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LEAD, DEVELOP AND PROMOTE POSITIVE LIFELONG HOCKEY EXPERIENCES
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Events
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ALLAN CUP
April 11 - 16
Steinbach, MB
FEMALE U16 IDENTIFICATION CAMP
April 13 - 17
Salmon Arm, BC
KEYSTONE CUP
April 14 - 17
Regina, SK
2016 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Grand Forks, North Dakota
April 14 - 24
PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE - DEVELOPING MENTAL TOUGHNESS
April 15
TELUS CUP
April 18 - 24
Quispamsis, NB
ESSO CUP
April 19 - 25
Weyburn, SK
MALE U16 BC CUP
April 20 - 24
Salmon Arm, BC
MML FRASER VALLEY THUNDERBIRDS SPRING ID CAMP
April 28 - May 1
Centre Ice
WESTERN CANADA CUP - JUNIOR A CHAMPIONSHIP
April 30 - May 8
Estevan, SK
MALE U15 PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT
May 5 - 8
Richmond, BC
2016 IIHF MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
May 6 - 22
Russia
FEMALE U18 INVITATIONAL SELECTION CAMP
May 18 - 22
Lake Cowichan, BC
2016 MEMORIAL CUP
May 19 - 29
Red Deer, AB
BC HOCKEY AGM
June 10 - 12
Sun Peaks, BC
FEMALE U16/U18 STRENGTH & CONDITIONING CAMP
July 7 - 10
Richmond, BC
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Upcoming Deadlines
BC HOCKEY SCHOLARSHIPS
April 30, 2016
BC HOCKEY AGM AWARDS May 15, 2016
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VOLUNTEER JOB POSTINGS
ABBOTSFORD MHA - Coach Applications for 2016-2017 Season
SEAFAIR MHA - Coach Applications for 2016-2017 Season
NORTH EAST & YUKON DISTRICT TRACKERS MIDGET T1 - Head Coach Applications for 2016-2017 season EMAIL: brant.leer5@gmail.com
If your association has any volunteer postings you would like included in next month's newsletter, please email them to info@bchockey.net. |
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What a busy month March was! BC Hockey Championships, Women's Worlds in Kamloops and several female development events through out the Okanagan.
Things don't seem to slow down in the spring either....the High Performance Programs kick into full gear, preparations for the BC Hockey Annual General Meeting (AGM), coaching seminars, officiating schools.....you name it! It's all coming up
We are always looking to hear from you! Does your Association have an upcoming event that the membership should know about? Or have you recently hosted an exciting event and want to tell us about it?
Please send your story/event to info@bchockey.net.
Enjoy!
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2016 BC HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
 The majority of the 2016 BC Hockey Championships wrapped up last month with the conclusion of the Female Championships in Kamloops, BC and the Cyclone Taylor Cup last weekend in Victoria, BC.
Congratulations to all teams and players who qualified for the Championships!
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#ROADTOWORLDS
 Canada's Tournament Capital certainly lived up to its title in late March. In addition to hosting the 2016 IIHF Women's World Championship, which featured the eight (8) best teams in the world, the city hosted three (3) BC Hockey Championships and the Western Shield Senior Women's Championship. In addition to the championship events, several minor hockey events were held in and around Kamloops as part of the BC Hockey "Road to Worlds" initiative.
"This is a great opportunity to showcase female hockey, and what better way to promote it than have the best players from around the province alongside the best in the world here in Kamloops," says Paul Crawford, the leader of the planning of the tournaments for the Women's Worlds host committee. "When the girls come to town, they get to see their idols play. It seemed like a natural fit to us."
The sheer numbers alone are impressive; in addition to the eight (8) international teams, the tournament schedule included 21 teams competing in the championships and another four (4) facing off in the Western Shield. That meant a excess of 700 players, plus coaches, staff, parents and fans who were all in Kamloops for a hockey tournament.
And it wasn't just championship-calibre athletes hitting the ice in and around Kamloops, Hockey Canada and BC Hockey hosted development events through the Okanagan and beyond for young players.
From jamborees in Kelowna and 100 Mile House to Esso Fun Days in Vernon and Salmon Arm, players of all ages got the chance to play hockey and take part in the festivities surrounding Women's Worlds.
A highlight was the "Hot Stove" session at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, featuring Hockey Canada's President and CEO Tom Renney along with Team Canada alumni Danielle Goyette, Caroline Ouellette, Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Gina Kingsbury, along with Kamloops female hockey expert Cathy Wolff. A crowd of approximately 75 players, parents, coaches and fans listened to the panel speak about female hockey development.
In all, more than 350 players and coaches participate in "Road to Worlds" events around the Okanagan. In the end, BC Hockey, the host committee and the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association (MHA) are hoping that all of the events will pay dividends in the future, leaving a strong foundation for female hockey in the region.
"How do we use these events to help coaches at all the different levels of the game? How do we get the grassroots hockey going in this region?" asks Jon Pankuch, President of the Kamloops MHA and co-chair of the Women's Worlds host committee. "If we can use these resources to get more girls playing, I think from a competition standpoint, it's good for the game. It starts when these girls are really young; we need to get these girls out on the ice and hopefully they'll keep playing and enjoy the game."
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PENTICTON HOCKEY OFFICIAL LIVING THE DREAM
c/o Penticton Western News  Shannon Kline's officiating career has come a long way. What started out as a way to make a few dollars when she was 11, has completely changed her life. Now at 23, she does it for the love of the game.
"Officiating is my passion and I couldn't imagine not doing it anymore," wrote Kline in an email. "Like almost everyone that plays the game or officiates the game, we hope to one day skate for Canada at the Olympics. Ever since I was little, that has been my goal. I never through that maybe one (1) day my officiating career could take me there."
Kline, who resides in Calgary, has been busy working the third and final rounds of the Junior B playoffs in Hockey Calgary. She also worked the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) women's national championship, which is the fifth national championship and second CIS for Kline.
"It's another privilege to be picked out of the many talented female officials across Canada," said Kline, who worked the bronze medal game last year and gold this year.
Her first national championship was in Dawson Creek and she worked a semifinal game. In April of 2015, she officiated the gold medal game at the Esso National Championships. She was also selected to be a linesman at the Mac's Midget AAA Invitational Tournament last Christmas. She was the only female to work that tournament and the first in five (5) years. She said it was "a privilege and honour for her."
Kline credits those involved with officiating in Penticton and BC Hockey for where she is.
"Without everyone's help I would never have moved to Calgary and probably would not be seeing the hockey that I am now," she said. "I owe them a lot for all he help they have given me as well as my family for supporting me in what I do everyday. The Central Zone Referees' Committee (CZRC) has helped as well with supporting me and giving me the feedback that I needed. I am very glad I moved here when I did. With them, I have moved to levels that I would never have thought I could be at."
Kline said her experience has helped her mentally and physically. While officiating in higher leagues, Kline received more detailed supervision so she knows what she needs to do to get that one (1) step higher.
"Physically, well I need to be in shape which I've always struggled with," she said. "This year I have worked really hard at that aspect of my game and have overcome boundaries I never though I could."
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THE ASHBY'S: A REAL GOALIE FAMILY
 Billets and billeting is a long-standing tradition in hockey culture. Families invite Junior players into their homes to be part of their family for the hockey season, which often turns into a lifelong connection and friendship. Billet families are a vital part of a team's success both on and off the ice.
Mechele and Dean Ashby, and their son Trent, have been billeting Penticton Vees players for the past three (3) seasons after hearing about the many great experiences her friend had before.
"Trent doesn't have a big brother, so these players have filled that role for him," Mechele mentioned. "They are great role models; they help him on the ice at practice, with homework, go biking in their spare time, play mini-sticks or even give advice about girls."
"I think it's pretty cool to have these guys live with us," Trent said. "My friends think I'm lucky and they like to come over and play mini-sticks. The guys are always tough when we play. They don't 'let' me win. I have to earn it. So when I DO win (which isn't often), it's time for a big celly!"
"It always makes us smile how these young men can go from being very mature and well-spoken to playing like 12 year olds boys with Trent," Mechele laughed.
Their first year of billeting players, the Ashby's welcomed both Vees goalies: Hunter Miska (Stacy, Minnesota), who now attends the University of Minnesota, and Olivier Mantha (La Tuque, QB), who plays for the University of Alaska. "Sometimes it was tough as they were both fighting for the number one (1) spot."
The family hadn't planned on taking in two (2) players their first year but Trent, who plays with the Penticton Minor Hockey Pee Wee squad, and Dean, a former goalie himself, begged Mechele to take on both boys. "That year there was a lot of hockey talk at the dinner table and lots of laughs too!" Mechele said. "Hunter and Olivier were great together and fit in very well with our family."
She had four (4) goalies living under one (1) roof that first year! "You know, they always say 'goalies are weird or different' - it has surprised me how very 'normal' all of our goalies have been... but maybe that's because I married a goalie. I don't know what 'normal' is any more," Mechele laughed.
"That season I never had a game off of being a 'goalie mom,' she added. "I know they are not my kids, but when I'm housing and feeding them and caring about their well-being, I feel somewhat responsible for their success on the ice. I got stressed during games!"
The second year, Hunter returned to the Ashby household and they also billeted Jack Ramsey (Chanhassen, Minnesota), the only forward they have had stay to date.
This past season (2015 - 2016), they decided to only invite one (1) billet. The Ashby's were very happy and excited to welcome netminder Anthony Brodeur (Newark, New Jersey) to their home. 
Now you might recognize some of the names mentioned, and yes, they are the sons of those that you are thinking of.
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NINE-YEAR OLD EMILY GORDON MEETS TEAM CANADA
c/o The Province
When Blayre Turnbull scored for Team Canada in the IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship semifinals, the most excited people in the Sandman Centre likely were camped out in section R, row 6, seats 4 - 7.
That's where Sheryl Sadorski, her daughter Emily and other members of their travelling party were, taking in every once of the 5 - 3 Canadian victory over Finland.
Emily is nine (9). She loves hockey with all her might. She's played four (4) seasons in her hometown of Prince Rupert. She's also been helping her mom battle with cervical cancer for the past two (2) years.
For Christmas, Sheryl told Emily to choose an experience she wanted and Sheryl would try to make it happen. Sheryl wanted to make some memories. Emily picked a trip to see the women's worlds, with the idea of meeting Team Canada face-to-face. The family reached out to TSN, which in turn reached out to Hockey Canada, and then Emily and her crew got a chance to sit in at a practice at the Sandman Centre and then spend some time with the Canadian players afterwards. She showed up with a sign stating: "I am the Future of Team Canada Women's Hockey," and the players chanted "Emily" as they broke up their practice-ending huddle.
Team Canada general manager, Melody Davidson, had pulled Emily aside before she went to the dressing room and gave her strict marching orders: tell Canadian star centre Marie-Philip Poulin, women's hockey's version of 'Captain Serious,' to smile more. Emily told her. It's every day you get to give business to one (1) of the world's best players and have her boss backing you up.
The family was there for an hour. Pictures were taken, autographs were signed and as they were leaving, Turnbull gave Emily her email address, explaining that she wanted to keep in touch. Pretty cool stuff.
Through Sheryl's ordeal, the family has gotten a chance to meet other athletes. They were all gracious, all giving, but not like this, Sheryl says. This was next level. "Those women are a class act," she said, who is a fan of the sport herself, having found herself caught up in watching Canada's various showdowns with the US at the Worlds and the Olympics on TV.
"They had empathy, they had sympathy. They were friendly. They had her hang out with during their cool-down after practice. They hugged her. They treated us like we were part of the team. They are the definitions of Canadians."
Sheryla and Emily were so moved by the experience that they wrote a letter to the team. The team had Turnbull, fittingly, read it out to the group after the game on Sunday.
Pretty cool stuff, too.
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RENNEY RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS
c/o Hockey Canada
For Tom Renney, the 2016 IIHF Women's World Championship is a homecoming. The president and CEO of Hockey Canada got his coaching start with the WHL's Kamloops Blazers, winning the WHL championship and Memorial Cup in 1992 before embarking on a career that included four (4) stops in the National Hockey League (NHL) and a stint behind the Team Canada bench at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games.
With Renney back in Canada's Tournament Capital for the women's worlds, HockeyCanada.ca sat down with the man in charge to talk about Kamloops, the tournament and the continued growth of women's hockey.
HC.ca: How have you enjoyed the 2016 IIHF Women's World Championship?
TR: It's been exceptional, and I think that's a testament to the volunteers, which is typical of these events and how hard everyone works, giving of their time and effort and often times their ability. And of course, our (Hockey Canada) staff have been exceptional; everyone had so hard to pull this off, and when you walk around town, it looks like mission accomplished.
HC.ca: Why has this world championship been a success in Kamloops?
I think it draws in from other communities, and it becomes a regional event. Everyone has an opportunity to access tickets and be here to enjoy the community and obviously enjoy the venue, which is exceptional, so that's certainly helpful, and when you have a community like Kamloops that is so involved with tournaments of any kind, this is right in their wheelhouse. There is a certain buzz, a certain feel, a certain synergy that is contagious and you really identify with that when you walk into the community.
HC.ca: How important was it to reach outside of Kamloops, particularly with the development activities that Hockey Canada and BC Hockey ran earlier in the week?
TR: You alluded to BC Hockey, and we're not doing it without them. This is as much their event as it is anyone else's, whether we're in Kamloops or those communities (Kelowna, Vernon, Salmon Arm and 100 Mile House). The bottom line is that we don't do that without a great, great partner in one of our member, and that's BC Hockey. It really does help grow the game. There are a lot of young people in the stands watching these games, same things on television through TSN, identifying with the competition any way they possibly can, and to be able to take it to the ancillary communitiies so that can enjoy it too, it's paramount, because that's what grows the game.
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TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY
 There has been so much talk regarding this debate about summer hockey; to play or not to play? As a parent of a young player that played for over 10 years, I have to admit we did it. When he was playing Novice, Atom and Pee Wee we just stuck to one (1) week camps over the summer. It was a chance to get on the ice and have a fun week long camp. As he got older and began playing in more competitive leagues, summer hockey moved beyond the one (1) week camps. I have to say at the point we spent many July days in the arena. As if the smell of the equipment didn't stink up the car enough in the winter, it was nothing compared to the smell in the heat of the summer.
I feel for parents having to make the decision today about whether or not to play summer hockey. I completely understand the dilemma of not wanting your young player to be a step behind those he or she is competing with. There is that looming tryout date that's just around the corner. Perhaps the decision needs to come from the coaches that are picking the teams, maybe they need to take the lead on this huge debate. Is there value in letting your young player take two (2) months off to play other sports so that they jump back on the ice hungry for the game? I don't know and I don't have the answers for you. Unfortunately, my expertise in hockey isn't in relation to the on ice stuff; I was more of an expert on what not to do.
I will say this; I don't regret the trips to the Chowder Cup in Boston, hockey in Vaughan in the spring, or travelling to Philadelphia in July. I don't regret carting boys from the rink to Nantasket beach in Boston for a quick swim. I remember there was a restaurant with a patio across from that beach and the boys all wanted to eat after their victory. We dropped them off and told them to meet us for a swim after their lunch. It wasn't long until I could hear them laughing from our lawn chairs as they ate in the sun. These boys weren't missing out on anything. I will also never forget the time we were staying at a hotel in the middle of summer and the boys had just lost their last game of the tournament. We had decided to stay an extra night because it was such a long drive back. They all jumped in the pool and played skunk. That game of skunk went on and on with new rules for every round. They had the time of their lives and so did the parents sharing the patio, a few drinks, and a lot of laughs. My point is this, if you decide to play summer hockey don't take the summer out of it. If you're a camper, bring your trailer. If you're a staying at a hotel find a beach close by. If you can skip the hotel and rent a cottage all the better. Roasted marshmallows over a campfire taste just as good after a hockey game. Summer hockey doesn't mean no summer, but you have to be creative.
Let your player decide, you'll be able to tell if they're ready for a break. If they don't want to play then don't sign them up. That's when you take their summer away. Can you imagine doing something you were sick of in the middle of summer while everyone else is having fun? Whatever your kids decide to play, be it soccer, ball, or summer hockey just make sure their having fun and most importantly don't take the summer out of it.
Allyson Tufts
Lessons from Behind the Glass
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YOUR ROAD TO THE MASTERS STARTS HERE
It's what you've been waiting for. Organizers for the 2016 Americas Masters Games announced that the athletics category scheduled has been confirmed. That means the entire sport calendar dates are no set and you can register for all events and categories for the multi-day sporting event taking place in Vancouver, BC.
Registration has already been strong, and you don't want to miss out. Join thousands of athletes from all over the glvoe to compete from August 26, 2016 to September 4, 2016 in a celebration of healthy and active living. Your Road to the Masters starts here!
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Does your Minor Hockey Association have an upcoming event the membership should know about? Or have you hosted an awesome event and want to tell us about it?
We want to know what you are doing at your association and share it with hockey fans across the Province.
Send your story/event to: info@bchockey.net.
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Want to be a part of BC Hockey events? Or do you know someone who would love to be involved in hockey in their community?
We are always accepting names and resumes for volunteer positions for BC Hockey events across the province. Some events include: the Male U16 and Female U18 BC Cups and minor rec skills camps and jamborees.
Get involved today! Please forward your name, or someone you know, and your/their details to: info@bchockey.net.
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