A 91原创 campaign to recycle used ball hockey equipment was the result of a conversation about kids outgrowing their ball hockey gear, and how the old equipment ends up forgotten when it could be re-used to help other kids take up the sport.

Valley Ball Hockey Association president Craig McDougall said he was talking with vice-president Kevin Hugel about two years ago when they realized there was an untapped resource for new players who otherwise would have to shell out up to $150 for gear.

鈥淜ids outgrow their equipment and it ends up in the garage,鈥� McDougall said.

About 100 kids benefited last year when the VBHA arranged its first 鈥淕iving Back to the Community鈥� drive that took in used hockey equipment in 91原创, then gave it out for free to any child who needed or wanted it.

McDougall recalled the 鈥渆ar-to-ear grins鈥� on the face of children last year when they heard they could pick out what they wanted from the free table when they signed up to play.

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This year, the association will do it again, and they hope to have more to give away.

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to at least double [last year],鈥� McDougall said.

Distribution will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, January 13th, during in-person player registration by the VBHA at the George Preston Arena at 20699 42 Ave.

Anyone with 鈥済ently used鈥� equipment can drop it off before the weekend at 4506 204A Street.

If no one is home, 鈥測ou can leave it by the front door in a bag with your name on it so we can send our thanks,鈥� McDougall said.

By gently used, the association means equipment that can be reused with minimal repair.

鈥淚f you鈥檝e got a helmet with a crack down the back, we won鈥檛 donate it,鈥� McDougall said.

鈥淲e want to make sure the equipment can be used for another season.鈥�

Acceptable equipment is anything that is clean, usable and only gently worn out.

That includes gloves, elbow pads, knee pads, shin guards or D-Gels, sticks, hockey pants, and goalie equipment.

鈥淏ring it by, we鈥檒l take a look at it,鈥� McDougall said.

What they can鈥檛 accept are ice skates, broken sticks or malfunctioning equipment, items missing pieces or only one of a pair.

鈥淲e will be at George Preston Arena collecting any and all donations, and offering these same donations out to families who might just need that one item they don鈥檛 have,鈥� McDougall said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e asking anyone in the community who has any ball hockey equipment they no longer use, to please take 10 minutes out of your day and stop by to drop off anything you have, and support your own community.鈥�

He said the VBHA would like to give every child the opportunity to play ball hockey and 鈥渋f something as simple as 鈥榳e don鈥檛 have a pair of gloves鈥� is stopping you, come and see what we have. 鈥�