Hockey fever in Metro Vancouver gets South Asian kids on the ice

Dozens of youthfrom Metro Vancouver's South Asian community laced up skates and learned the basics of hockey Sunday in Langley.

The event was hosted by Hockey Canada and other partners, who hopeto use the buzz around the upcoming IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Vancouver and Victoria to increase participation in the game.

"Hockey Canada's goal is to get as many kids on the ice as possible, and the only way to do that is to go out into the community and get kids participating," saidRiley Wiwchar, the director of the IIHF tournament.

Roshan Dosanjh was one of the youth that participated in the free event, called South Asian Kick Off.

"It's my only opportunity to play hockey on an ice rink. I've never played it before," he said as he prepared to get on the ice atLangley Events Centre.

Robin Dhir was part of the organizing teamthat brought the World Juniors to B.C., and said there is often a financial or cultural barrier that keeps kids from participating.

"We really wanted to still make sure that kids get an opportunity to get on there, whether they don't have the financial means, or just don't understand it because they're new immigrants and ice hockey is foreign to them," he said.

Apna Hockey, a South Asian community-basedhockey school, provided the skating, hockey skills and off-ice training to youth at the clinic.

PriyaSidhu, who playshockey for the University of Calgary, was there to help. Shesaid it's important to grow the game in the South Asian community.

"The bigger the community is ... it will just bring everyone together and showcase that anyone ... or any age, any gender ... anyone can play," she said.

The list of South Asian hockey players involved in professional leagues continues to grow. It includesthe Edmonton Oilers'Jujhar Khaira and Manny Malhotrawho, after retiring as a player, now coaches with the Vancouver Canucks

Organizers of the free outreach program say they planto offer others for South Asian youth in the future.

The IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships begins Wednesday. Canada plays Denmark at Rogers Arena at 5 p.m. PT.