About Schumacher Day Minor Hockey Association
Our Legacy
The History of Schumacher Day Minor Hockey
It seems hockey has always been an important part of the community of Schumacher. While children played on roads, ponds, and outdoor rinks in earlier years, the establishment of the McIntyre Arena in 1938 marked a more formal beginning to organized hockey in Schumacher. Prior to the late 1950s, minor hockey was operated through the schools in the area, with the Northern Ontario Hockey Playground Association taking on responsibility for community hockey programming in the late 1950s. This association eventually became the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, which continues to coordinate minor hockey programming today.
From the very beginning, the community of Schumacher rallied behind its hockey program, with local businesses doing whatever they could to ensure hockey was an affordable option for all Schumacher youth to enjoy. In the 1960s, the local gas station held a Christmas tree fundraiser each year, donating proceeds to support local players. The Schumacher Cubs and the Schumacher Bears were competitive teams and equipment and sticks were readily supplied by community sponsors to support the success of the home town favourites.
As the hockey program and other Schumacher sporting interests grew, more coordinated efforts were needed to ensure a steady supply of funding. And so, in 1972, a group of dedicated Schumacher community members started an annual Fastball tournament to further promote fastball in Northern Ontario, and to raise funds for local minor sports. The annual Schumacher Day Fastball tournament became one of the most successful fastball tournaments in all of Northern Ontario. For nearly 15 years, the tournament generated funds to support Schumacher children in many different sporting endeavours, and in 1986, “Schumacher Day Incorporated” was legally incorporated.
From the original Letters Patent, the objects for which the corporation was incorporated were:
- To sponsor and organize an annual fastball tournament and sporting event under the name of Schumacher Day, and;
- To use any profits derived therefrom to promote fastball, baseball, hockey, tennis, bowling, badminton, skating, swimming, curling and other games or sports, and;
- To arrange matches and competitions of every nature, and;
- To offer or grant and contribute towards prizes, awards and distinctions for Schumacher Day.
Sadly, in 1987, the year after officially incorporating, the annual tournament came to an end when the historic McIntyre Park was demolished. This was a significant loss for the community and times were changing. A shift in demographics beginning in the early 1990s led to fewer children living in Schumacher, resulting in fewer minor sports opportunities within the community. Most sports established associations in other communities, along with the children, however, with the prominence of the McIntyre Arena, hockey in Schumacher survived. As a result of the dwindling population and fewer local children available to play, Schumacher transformed into a more regional association with players from all areas of the City of Timmins and Porcupine calling “the Mac” home. Given that most of the community directors of Schumacher Day Incorporated at the time were also active in the Schumacher minor hockey program, Schumacher Day Incorporated slowly morphed into the current version of the Schumacher minor hockey association.
In 2010, the Board of Directors of Schumacher Day Incorporated applied for supplementary letters patent to formally change the name of the corporation. The Board wanted to maintain the important historical link to “Schumacher Day”, and so became “Schumacher Day Minor Hockey Association Inc”. The new objects of the corporation were updated as follows:
It is the mission of the Corporation to provide a safe and positive environment for children to have as much fun as is possible, playing Canada's national game. It is also our goal to help each child develop self esteem, self-confidence and life skills such as teamwork, patience, humility, fairness and honesty.
The current Schumacher Day Minor Hockey Association Board of Directors continues to operate under the same tenets that have always defined hockey in Schumacher. We strive to maintain affordability for all of our families, ensuring every child has a fair opportunity to play the sport we all love. We are committed to providing a welcoming environment for everyone to grow and build essential skills, both on and off the ice.
We would not be the Association we are today without all the contributions from past board members, our players and their families, and the generosity of the community of Schumacher and its dedicated supporters. With your ongoing support, the Schumacher Day Minor Hockey Association will continue to work tirelessly to build a legacy of successful - and fun! - hockey experiences for youth in Northern Ontario.
