PETERBOROUGH, ON (Feb. 6, 2024) – When it comes to being at the centre of things, Deacon will be in a great position at the Peterborough Petes’ home game on Family Day (Feb. 19).
Deacon
and his family will be at centre ice taking part in the ceremonial pre-game puck drop. Deacon was born with spina bifida caused by a malformation of two vertebrae. After undergoing extensive surgery, Deacon received speech, physio and occupational therapies at Five Counties to help him talk, walk and be more independent.
“Deacon is a huge Petes’ fan, and being able to take part again in the Next Gen game makes his day,” says Deacon’s mom, Alana.
Deacon is among many Five Counties kids, families and supporters who will lend an assist to the Petes for their Next Gen Game against the Kitchener Rangers. The goal is to sell out the Family Day matinee match-up while showing support for the home side – both the Petes and Five Counties clients.
Tickets to the Feb. 19 game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (151 Lansdowne St. W.) are $15 each and available through Five Counties. Proceeds will support kids’ treatment services at the Centre. Many other ‘fun’draising festivities are also planned for the Petes’ matinee game on Feb. 19.
“The annual Next Gen Game on Family Day with the Petes is a great partnership, as it is truly all about family,” says Scott Pepin, CEO with Five Counties Children’s Centre. “Many of our Five Counties kids like Deacon and their families will play a role during the game or cheer from the stands. Five Counties staff and volunteers will also be there to share information about what we do and how people can help support our work.”
As part of the Next Gen Game, the Petes will offer nine Five Counties kids a behind-the-scenes experience, giving them the chance to take on the roles such as team scout, coach, general manager and PA announcer. Participating kids also ‘sign’ one-day contracts with the team, something Deacon did in his Next Gen debut in 2023 when he earned rave reviews assisting in the Petes’ PA booth.
There are many other items on the agenda for the Next Gen Game with the Petes:
- A free family skate running from 11:15 am to 12:50 pm for ticket holders to the game. All skaters must wear helmets. Participants are asked to leave the building at the end of the skate. They can return at 1 pm when the Memorial Centre opens for the game.
- While the game starts at 2:05 pm, pre-game festivities kick off at 1 pm. Five Counties staff and volunteers will be there to offer: face painting by donation, a giant Lego set up for kids to enjoy, and details on Centre services.
- Bid on some amazing items in the silent auction being held prior to and during the game. Items up for bidding include a three-day getaway to Beachwood Resort, Brimacombe ski passes, a 25-pack for classes at Full Tilt Cycle, and tickets to Medieval Times.
- Limited Next Gen toques will be for sale at the game. Each toque is $15, with proceeds supporting high-demand treatment services at Five Counties.
- Take part in chuck-a-pep (or chuck-a-puck) for a chance to win fabulous prizes. Tickets are three for $10, and you will receive three rubber pucks to toss onto the ice during the second period intermission. The pucks that land closest to the centre ice circle will win prizes, including: passes to the Peterborough Golf and Country Club, sports merch from The Capital PTBO prize, and a Petes’ prize pack.
“We will have many members of our Five Counties family at the Next Gen Game – fittingly – on Family Day. We also invite other families in and around Peterborough to come out to the game to show their support for Five Counties while cheering on the Petes,” adds Pepin.
Five Counties Children’s Centre provides speech, physio and occupational therapies, as well as other treatment services for kids and youth from birth to age 19 years. Last year, Five Counties served more than 6,200 children and youth in its region – the highest number of clients in its nearly 50-year history.
Category: General News