Partnerships

Next Shift Canada

Since the establishment of our program, Next Shift Canada has been monumental in making the vision of our program come to fruition. Our relationship is rooted in long-term collaboration and shared goals around growing the game and expanding access to the sport in the Ottawa-area. Each September, the Next Shift crew fits each of our players head-to-toe with all the equipment they need to hit the ice safely – for free. Without hesitation, they always find a way to ensure no child is left behind, simply because of the high cost of equipment. But it doesn’t stop there – their team continues to support our program throughout the season, whether it’s stepping on the ice to lend a hand or replacing pieces of equipment that have outgrown players. Each year, they fit more and more participants with equipment as our registration continues to grow. 2025 was the biggest year for fittings to date, with 98 players! Learn more about their work here: https://nextshiftcanada.com/

Ottawa Senators Foundation

Over the years, the Ottawa Senators have been one of our program’s lead supporters both on and off the ice. In 2025, their foundation made a historic donation to AHA of $15,000, helping to cover the majority of the costs of a year’s worth of programming! In previous seasons, with the collaboration of Black History Ottawa, the Ottawa Senators invited the players of our program to practice at the Canadian Tire Centre with some alumni, and invited our team to take part in Black History Month appreciation games.

Their dedication to helping grow the game of hockey and make it more accessible for everyone in the Ottawa community has opened doors for dozens of children in the region. We are extremely grateful for their continued partnership and generosity!

Hockey Eastern Ontario

Since Day 1, Hockey Eastern Ontario has stood behind AHA as a foundational partner. They believed in our mission from the start, providing financial support and administrative direction to ensure our kids have an arena to call home each season. HEO so generously secures all of our ice times for us, donates a chunk of said ice time, and ensures all of our players are safe and covered by insurance for the year. Throughout the years, HEO has also invited our association to local events, like the World Junior 2025 FanFest, to showcase who we are and how we are making an impact in the Ottawa community.

We are so thankful to have HEO in our corner, helping us break down barriers to hockey in our region!