Rachel Piggot of the Etobicoke Dolphins discusses community building and the season to come The country music was blasting, the sun was shining, the laughs were endless, and the community came out in droves. Attending the 2024 Etobicoke Jr Golf Classic was an amazing opportunity to see just how much support there is for the “best in class” program of the Dolphins, as well as women’s hockey in general. There was a definitive buzz of anticipation as we all waited at the clubhouse prior to the start of the event, all while fundraising games were being played, great conversations were being had, and new introductions were being made. The 2024 Etobicoke Jr. Golf Classic is an annual event to help raise funds for the team and for the second consecutive year, it was held at the beautiful Mill Run Golf and Country Club in Uxbridge, Ontario. This event featured a full 18 rounds, along with other games such as “closest to the pin” for both men and women, which helped to raise additional funds and added another fun dynamic to the day’s events. In many of the conversations with participants who have daughters with the team, there was an overwhelming sense of passion, support and pride. Often, they’d be donating time, money and prizes in order to assist in the team reaching its goals, which was something they had no problem doing because of how important this club means to the players, the players to the club, and the club to the community. I had the opportunity to sit alongside Etobicoke Dolphins centre Rachel Piggott at the 8th hole for much of the afternoon, as she greeted each and every group as they drove up to tee off. Piggott has been playing hockey since she was about four, playing in boys leagues until U-14 and will be going into her third season in girls hockey, second with the Dolphins. “For me as a player, it means having relationships outside the game,” Piggott reflects on these types of community events. “You’re here to play hockey obviously, but a big part of it is creating relationships with people. If you’re going to want to play hockey, you want to have a good time, so becoming friends with people, getting to know people, creating those relationships is one of the biggest parts.” Piggott, along with five of her fellow Canadian teammates and one American, were selected to play for Canada and the United States respectively at the Summer Series. “Every day is a good day for golf” was a consensus sentiment shared by the participants, despite some of the scores on their scoresheets. The hockey community is tight knit and it shows with events like the 2024 Etobicoke Dolphins Golf Classic where community building comes first, and connections and support last a lifetime.
