While their friends might be at the nearby Upper Pontiac Sports Complex playing hockey, these kids are trading skates for sneakers, a ball, and a t-shirt. They’re members of the Chapeau Coyotes, a brand-new minor basketball association based in the Pontiac.

Chichester resident Chris Blackstock started the club this fall after his son, whose minor basketball association in Pembroke had shut down, was looking for somewhere to play. Rather than travel to the nearest associations in Eganville or Arnprior, Blackstock decided to build something a little closer to home.

He got in touch with Dr. Wilbert Keon School, who agreed to donate gym time on Monday nights. He created a logo, printed some t-shirts, and since this fall has been running two sessions a week at the school for kids aged six to 16.

Blackstock said he wanted to have a place for young players to try the sport and develop their skills without having to travel too far from home.

“You don’t become a better athlete by being in the car
[ . . . ] so let’s make that as accessible as possible and just provide a fun, safe learning space for them,” he said.

Although many Pontiac kids traditionally opt for hockey or baseball, Blackstock said he has been impressed with the community’s interest in the sport. When he announced the program this fall he received a surprising number of signups; over 40 kids, all from the Upper Pontiac and Fort-Coulonge areas.

“We’ve got a lot of great buy-in for the kids that don’t play hockey. I think it was something the community didn’t know that they were asking for,” he said.

Jodi Thompson, who coaches basketball at Pontiac High School (PHS), said having a minor basketball program should help introduce kids to the game at an early age, and help give kids an alternative sporting option.

“Having any kind of programming in the Pontiac that offers anything other than hockey is essential,” she said.

Thompson said the lack of minor associations in the Pontiac often means that high schoolers don’t have a ton of basketball experience when they arrive in her program. She said programs like Blackstock’s could help feed high school programs and other high-level teams. She said PHS was not able to field a senior boys’ team in the RSEQ Div. 4 league this season due to low turnout.

“High school sports are definitely dying,” she said. “Having a minor association will benefit the whole Pontiac.”

Blackstock said despite limited exposure to the sport, kids are curious and passionate. He said after the holidays, kids were excited to tell the group about new basketballs, shoes and hoops they had received for Christmas.

“They’re really enjoying it. The kids are ready to learn,” he said, adding that the young hoopers are urging coaches to let them play in full games.

Blackstock said the focus is on fundamentals, and will eventually transition the young players into structured intrasquad games and eventually play against other associations.

“We’re trying to build those skills and foundations so that in year two or three they can consider having those games,” he said.

Right now, Blackstock is running two sessions a week, one for ages six to nine and another for 10 to 16. With the gym quite full, he said he is going to look into having more sessions next season. The current season ends in April.

“At that point I’ll have to bring more [ . . . ] coaches in,” he said, adding that any interested volunteers can get in touch with him at 613-633-3895.

He said thanks to a donation of $1,000 from the Robert Chartrand Memorial Tournament, and the gym donation from DWKS, he is able to offer the sessions at only $35.

He said the sport is a fun alternative that teaches kids teamwork, hard work, and isn’t as hard on the wallet as hockey.

“It’s just a great physical activity that doesn’t require skates and helmets and pads,” he said.

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