HANCOCK — Three area organizations have received funding from the Copper Country Youth Hockey Fund (CCYH), according to a Keweenaw Community Foundation release.

The Copper Country Junior Hockey Association received funding to help families with the cost of hockey registration for their children, while Team Copper Country received money to support their hockey program for high school players, and Calumet Township received funding from both the CCJHA and the CLK Youth Hockey Fund toward the purchase of handicap sleds.

With the most recent distribution of funds from the CCYH, the Keweenaw Community Foundation was able to contribute to the CCJHA, the release states.

“Copper Country Youth Hockey has one mission,” Brent Peterson, CCJHA board member is quoted as saying, “and that’s to promote hockey here in the Copper Country. A lot of funding goes to make sure no child who wants to play is left out due to financial issues.”

Peterson said hockey can be an expensive sport that not everyone can afford to participate in.

“We help with buying equipment, registration fees, travel, referees — really anything that supports hockey for our youth,” Peterson said.

Team Copper Country is a team of elite high school players from four area schools. Calumet Township’s award will help their efforts to build a handicapped hockey team with the purchase of specialty sleds used for disabled players.

The Keweenaw Community Foundation manages funds in four fields of interest: arts, environment, recreation, and youth.

“Our Copper Country Youth Hockey Fund is just one example of how long-term investment in community non-profits is really beneficial,” Jim Vivian, executive director of KCF is quoted as saying. “This fund was established at KCF in 2008, and it grows through the KCF’s investment strategies as well as contributions from individuals, so the investment in the community’s youth grows. Hockey is part of the fabric of the community here. It’s a tradition we’re really proud to be a part of.”