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Hockey community rallies behind central Alberta teen after his car, hockey gear is stolen

Playing hockey is not cheap.
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Seventeen-year-old Jayden Jensen of Innisfail saved up to buy this car. On Oct. 6, his car was stolen along with hockey gear worth about $2,500. That left the teen devastated until the local hockey community rallied together to lift up his spirits. Photo contributed

Playing hockey is not cheap.

That’s a fact hockey parents are well acquainted with. But for single moms, it might be even harder.

Innisfail mother Lindy Jensen said her son’s car was stolen Oct. 6 from the family’s driveway. That left her son Jayden, 17, who bought the car himself, devastated.

His hockey bag, with all of his hockey gear, was in the trunk of the car. It was worth about $2,500 — including skates, which cost about $1,000, and two hockey sticks.

“Everything important to him was in that car,” said his mother.

The Grade 12 student is in his last year of playing a sport he’s enjoyed for years.

“We were hanging out after the game, then we fell asleep and fogot to go and grab it (the hockey gear),” said the mom of three children.

“He felt violated. He mentioned ‘what’s the point in being a good person if this keeps happening,’” said Jensen, adding this isn’t the first time a vehicle has been stolen from the family.

“It was more disheartening than anything. He would come around the garage and look at the empty spot in the driveway and realize his car was gone and burst into tears. And I just felt so hopeless that I couldn’t do anything.”

Jensen posted the photos of the car, along with a brief description of what had happened, on social media.

To the family’s surprise, the hockey community stepped up to help the teenager.

An Innisfail woman whose son is not playing hockey this year offered to help the Jensens.

“She said, ‘Hey, my son wants to give his hockey equipment to Jayden. Anything that fits, he’s more than welcome to use.’ A hockey angel she was,” said Jensen.

A neighbour offered Jayden two hockey sticks. The hockey community, including parents on Jayden’s team, the Innisfail Flyers, also offered to raise money to replace Jayden’s equipment.

“They said no matter what happens, we will make sure he plays. They’re pretty supportive,” said Jensen of the Innisfail hockey community.

The mother, an office manager at a chiropractor clinic, also had some patients and an aquaintance raise about $650 for the cause.

Jayden is overwhelmed by the support, said his mom.

“He just kept saying, ‘I want my car. I paid for it. What gives them the right to just take it?’”

On Oct. 11, police found his stolen Pontiac Pursuit, a car he saved for by working part time at a lumber yard.

The family also got Jayden’s skates and gloves back. They were found in a stolen Calgary truck.

“We have to get new blades. But this was just random. The rest of the hockey bag is still missing,” said Jensen.

The car is in bad shape and the teenage owner did not have fire or theft insurance. The transmission is wrecked and the car is only drivable in one gear.

“They stole his car and they didn’t just drive it, they banged it and ruined it. They destroyed it,” said Jensen.



mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com

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