Assist Fund in Action: Fatema Alashmouti

It wasn’t that way back that the thought of taking part in hockey was virtually unfathomable for Fatema Alashmouti.

That’s as a result of Fatema was born in Syria and got here to Canada as a refugee along with her household in 2016 after being pressured to flee because of the outbreak of civil conflict.

“I was really young, so I don’t remember much from that time,” she says.

Fast-forward a number of years and the 12-year-old defenceman is the captain of her home league workforce in Brantford, Ont.

“I am very happy,” she says.

Fatema’s pathway into league hockey started just some years in the past.

“They were having swimming classes at [the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre] and we would go after the class sometimes and watch the hockey games. I found the sport really interesting,” explains Fatema’s mom, Muna Ghayth. “I had seen it on TV of course and on the internet back home in Syria but never had watched it in person and it really interested me.”

That curiosity led Muna to enroll Fatema and her two youthful sisters within the NHL/NHLAPA First Shift program.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know if they were going to like it or not,” Muna says. “But, I saw that from the beginning Fatema was really interested in it.”

Following the completion of the First Shift program, all three ladies had been enrolled within the Transition Program — also known as Second Shift — supplied by their native hockey affiliation. Second Shift builds on the abilities members discovered throughout the First Shift program and prepares them for potential entry into minor hockey.

“By the end of the Second Shift, my middle and youngest daughter they don’t want to do it anymore, but Fatema liked it,” recollects Muna.

In reality, Fatema preferred it a lot that she was enrolled in home league hockey for the 2022-23 season, becoming a member of the Brantford U15 Ice Cats of the Greater Hamilton Girls Hockey League.

“I knew that I actually needed to play hockey however was unsure if I might be part of a workforce as a result of my expertise weren’t that sturdy,” says Fatema.

Playing hockey has taught her management and different useful life expertise.

“It has helped me communicate with people a lot better,” says Fatema. “I am better able to listen to their side.”

Muna says she has observed the constructive influence hockey has had on her daughter.

“She’s a really good team player and she learned how to be a part of the team,” says Muna. “She has used her leadership skills to encourage her teammates. When they lose, she is always giving the team motivation.”

Those management expertise haven’t gone unnoticed by her coaches and teammates, who named her captain.

“It means a lot,” says Fatema.

To assist make Fatema’s hockey pursuit a actuality, Muna turned to the Hockey Canada Foundation Assist Fund, a program that gives $500 subsidies to assist dad and mom cowl registration charges.

“I really appreciate the support from [Hockey Canada Foundation]. It really helped us to help others because as I say, I’m from Syria, and I still have family there,” says Muna. “It is a difficult financial situation for us here because I need to help some people back home in Syria. So, the support has helped us not be under so much pressure, which is really great.”

Muna says she is extraordinarily happy with Fatema’s success and has no qualms about her involvement in hockey.

“I really want my kids to be a productive part of the community … and sometimes people would say ‘Oh, hockey for Canadians’ and I would say ‘Oh, we are Canadian and hockey for everyone.’ I didn’t see too many of my friends here encouraging their kids to play hockey, but I tried my best to encourage my kids,” she says. “I feel really good and proud that Fatema is doing something she really enjoys.”