Calgary Flames practice sparks equipment drive

Some youngsters who can't afford hockey equipment are getting a hand.

The Calgary Flames hosted an equipment drive Saturday morning.

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Andrew Pashniak takes in a Flames practice at the Saddledome.

He's here to watch his hockey heroes, and donate to a good cause.

"I donated some hockey equipment for people who can't afford to play hockey," Pashniak said.

"Because it's expensive for other families to buy hockey equipment and stuff to actually play hockey."

Hockey equipment can be pricey.

And it's even tougher for some families to afford skates and pads during Alberta's economic downturn.

Bryson Stuart wanted to help.

"I dropped some equipment for people who can't play hockey, so maybe someday they can play hockey," Stuart said.

"I gave two left-handed sticks and two pairs of skates."

Full disclosure, he also wanted to see a practice up close and personal.

Evan Kosiner is the co-founder of Skate To Great, one of the charities responsible for finding a new home for the gear collected.

"It's kind of crazy that certain kids wouldn't have the opportunity to go skating," Kosiner toldCBC News.

"So we looked at what was out there and we ended up creating Skate To Great to bring a one-stop shop where people can donate their skates and it goes out to different organizations that can benefit from them all cross Canada."

The organization makes the equipment available to both children who can't afford it and at-risk youth.

People wanting to contribute can also drop gear off at any main Scotiabank Saddledome entrance before the first intermission at Saturday's game between the Flames and the Ottawa Senators.