Whitehorse peewee team strives to win national Good Deeds Cup

A Whitehorse peewee hockey team has been busy shovelling snow, singing Christmas carols to seniors andsorting boxes at the food bank.

The team is competing for theChevroletGood Deeds Cup, awarded by the automaker and Hockey Canada.

"We're competing in this cup to win it, so we have to do a lot of good deeds," 11-year-old playerBrynStudney-Amos said.

It was really, really awesome to see Bob McKenzie call our name.- JamesNemeth, hockey player

ThePNWGroup peewee team has already recorded70 good deeds thiswinter.

Players have worked with groups like the Whitehorse food bank, Habitat for Humanity and Copper Ridge place in Whitehorse.

The contest has already netted $2,000 for the Whitehorse food bank.

Yukon team makes national top 10

The Whitehorse team made it into the top 10out of 134 teams that entered the contest this year.

In December, the team watched as finalists were announced on TSNinOttawa while attending the Bell Capital Cup.

"It was really, really awesome to see Bob McKenzie call our name,"hockey player JamesNemethsaid.

CassieCebuliak,a forward on the co-ed team says it's been fun to compete.

"It's just good for team work and bonding and it makes us better play together on the ice," she said.

Contest depends on internet views

The contest requires teams to film themselves volunteering.

"The contest is really good for teaching the kids the value of hard work and community," PNWcoach MikeNemethsaid.

It required the team to film themselves volunteering. Nemeth said the teamuploaded its first video on December 1, but they were busy in the community since November.

"They can be helpful. Itdoesn't take a lot. The team spirit has been amazing."

Finalists with the most views willenter the top three. Thewinner will then be chosen by a panel of judges,including some former NHL players,with prizes awarded to a charitable groups chosen by the competingteams.

The PNW's team selection as top-ten finalists has already won the Whitehorse food bank$2,000. It will receive $5,000 if the team makes the top three.

The number-one win would net the food bank $15,000 more.

Bhangradancing in hockey pads

Inits quest for online views, the team visited with one of Yukon's best-known social media personalities.

Aview is a vote. Beingthat the Yukon is smaller population size we really need to rally the community together.- Mike Nemeth, coach

Pandher'sBhangra dance videos have an audience in the tens of thousandsand a video he made with Whitehorse mayor Dan Curtisaccumulated more than a million views.

The video shows the hockey players learning Bhangra moves including the goalie who is wearing full hockey pads.

"We need people voting, a view is a vote,"Nemethsaid.

"Beingthat the Yukon is smaller population size we really need to rally the community together."

Voting continues until Jan. 28 through Chevrolet's website.

There's also the matter of the cup itself.

"TheGood Deeds Cup is gold plated and it's bigger than the Stanley Cup. It's quite a substantial cup," said James Hodge, who is theadvertising manager with sponsor Chevrolet Canada.

The contest is in its second year.

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