NEWS RELEASE
MCDONALD'S CANADA
*************************
Hockey season is back, and Jason and Jennifer O’Neill, alongside their local restaurant teams are kicking off the 13th season of McDonald’s Canada’s atoMc hockey.
Since 2011, select McDonald’s Canada franchisees across the country have been supporting minor hockey in Canadian communities, including more than 50,000 players each year and over 550,000 since inception.
The atoMc program partners local McDonald’s franchisees with U11 hockey associations to cover operation costs and provide the necessary equipment to youth in the community including jerseys, socks, toques, and coaching equipment. In addition to equipment, local franchisees Jason and Jennifer O’Neill and their teams looked to support even further.
Starting their support for the atoMc program in 2011, Jason and Jennifer and their teams have backed 230 teams and 3850 players in the Barrie, Bradford and Orillia communities.
Support has come in the form of helping cover operational costs in addition to touch points including providing free meal coupons for player of the game (a prize each kid on the team will win at least once throughout the season) and Hockey Day in Barrie. This was a high point when Ronald McDonald hosted the game which started off with the national anthem, a professional announcer, interviews with players, and gifts. Players enjoyed being treated like the pros and it was a wonderful experience for all.
Supporting the atoMc program is something that is close to Jason and Jennifer as all three of their kids have played in the program, and they’ve seen first-hand the impact and importance of the skills kids pick up in organized sports.
Steve Fontaine from the Barrie Minor Hockey Association praises McDonald’s for the ongoing support: "The Barrie Minor Hockey Association has been a proud partner of McDonald’s atoMc Hockey since it launched in 2011, with more than 170 of our U11 house league teams benefiting from the program since we joined. The jerseys and socks are amazing quality and most importantly the atoMc program helps our association keep the costs down for families during these tough economic times.
"I also know from experience that awarding the atoMc golden jersey to the 'Best Teammate' after each game is an exciting time for coaches and players," added Fontaine.
*************************
