IN THE COMMUNITY

BBC RaW Campaign 2008

The already strong RaW campaign partnership at Basingstoke Bison Ice Hockey Club hit new highs on March 8th 2008 in terms of audience reach and partner participation. A crowd of over 1500 - the highest of the season - watched the designated RaW match against Cardiff Devils and embraced campaign activity with unbridled enthusiasm. And for the first time, as well as the BBC and the Hampshire Library Service, participating partners included the Family Learning Team at Queen Mary's College and essential skills staff from Basingstoke College of Technology, both of whom used the occasion to promote their range of adult literacy skills courses. A week of publicity on BBC Radio Berkshire had alerted fans of what would be on offer and, as a result, no fewer than fifty two entered the hockey action picture caption challenge in spite of the fact that for BBC Editorial Policy reasons there could be no competitive element with prizes. And many more had a go at tabloid style headlines simply for the fun of it and the possibility of seeing their writing in a subsequent match programme or in the local newspaper. The PA announcer entered into the spirit reading out some of the funnier submissions and the sight of families all around the rink clutching Max & Lara story books will never be forgotten. And to cap it all there was even a presentation of a BBC RaW Man of the Match! Visit the BBC website - BBC RaW

Bison players do some after training reading

Five Basingstoke Bison ice hockey players got down to their favourite pastime - reading - after a recent training session to help promote the BBC RaW Reading & Writing campaign. Netminder Curtis Cruickshank chose the net as a suitable place to read, while his namesake enforcer Brad unsurprisingly decided the familiar surroundings of the penalty box was a good place to tuck himself away with a book. Greg Owen used the boards to lean against for his spot of reading, Eric Braff the treatment table, while Steve Thornton simply lay down on the ice to read his favourite magazine, Powerplay. The Club is fully behind the campaign to encourage adults, especially parents, back to the joy of reading and will be helping to promote RaW at the home match at the Arena on March 8th when fans will have the opportunity to have a go at various writing challenges including match report writing, tabloid style headline writing and an ice hockey action picture caption challenge. "We're fully behind what RaW is trying to do and delighted too to be working more closely with BBC Radio Berkshire" says Club official, Paul Baldwin. "It fits in well too with what the Club is trying to do with the local community and with our work with schoolchildren and their parents". For the record here's an insight into the Bison stars' reading habits: Curtis Cruickshank Netminder. Favourite book - Curious George. I like it as much as the kids do now. Tips for parents reading bedtime stories - Try to get animated, make it into a game. If you enjoy it the kids will too. Favourite place to read - Curled up in a ball with my two kids. Desert Island books - Get the Edge (Anthony Robbins), Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell)), Curious George (Hans and Margret Rey) Greg Owen, Forward. Favourite book - Heavenly Man, an autobiography about a really inspiring person in China. Tips for parents reading bedtime stories - Try to animate stories with your voice. I try to but usually get it wrong, using a woman's voice when it should be a man's! Favourite place to read - At home when I'm feeling ready for sleep. Desert Island books - Heavenly Man (Brother Yun), a self help psychology book and a creative arts magazine. Brad Cruikshank, Forward. Favourite book - The Outsiders (S E Hinton). I read it at school and have read it again since. Tips for parents reading bedtime stories - I do hand signals, make it an enjoyable time and have a good laugh. Favourite place to read - My little study back home or sitting out on the deck. Desert Island books - Some sort of sporting book, maybe Wayne Gretzky's autobiography, and some crime books. Steve Thornton, Forward Favourite book - The Arthur Series (Bernard Cornwell) Tips for parents reading bedtime stories - Change the books quite often, relating them to the period you're going through. At the moment we're going through potty training! Favourite place to read - At home putting my feet up when the kids have gone to sleep. Desert Island books - Rulers of the Earth (Joe Levels), a survival guide and a subscription to Life magazine. Eric Braff, Defenceman Favourite book - Bank, a fictitious book about an investment banker. Tips for parents reading bedtime stories - There are a lot of parents who makes stories up and there's nothing wrong with that. The main thing is to keep your kid entertained. Favourite place to read - Definitely not the team bus! There's too much horseplay going on. At home is a lot easier! Desert Island books - A dictionary to be the smartest person on the island, a biography about someone like Donald Trump and War in Peace (Tolstoy) to keep me entertained for a couple of years!

My Saturday Night By a Teenager

I never thought I’d want to spend my Saturday nights with my family, but now it’s the highlight of my week! I can hear what you’re saying ‘How sad is that?!’. But its not. It really is the greatest end to the week or the greatest beginning depending on how you look at it, even if we don’t win. ‘What is she on about?!’ I hear you ask. Well, how many of you have heard of the sport Ice Hockey? Quite a few, but how many of you have heard of the Basingstoke Bison the fastest team in the South? Not so many eh? Same here, until I went to my first match three years ago. The Mighty Bison took on the Coventry Blaze, and we lost. But that didn’t stop us from coming back! In fact, we didn’t win the first couple of times we went but we still always had a fantastic time! Three seasons on and we’re now season ticket holders. Once you go, you’ll be totally hooked. I know I was. The fans are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet. And I’m really not just saying that. We travel to away matches on coaches together, we cheer together and we’re 100% behind the team and each other as fans. Not to mention Bavy, he’s worth the entrance fee alone! Dressing up as a Christmas tree, a turkey, Cat from Cat in the Hat, and even a full on Sumo Wrestler! Without fail he provides humour, great music and awesome entertainment. And he’s only the DJ! Right so that’s the fans and Bavy covered, now onto the team. Wow. What can I say, they’re so committed you wonder if they ever leave the rink! You may, or may not have heard about the difficulties the Bison have been suffering with recently. In truth are still suffering with but that has not let their spirits fold. They still play strong and give it their all. We couldn’t ask for anymore, and yet they give us more even when you think they couldn’t possibly carry on. We recently played the Sheffield Steelers away and quite a few of us went up on the coach to see them. It took us about 4 ½ hours to get up there and we knew we couldn’t possibly win; we had such a short bench we shouldn’t have even played. But the amount of people that travelled up there was incredible. That’s how committed we are to our team. Not only do you get to know the players, but the players get to know you. Ice hockey is such a family sport and fantastic entertainment. You’ll never leave thinking you didn’t get your monies worth cause you so will. I love ice hockey more then anything; you get so much out of it. For me it has everything; speed, excitement, great fans, great players an awesome DJ and a fantastic atmosphere. All in all a great night out. The only thing it could do with is a few more fans. So, are you going to give it a try? Go on, you know you want too. You won’t regret it, and that really is a promise. I’ll see you there, Saturday 6:30pm be there to grab a piece of the hottest action around! Charlotte Manuel

Schools Programme

The Basingstoke Bison Ice Hockey Team are delighted to be continuing their very popular 'Schools Programme' promoting Ice Hockey whilst bringing many benefits to local Schools. The promotion of sports, especially to children, is extremely important and being able to experience such a fast, exciting and fun sport is a great opportunity for all. Visit to School by Bison Players Again this season, Basingstoke Bison Players will be going back to School, taking part in assemblies, classroom visits, discussing healthy eating and the importance of exercise, fitness and teamwork. Visit to Basingstoke Arena & Free Skate Schools are also offered the opportunity to visit the Basingstoke Arena. Children are given a tour of the Ice Rink, Bison changing rooms and shown the Zamboni (ice cutting machine). Following this, 2 Bison Players will skate with the children for approx 1 hour. Teachers/Helpers are encouraged to join the Players and children on the ice during this time. Tickets to attend a Bison Match & Free Skate Discounted tickets will be offered to Schools for a Saturday evening match. The reduced ticket price is available not only for the children but their families, teachers and staff too. After the match, ticket holders are entitled to skate for free. Children are welcome to make banners or posters to hold up whilst cheering for their favourite players or the team. Cash Back to Your School The 'Cash Back' scheme has proved very successful over the past seasons and benefited many Schools in our local community. All schools involved with the Schools Programme receive cash back from each ticket sold to spend on sports equipment, books or other learning materials to benefit their school. We would like to encourage schools to become involved with the Schools Programme, which also gives great opportunity to help raise much needed funds for schools, along with families having an exciting night of sporting action. For more information, or to make a booking, please contact the Bison Schools Co-ordinator, Caz on 01256 414770. Download School Programme information (PDF) - Click Here

Scouts Group Visit

On Thursday 28th February 2008, as part of the Basingstoke Bison Schools/Groups Programme, Brad Cruikshank, Paul West & Bavy visited the 10th Farnborough Scout Group in Farnborough. During the evening visit there was a kit presentation, which included one of the scouts being dressed in a Junior Ice Hockey kit, followed by a question & answer session and the handing out of Bison related items. The scout group then attended the game on Saturday 22nd March against Coventry Blaze.

Manor Field Infant School

Dear Caz/Bison Just a little note to thank you for the money our school received via the Bison Schools Cashback Programme. We used the money to buy Library books for the children. Enclosed is a photograph of the books we purchased. The School looks forward to being involved with the team next season. Yours sincerely Manor Field Infant School

Hatch Warren Junior School Visit

Report by Graham Merry, Basingstoke Gazette. Pupils from Hatch Warren Junior School were the latest to enjoy a visit from a couple of the stars of the Basingstoke Bison. Canadian netminder Nick Boucher and British goalie Dan Green were the pair chosen to talk to the youngsters about ice hockey, as well as showing them some of the equipment which is a must for protection in the fastest team sport in the world.

Contact Us

If you would like the Bison team to be involved at your Community Event please contact:- Basingstoke Bison Ice Hockey Club Basingstoke Arena Leisure Park Basingstoke Hampshire RG22 6PG Tel: 01256 355266