place he calls his “home away from home”.
“I often say riding gives me freedom, and the horse becomes my legs.”
Chevrolet's #GoodDeedsCup🏆Champions have been named. Congratulations to the NE Eagles of Torbay, NL and to the Rainbow Riders charity on winning $100,000 and bragging rights of Canada's most inspirational Peewee hockey team. Not all heroes wear capes, some wear skates. pic.twitter.com/yKx6amkfeu
— Chevrolet Canada (@ChevroletCanada) March 1, 2020
Rainbow Riders executive director Kelly Sandoval said equine therapy benefits people with disabilities in several ways - physically, emotionally and socially.
She said the donation will allow Rainbow Riders to help more children. About 125 young people participate in the equine therapy program annually, but Sandoval said the funds will help expand the program to school groups, and subsidize it for the students.
Northeast Eagles coach David Steele said participating in the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup was character-building for the players.
“The lessons they’ve learned about doing a good deed, and helping out others, and inclusion – you know, everyone deserves their own hockey. And that’s what the kids here at Rainbow Riders get every single day. They get their release, their hockey.”
The players celebrated their off-the-ice win surrounded by their families, Rainbow Riders staff, the mayors of several Northeast Avalon communities, and Hockey Night in Canada cameras and crew. Host Ron MacLean announced the win on the show Saturday night.
NEWS RELEASE MARCH 1, 2020 Northeast Eagles Make History as First NL Team Named as Good Deeds Cup Champions! The...
Posted by Rainbow Riders - Therapeutic Riding Newfoundland and Labrador Inc. on Sunday, March 1, 2020
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