Downey gives back with House9 program

If Aaron Downey, along with brother Trevor, Shawn Kilshaw and Mulmur Deputy Mayor Sue Snider, have their way, no child will ever be denied the opportunity to play hockey.

Aaron, Trevor and Shawn are the founding members of the House9 Hockey Foundation.

Snider, a director of the Foundation, acted as its spokesman when it was introduced to the minor hockey and skating associations and the media at the Shelburne arena Thursday night, along with a display of a streamer showing a star-shaped house bearing the number 9.

There'll likely be a more formal introduction of the program Saturday night, (Sept. 6), when the House9 Stars play an exhibition game against the Shelburne Senior A Muskies at Shelburne arena at 7 p.m.

Aaron, teammate Kyle Quincey, and possibly another NHL professional, will be skating in the game along with "local talent," said Trevor Downey.

The game will be followed by a family dance at the Royal Canadian Legion Warriors Hall at 9, with the Larry Melton Band. This is the four-piece combo that proved to be most popular at the Honeywood Stanley Cup event. Larry is a vocalist and acoustic guitarist of some note, who's recording original material at Escarpment Studio (a choice of Stompin' Tom) and at Erinwood for an album that'll be released early next year. He has Andrew Little on drums, Thom Hastings as lead guitar and Dan DenCremon on bass for the Shelburne dance.

Admission to the game is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 and older, while children under 6 are free. The dance is $10 for adults. Children are admitted to the dance at no charge. "They pay to get into the game, but the dance is free for children," Trevor said.

Proceeds from Saturday nights events will be returned back to the community through the House9 Foundation.

House9 is a not-for-profit organization. All proceeds go to "help provide children with the necessary sports equipment and fees required to participate in minor hockey."

An ancient Eastern tradition is that the numeral "9" brings luck. Hence Shawn designed the logo with "9" as what might be considered a good-luck symbol within a house of hockey stars. The number is also identified with hockey superstars such as Gordie Howe, Maurice (Rocket) Richard, Bobby Hull, Mike Modano and "double 9" Wayne Gretzky.

But it's going to take a bit more than luck to make the dream of House9 a reality. The mission, the dream, is simply stated: "To ensure that children can participate in minor hockey through the sharing of good fortune by a supportive community."

Snider put it this way in her introduction: "No child shall be denied the opportunity to play hockey," she said Thursday. "I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this new endeavour. I have been involved in sport all of my life and to have the opportunity to help kids realize their potential is something I stand firmly behind. I have been involved in hockey with Aaron and Trevor for years and am happy to be able to use my skills to assist them in making a difference."

That sounds like a tall order, what with costs of legislated equipment and shortage of ice time, but don't sell the principals short.

Aaron was a youth in the Honeywood area with what might have seemed "the impossible dream of playing in the NHL," although another Honeywood alumnus, Bert Wilson, had made it there a few years before.

Aaron achieved his dream, he has said, with the support of the community, his teachers and coaches. Now, at 33, he has played 239 career NHL games and has been signed for another year with Detroit Red Wings as of Aug. 20. He wants to give back the kind of support he says he got in his youth.

He has also earned the pride of his community. A large blue sign at the entrance to Honeywood proclaims it as, "The home of Aaron Downey."

And Shelburne wasn't about to be left behind. Mayor Ed Crewson has appointed him as Special Consultant on Sport and Recreation for the Town.

Trevor knows how to get things happening. As a business manager at Downey Farms, he is credited with building the DDE Downey potato plantation into one of the largest facilities of its kind in Canada.

And Shawn is no slouch. He has over 15 years of diverse experience in public relations, coordination, and support positions. He has worked for such companies as Via Rail, Microsoft, as well as held numerous contracts in VIP and Special Event Co-ordination and Security.

Snider, who was unopposed in her bid for the deputy mayor's post, is a successful real estate agent and activist for Safe Communities.

And Aaron isn't one to give up easily, if at all. You can view some of the evidence on YouTube by Googling Aaron Downey.