Kevin Coles digs deep into a sizeable storage locker to retrieve a tall box neatly filled with team photos laminated onto sheets of cardboard.
“Oh boy, look at the hair, the ’90’s hair,” says Coles with a big grin as he pulls out a sheet with a collection of young girls, many with spiky and big hairdos that look like they’ve come direct from an MTV video back in the day.
Yes, Cosom hockey has been around Richmond in a league format through the ’90s and even further back.
“I think it’s been going for more than 35 years,” says Coles, president of the Richmond Cosom Floor Hockey Association, which begins play this month at Burnett and Gilmore schools and runs until March, ending with a wrap up tournament for girls and boys aged five to 18.
Along with the league’s vice president, Mike Wolfe, Coles was busy Monday evening sorting through bags and shelves packed with equipment for players to start the indoor offshoot of ice hockey whose origins go back to Quebec as early as the 1950s.
Using a lightweight, hollow, orange plastic puck, plastic sticks, the game features five-on-five play — plus goalies — in a non-contact environment overseen by referees that offers a fun and competitive environment, even for inexperienced players. Although, as Coles recalls, even as far back as the early 1970s Cosom hockey was part of the PE curriculum in schools. And it was promoted as an out-of-season sport for girls enrolled in softball to stay active.
“I remember playing when I was at Walter Lee (elementary) back in 1974,” he says. “And kids are still exposed to it today in school.”
Some schools also have the sport as an intramural activity. But even with that widespread audience, it hasn’t directly translated into surging numbers at the league level in the past few years.
Coles estimated that this season there will be around 340 players scattered across the age groups. And they come from just about every corner of the city.
“There are good chunks that are from the north-west and south-east parts of Richmond. But then we have some kids coming from Hamilton, and even some from as far away as Ladner,” Coles says.
To try and drum up more interest in the league, the association staged an open house two weekends ago and drew roughly 40 people who were curious about the sport.
The sales pitch?
Coles says the sport is easy to pick up, has plenty of action and is easy on the pocketbook as well as the timetable of busy families who may have children signed up in multiple sports.
“We’ve worked hard on our scheduling to make sure we have as few conflicts as possible with other sports,” Coles says. “We know young families are really busy, so we have one practice and one game a week for a combined total commitment of two hours. Plus, all the games are played locally so there’s little travel. And it’s all indoors, which at this time of year is big.”
In seasons past, the league has promoted itself with a photo of a soccer parent standing on the sidelines, huddled under an umbrella while the rain comes down in buckets around them.
And Cosom hockey is affordable — the season costs just $100 per player and includes use of the required equipment for the season and a team shirt they can keep.
Aside from that, for Lanie Man, the league’s promotions coordinator, the league is one of inclusion.
Man’s eight-year-old son has ADHD and Cosom hockey was his first opportunity to take part in team sports.
“At the end of the season, my son may have been the worst player on his team, but he had good fun and actually developed some skills and felt more self-confidence,” Man says. “The kids and the coaches on our team were very supportive, regardless of the physical abilities of some players. And my son even scored one goal in the entire season. To him that was an accomplishment. And he treasures his participation medal and keeps it in a safe box.”
While the sport was at one time targeted at young girls, Coles says the numbers in that particular category have slumped over the years. He feels that is a result of Richmond’s shift in demographics over the years, plus the rise in popularity of ball and roller hockey. But with some more marketing efforts and regular appearances at community events, such as the Steveston Salmon Festival parade, hopes are to keep the sport in mind for families looking for a team-focused experience for their children.
And even with the cut off date to sign up for this year already lapsed, Coles says there are still chances to join a wait list that may open up roster spots. For more information about the Richmond Cosom Floor Hockey Association, visit rcfha.org.
In pursuit of the orange puck
Cosom hockey league’s roots stretch back several decades in Richmond
Kevin Coles (right) and Mike Wolfe were busy this week getting teams equipped for the Richmond Cosom Floor Hockey Association’s new season.Photo by Philip Raphael/Richmond News
The local Cosom hockey season is about to begin play in Richmond this month, featuring games for players from kindergarten to high school.Photos
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