Outfitting a kid with hockey equipment can be a pricey undertaking but luckily for local hockey parents help is on the way.
KidSport Tri-Cities will be hosting its annual spring used equipment sale on Feb. 18 and organizer Chris Wilson said he can outfit a player from skates to helmet for about $130 depending on the size.
"It is hugely affordable," Wilson said. ""We suggest looking at a set of used hockey gear and compare it to a set of new hockey gear. Brand new this is going to cost you $800."
But it is not just hockey equipment that will be on sale. Lacrosse pads, baseball cleats, gloves, bats and rackets are all available and affordable at this month's sale.
Most of the equipment is donated from members of the community and a lot of it is close to new, Wilson said.
People who are cleaning out their basement or garage often come across old equipment and are encouraged to give the gear to KidSport. Donations can be dropped of between now and Feb. 17 during business hours at the:
Port Coquitlam rec centre;
Port Moody rec centre;
Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex;
Corner Sports (2276 Elgin Ave.);
Cyclone Taylor Sports (562 Clarke Rd.)
and Thriftopolis (2579 Lougheed Hwy.).
But while equipment donations are always welcome Wilson said this year's focus is on the sale.
In 2011 KidSport raised a combined $25,000 from its spring and fall equipment sale. The money is used to help young people without the financial means to pay their league fees so they can participate in sports.
"We have it pretty well ingrained in people that this is an opportunity to donate their equipment," he said. "We want to focus on letting people know about the great deals there are."
Since 2006 more than 1,500 youth have been able to participate in organized sports thanks to Wilson and his organization. That includes 480 people last year alone, he added.
The spring used equipment sale will take place on Saturday, Feb. 18 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Riverside secondary school (2215 Reeve St., PoCo). For more information go to www.kidsporttricities.ca.
