Hockey team help make familys Christmas

By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
Barbie Burkert still gets a little choked up when she talks about the generosity of her son's Pee Wee hockey team.
On Christmas Eve, a crowd of players, parents and coaches showed up at Burkert's home accompanied by Christmas music and laden with presents and supplies for her and her two children, Nicole, 8, and Jacob, 11.
"A parent (Reg Hitchcock) realized that even though I work, I was still having a difficult time," Burkert recalled. "He told me his family decided they wanted to bring presents to our door Christmas Eve."
Shortly before Christmas, Burkert realized she couldn't afford gifts for her kids. She was unable to find assistance as most groups had already helped out where they could.
"Big Reg" Hitchcock's call came at the perfect time. She told him she didn't want anything for herself, but was concerned for her children.
When Hitchcock mentioned to a neighbour what he was planning, they wanted to help out too. Word spread, and soon an email was sent out to the entire Pee Wee hockey team inviting people to help make the Burkert's Christmas a memorable one.
"He said he (Hitchcock) wanted to recreate for me what one little kid did for him when he was a kid and dirt poor," she said.
In addition to toys and clothing for her children, the crowd came bearing gift certificates for grocery and department stores, food baskets, and money for furnace oil. They also gave Burkert a very special gift.
"I haven't had anything to play music on for about 10 years because I don't get things for myself. I always put money toward the kids and their sports and things," she said. "They brought me a Sony player and a great card signed by the entire team with their (jersey) numbers on it."
Burkert said Hitchcock, his wife Charmaine and family, their neighbours, and everyone involved with the Sackville Rangers Pee Wee team did more for her family than they'll ever know.
"I have no family. My mother and father are deceased, I have no aunts and uncles. They really have no idea what this means," Burkert said. "I really felt alone, and this was the first Christmas I really felt that people cared."
Her son's teammates, their parents and coaches told Burkert they all got something out of the experience as well.
"They wanted to show that Christmas was all about caring for others, and they said it really made their Christmas more special being able to do this," she said.
"This is a great house league with parents, kids and coaches who come together as a team to do things not just for their kids, but for everybody on their team."
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca