Coach Santa

Coach Santa’s Mission of Kindness Returns for 2025

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A Free Program for U7 and U9 Teams – Registration Now Open!

Coach Santa’s Mission of Kindness is back — bringing joy, teamwork, and gratitude to Calgary’s rinks this holiday season. For those new to it, the Mission of Kindness is a free, values-based experience for U7 and U9 teams. It uses the trusted and familiar figure of “Coach Santa” to teach the real lessons of sport — sportsmanship, teamwork, respect, leadership, and fun. While it features Santa Claus, this is not a Christmas or religious program. It’s a sport-based initiative that uses a character children connect with to teach kindness, belonging, and teamwork — lessons that matter all year long.

2025 Theme: Random Acts of Kindness

This season’s theme focuses on the power of small gestures — helping a teammate, thanking a coach, or including someone new. To guide teams, we’ve reworked the Mission of Kindness video series. The videos are shorter and easier to share, with one new release every Tuesday starting November 4. Each introduces a “Word of the Week” and a fun VIDEO challenge connected to that week’s Caught You Being Nice trading card.

Starting Tuesday November 4th coaches and managers are encouraged to show each weekly video before their team’s visit. They’re quick to watch, easy to discuss, and available on every Coach Santa channel — through Hockey Calgary, on social media, and at coachsanta.com.

How to Get Involved

The Mission of Kindness is free for all Hockey Calgary U7 and U9 teams.

A typical Coach Santa visit lasts about five minutes and takes place on the bench at the end of a practice or game. If two teams share the ice, Coach Santa will talk to both groups, spreading the message of kindness and teamwork. After the bench visit, optional one-on-ones in the lobby give players a chance for a brief, personal moment with Coach Santa. Dressing room visits can also be arranged when needed, but bench visits are the preferred format to allow for more teams to participate.

Teams that register will receive:

• A visit from Coach Santa
• Access to the weekly videos and kindness challenges
• Players will get Caught You Being Nice cards during the one on one’s

Visits are scheduled using Hockey Calgary’s quadrant system, helping ensure every area of the city gets a turn. Suggested booking weeks are:

• Week 1 (Nov 1–6): Raiders, McKnight, Bow River, Warriors
• Week 2 (Nov 7–13): Wolverines, Bow Valley
• Week 3 (Nov 14–20): Springbank, Trails West, Glenlake
• Week 4 (Nov 21–27): Knights, Southwest
• Week 5 (Nov 28–Dec 4): Raiders, McKnight, Bow River, Warriors
• Week 6 (Dec 5–11): Wolverines, Bow Valley
• Week 7 (Dec 12–18): Springbank, Trails West, Glenlake
• Week 8 (Dec 19–22): Knights, Southwest

Booking within your quadrant’s week helps Coach Santa reach as many teams as possible.  If for some reason you don’t see yourself on this list please reach out and ask.

The Elves Program

U13–U18 teams can join the fun as Elves, volunteering at rinks to help deliver visits, hand out cards, and model leadership for younger players.

REGISTER AS ELVES

Thank You to Our Partners

This program is possible thanks to organizations that believe in sport as a teacher of life skills. Special thanks to Hockey Calgary for its leadership and partnership, and to New York Fries, Top Shelf Hockey, and the Wood Automotive Group for their generous support. Their contributions make it possible to keep the program free for every team.

Join the Mission

Coach Santa’s sleigh is ready, the videos are live, and the acts of kindness are about to begin. Register your team today and help make this season one of kindness, teamwork, and fun — both on and off the ice.

For questions, email info@coachsanta.com.

"CAUGHT YOU BEING NICE" TRADING CARDS

Each week in our Coach Santa videos, players will learn how they can earn a special "Caught You Being Nice" trading card by showing positive behaviors like teamwork, responsibility, and kindness. These cards are designed to celebrate the values we’re building on the ice and beyond, rewarding players who go above and beyond in displaying the themes from each week’s video.

But remember, you never know when Coach Santa and his special Elves might make an appearance at your rink! Whether it’s at practice, a game, or even a tournament, they’ll be on the lookout to recognize players who embody these qualities. A surprise visit from Coach Santa brings a little extra excitement, with the chance to earn a card that players can keep as a fun reminder of the Mission of Kindness.

contact coach santa

To request a visit from Coach Santa, please reach out to coachsanta@hockeycalgary.com. We’re taking bookings and doing our best to accommodate everyone, but with so many teams and only 8 weeks, it may not be possible to meet every request. We appreciate your understanding and enthusiasm for the Mission of Kindness!