Mongolia.  It’s not the first place that comes to mind when you think about hockey.  That may change after you watch this incredible journey by brothers Boe and Nate Leslie.  Our documentary Rinks of Hope: Project Mongolia explores the state of hockey, and our efforts to help, in one of the world’s most remote countries (Scroll down to watch it!). The first professional coaches to ever coach in Mongolia, Boe and Nate visit 7 outdoor rinks in 5 cities and villages in what turned out to be the most significant youth hockey development initiative the country has ever experienced.  The impact of this journey was so significant that even the Mongolian Secret Service called on behalf of their President to lend his support and encouragement. Rinks of Hope: Project Mongolia received critical acclaim and positively influencing leaders, students, families, and athletes around the world.

Hockey has a wonderful way of pulling Canada together, and it has the possibility of pulling Mongolia together too.  We have a wonderful country and to see it represented through sport here in a rink like this just lights your heart on fire. Ed Jager, Former Canadian Ambassador to Mongolia and supporter of Rinks of Hope: Project Mongolia.

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Rinks of Hope: Project Mongolia (Documentary)

Documentary Trailer

Project Mongolia Documentary Credits

• Producers: Karin Larsen (CBC/Olympian), Boe Leslie (Northern Roots Hockey), & Nate Leslie (Leslie Global Sports).
• Cameras: Pat Bell (Emmy award winner), Mike Dickenson (The Mapmakers)
• Editor: Robert Postma (Robert Postma Creative)
• Rinks of Hope: Project Mongolia was made possible by the kind donations of equipment and funding from hundred of families around the world. Check out our successful Kickstarter crowdsourcing campaign here.  We extend a very special thank you to our families for their love and support, Pujee Choijiljav, Ryan Van Geest, The Mongolian Ice Hockey Federation, Erdenebayer Tsesren, Hudson & Tracei Akarlilar, Kidsport Tri Cities & Chris Wilson, NHL Goals & Dreams, and EJ Bauer.

Media Coverage

Global News – Greatest Canadian of the Week

Legendary Canadian AM talk show host Charles Adler honoured our efforts in his Greatest Canadian of the Week segment on October 26, 2018.  We celebrate this honour with an incredibly giving hockey community across the country who make #projectmongolia successful.  Scroll down to honour just some of our incredible community partners.

CBC’s On the Coast

Listen to CBC On the Coast’s Gloria Macarenko & Nate Leslie discuss the Rinks of Hope Equipment Drive from her October 25th episode (link starts 2:22:00 mark, or click below.).

CBC British Columbia

Click to read the recent CBC British Columbia coverage of our Mongolia Equipment collection.

Richmond Sentinel

Click to read the Nov 2018 article on the Richmond Sentinel.

Supporting Hockey in Mongolia:

Equipment Collection

• 

  2018 Project Mongolia Equipment Drive Results

  On October 26 & 27, 2018 we filled a 20 foot container with hockey equipment bound for Mongolia by ship and train.  That is the equivalent of nearly 150 goalie bags full of gear.  Initiated this time by Trade Commissioner  Steven Basadur and the Canadian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Canadian businesses with interests in Mongolia sponsored this collection and shipping, we have changed the course of hockey in Mongolia.  As you will see in the inventory collected, we sent over 500 pairs of skates.  In 2015 sources  told us there are 700 kids playing in the country.  Knowing how kids share what they have, we believe we have doubled the number of kids playing informally in the country. 

• In February, 2019 we shipped another full container and witnessed the fruits of our labour, and coached kids on Hockey Day in Mongolia!
• We would like to thank: My family, Ben Mackay, Steven Basadur (Canadian Embassy in Mongolia), Redpath Mining (North Bay, Ont), Major Drilling  (New Brunswick), Erdene Resource Development (Nova Scotia), BC Mongolians Association volunteers (led by Tamira & Orgil!), Godfrey Tait (Vancouver Parks Board), Silvia Laforge & Kitsilano Rec Center, Miriam from the Vancouver Angels, The Richmond Olympic Oval (led by Justine Cheng & Andrew Clark), Eddie Guay, Campbell River Minor Hockey, West Vancouver Minor Hockey, North Vancouver Minor Hockey, Gary at Alien Sports in Port Alberni, Hudson Swann & friends at Port Alberni Minor Hockey, Trace Smith and friends at Victoria Racquet Club, North Shore Avalanche Minor Hockey, Vancouver Female Minor Hockey, Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey, Vancouver Ringette, Sports Replay (Langley), The Sports Exchange (Ben, Mike, and crew in Vancouver),Larry’s Hockey Shop (North Vancouver), Ultimate Edge Hockey Shop (North Vancouver), Surrey Source for Sports, the UBC Varsity Women’s Hockey Team, Ashley & Zane from the Britannia Hockey Academy, Rosie Watson, Karin Larsen, and literally 100’s of individual families who took the time to organize and donate hockey equipment and figure skates. (Please contact me if we have forgotten someone special!)

The Project Mongolia presentation was both inspiring and thought provoking.  The message that each of us have a voice was evident throughout the film and through Nate’s story of film-making and hockey.   Nate is an excellent speaker who inspired students to add value to everything they do and to give back to others.  Bryan Lockless, Argyle Secondary School Leadership teacher, North Vancouver.

I must admit, I don’t follow the sport, or any sports for that matter. But this film is about more than a game. It’s about people coming together over a shared passion. It’s about helping strangers across the world. It’s about dedicating yourself to something.  Inspiring, to say the least. And a true, real life, adventure.  Sandra O’Connell, Vancouver Sun.

Breakfast Television on City TV with Jodi Vance:

January 13, 2016

CBC Radio Early Edition with Rick Cluff:

January 18, 2016 (Scrub to 58:30)

CKNW Radio: The Lynda Steele Show:

January 18, 2016

CTV News by Gary Rutherford & Michael Shulman:

The Hockey Wanderer, December 12, 2015

IIHF World Hockey Championships, Prague, Czech Republic

June 4, 2015

• 4 minute version shown at IIHF Coaching Summit.

Original CBC News Feature by Karin Larsen

June 11, 2014

Radio Interviews

December 3 and 5, 2014

• Click for December 5th TSN 1040 Radio interview.
• Click for December 3rd CKNW 980 Radio interview.

News Media Articles

• January 18, 2016: Vancouver Courier: Hockey Night in Mongolia:New sports documentary film captures Canada and Mongolia’s shared passion for hockey, and on www.meganstewart.ca by Megan Stewart
• January 18, 2016: CBC News British Columbia: Hockey doc on Canadian brothers’ trip to teach sport in Mongolia premiers Monday night by The Early Edition
• April 17, 2016: www.canadamongolia.ca: Exporting Canadian hockey skills to Eager Young Mongols
• March 14, 2016: UBC Mongolia Focus: Mongolia Doubleheader “Rinks of Hope” & Ambassador Ed Jager by Julian Dierkes
• March 9, 2016: Winnipeg Sun: Hockey Night in Mongolia and published on Canoe News by Doug Lunney
• January 30, 2016: The Vancouver Sun: Finding Hockey in Mongolia by Sandra O’Connell
• January 21, 2016: MONINFO: Big Screen Sports: Film Review of Rinks of Hope: Project Mongolia by
• December 15, 2015: The Loop: Canadian takes hockey where it’s never been before: Mongolia
• December 12, 2015: CTV News GO: BC hockey coach brings Canada’s pastime to Mongolia by Michael Shulman
• December 12, 2015: Castanet: Taking Hockey to Mongolia by Jon Manchester
• February 11, 2015: Voice of Mongolia: Mongolia’s ice hockey teams to have professional training
• February 5, 2015: The Washington Post: Teaching Ice Hockey to Kids in Mongolia by Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
• January 25, 2015: Mongolia Economy Magazine: Hyattsville resident to visit Mongolia to coach hockey
• January 23, 2015: Hyattsville Life & Times, Maryland: Resident to Create Hockey Documentary by Mark Goodson
• January 19, 2012: Niagara This Week: Hockey Night in Mongolia (What a small world.  Our Canadian pilot on the ground in Mongolia hit the news 4 years ago!)