“You miss 100 per cent of the shots you don’t take,” hockey great Wayne Gretzky.
With those words printed on a whiteboard on the Swan Valley Lodge recreation area wall, residents gathered on Friday to celebrate Canada’s favourite sport.
Volunteer school kids took care of the pre-game announcements, a resident sang the anthem and a ceremonial puck-drop led up to the game.
The game was played on plastic mat that simulated a small rink, and players bearing Oiler and Flame bibs lined the sides of the ice to shoot at the goaltenders.
“Isn’t this fun!” smiled recreation director Louie Moberg.
And it was, if the smiles of Swan Valley residents, staff and visitors were any indication.
Three young helpers chased down the “puck” (actually a ball) when it went off the playing area or got stuck under a player’s chair, keeping the action moving along at a brisk pace.
Keeping residents active and engaged was the goal, and the game was a great break in their day to day routines.