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Local hockey team scores a visit with the Leafs ... some day (8 photos)

Players on local major atom team recognized for their inclusiveness, good work in the community through Ford Skills and Drills competition

Two months ago the Orillia Major Atom Terriers entered the Ford Skills and Drills contest for community involvement. They recently found out that they won a prize package that includes tickets to a Leafs game - among other items.

This local hockey team has been involved in various charitable acts together over the course of the last few years.

For three years they have volunteered at the Salvation Army kettle, raising the most of all kettles and collecting colouring books and crayons for young children at Christmas.

However, their proudest accomplishments come every practice, game and get together with their No. 1 fan, Max. The goalie’s younger brother, Max never misses a game or practice. He cheers on “his” players and scolds them for being “put in the box.”

Max has a chromosomal abnormality causing global developmental delays. However, instead of letting that hold him back, he flourishes and touches people's lives because of the hockey village that embraces him.

He loves referees, zambonis, goalies (He especially loves Toronto's Freddy Andersen), and acting as coach to his entire team. The kids on the team love Max and look out for him.

He's so lucky to have 15 big brothers and is a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan! These young men have truly learned that this game is more than what the scoreboard says, and they have embraced it with high fives and hugs with and for a special little boy. Inclusivity is the norm for these boys.

For the Ford competition, the first round was a social media blitz. After two weeks whichever teams had the most votes moved on to round 2 ... which the local team did. 
 
Round 2 was a short video or a creative essay. The team chose a video, which was given to a panel of judges who voted and awarded the prizes: 
  1. One- day skills and drills at Scotiabank arena
  2. Maple Leafs tickets for the team
  3. Maple Leaf jerseys for the team
The Toronto Maple Leafs tickets will be given at a future date.
 

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