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WHL PLAYERS SLATED FOR THE DRAFT IN JUNE

GOALTENDING WOES NOT STOPPING NANAIMO MINOR

February 15, 2014

OR[NOT TO PAY]ASSOCIATIONS ARE REWRITING THE RULES WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTEER AND PAID COACHES

10 9NCAA PROSPECTS FROM THE BCHLT

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HOCKEYNOW February 15, 2014 | British Columbia 111911British Columbia | February 15, 2014 HOCKEYNOW2 3

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IN THIS ISSUE

B.C. EDITIONVol. 16, No. 3, Issue 569 - Feb. 15, 2014

PUBLISHERLarry Feist

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MANAGING EDITOR + MANAGER, BRAND MARKETING

Scott [email protected]

ART + PRODUCTION Stacey Coleman

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MARKETING COORDINATOR, DIGITAL PRODUCTS + SOCIAL MEDIA

Meagan [email protected]

COPY EDITOREmily Lukach

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ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Larry Feist

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERSIan Esplen, Nate Ewell, Brent Mutis,

Adam Williams

ON THE COVERPhoto by Penny Hardie Photography

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5 STAND ON GUARD Publisher’s Note

6 41 WHL PLAYERS CRACK THE NHL'S MID-SEASON RANKINGS

Ian Esplen: Around The Boards

8 TOP 10 PROSPECTS IN THE BCHL

College NCAA

15 TEAM BLUE COMES OUT ON TOP IN MAJOR MIDGET LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME

Minor Hockey

22 BCHL PLAYOFFS A MONTH AWAY

BCHL Round Up


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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

LARRY FEIST, PublisherOn Twitter: @HockeyNow

STAND ON GUARD[I] flew to Toronto on February 9th for a week

of sales meetings and a couple of work-related events. Coincidentally, the NHL players boarded planes in New York and Atlanta headed for the Sochi, Russia Olympic games.

I, like many others, am looking forward to seeing how the players will mesh and perform. Will Jeff Carter play well with Crosby? Will Nash fit with Toews and Sharp? Tavares, who does he play with? Who gets the healthy scratch, St. Louis, Benn, Vlasic, Smith?

The argument for having best on best is always what I stand behind, but my outlook heading into the last four Olympic tournaments and this year in Sochi is way different than in the 1980’s and up until 1998. Back when we had a national team, which was mainly castoffs, guys without NHL contracts and guys playing in Europe who would come together for 20 to 40 games in an Olympic year, I was cheering for the underdog. Back then, the percentage of NHLers that were Canadian was even higher so many European teams had a huge percentage of their best players playing against, well, our second and third best. But man it was fun to cheer for them.

Let’s think back to 1994 and before. Remember Calgary and our fourth place finish? Calgary hosted and none of us expected much from the Canadian roster. Zalapski, Tambellini, Burke, Moog, Dr. Randy Gregg, Peplinski—I mean those were all names we know of, but they were out of the league, not quite in, over the hill, just up and coming, this wasn’t Crosby et al.

I remember looking forward to those games with a ton of pride and hope. We would win some games, some upsets and always tease with medals. Wasn’t that cool?

I find my lead up to the Olympic tournament

every four years as it relates to the men’s hockey filled with excitement but tempered by huge anxiety. I mean, what happens if Canada doesn’t win? Will we have to have another Summit?

Our World Junior team hasn’t won gold for years now, so if the men’s team gets silver or worse then what? Will the women’s team’s success or failure be included in this go round analysis?

And as for the future of the NHL’s involvement in the Olympics, what if their players don’t go anymore? Wouldn’t it be cool if Hockey Canada brought back the National Team and set it up 2015-style?

With the amount of interest and sponsorship money involved in men’s Olympic hockey, one would think Canada could field a very competitive team. And as an aside, maybe it would give young Canadian hockey players another dream to aspire to, aside from the NHL.

What do you think would happen if Hockey Canada really got behind a National Team? Full sponsors. Year-round program. That would likely add to the Grow the Game initiative overall. I know it won’t work if the IIHF and the NHL really want NHL players in the tournament, but if there was a window to allow this to happen, it would be a bit of a let down as a fan, but I might be really pumped to see our guys go up against the world.

With the NHL involvement in Korea in 2018 in serious doubt, it’s interesting to consider the possibilities. Don’t get me wrong, I love the best on best, but there is something amazing about watching our third tier guys take on the mostly best of the world. I for one won’t be super thrilled if the NHLers don’t go to Korea, but if they don’t I will still cheer, maybe even with more excitement.

NEXT EDITION February 28, 2014

CONTACT THE PUBLISHER: [email protected]

Will The Lack Of Pro Hockey Players In The Olympics Raise Our National Pride?


IAN ESPLEN: AROUND THE BOARDSIAN ESPLEN: AROUND THE BOARDS

[W]hen most people think of Canmore, Alta., they think of the beautiful scenery,

the Nordic Centre and skiing, but there is at least one Western Hockey League player who might be adding hockey to that list.

Luke Philp, a five-foot-10, 177-pound centre for the Kootenay Ice, grew up playing with his two brothers on the ponds near his house. Now he's right in the middle of the 2014 NHL draft conversation.

But being in the middle of the action is nothing new for Philp. After all, on his very first shift in the WHL, he was involved in somewhat of a line brawl with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

“A guy on Lethbridge ran a guy on our team and the next thing you know there is a line brawl going on,” Philp said, as he chuckled about his welcome-to-the-WHL moment.

While he never did drop the mitts with anyone during the incident, only pushing a little with a player that he knew, being at the centre of the action is a place he'd call home for a lot of his young career.

His strong play this season led to him surprising a few people and showing up at number 125 on NHL Central Scouting's mid-season rankings for North American players.

Since making the mid-season rankings, Philp has scored four goals and nine points in only four games (as of Jan. 30).

“I think the main reason is I've been playing a lot with Tim Bozon and Austin Vetterl and we just have

real good chemistry together,” Philp said when asked what was behind his recent offensive production.

And while showing up in the mid-season rankings has added a little more pressure, Philp acknowledges that he wants to make a big push the rest of the season and try to move up the ranks.

KOOTENAY'S OTHER CENTRE TO WATCH FOR AT THE NHL DRAFT

Luke Philp credits his Mom, Dad and agent Dennis Polonich as having a big impact on his career to date. His parents can often be seen watching him play in Cranbrook and Calgary.

IAN ESPLEN: AROUND THE BOARDS

Virtanen, Honka And Bleakley Are My Favourites So Far

IAN ESPLEN: AROUND THE BOARDS

41 WHL PLAYERS CRACK THE NHL'S MID-SEASON RANKINGS After a breakout January, watch for Luke Philp

in the second half of the season

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[T] he Western Hockey League is a little more than halfway through their season and that

means two things: one, we start to find out who the Memorial Cup contenders are, and two, NHL Central Scouting has released their mid-season rankings.

This year's crop of WHL players is one of the better ones that I have seen depth-wise, with 41 players cracking the 210-player list.

While I won't go into depth on all the players who made the list, I will give my thoughts on a few of my favourites, a few that are ranked too high and a few that are ranked too low.

MY FAVOURITESuJake Virtanen - Calgary HitmenYou're not going to find too many players in this draft with more upside than Jake

Virtanen. He plays the game the right way and there are few players that have his combination of size, speed and puck skills. Every time I see him, he makes at least two or three plays that get me out of my seat, and because of that, he's been one of my favourites to watch this season and a player that I think will go fairly early on draft day.

uJulius Honka - Swift Current BroncosErik Karlsson 2.0 is really all I need to say about Julius Honka, but that wouldn't make for much of a write-up on him. I've had the chance to see him a few times and I think every time I've left saying to myself, “wow”. He can pass the puck up the ice or skate it and rarely makes a mistake. Add to his off-the-charts skating, skill and smarts that he is one tough cookie and you have a guy that I'd have no issue taking top eight.

uConner Bleakley - Red Deer RebelsI almost had Conner Bleakley in my too low group

because number 31 is way too low for a guy that will likely play in the NHL for a long time.

Bleakley is one of the safest players to take in this year’s draft, and his competitive nature

will make him more than just “some player”. He is excellent on face-offs

and the kid is a born leader. Teams can never have too many character leaders, so I'd have no issue taking him top 15.

TOO HIGHuBen Thomas - Calgary Hitmen

It’s not that I think Ben Thomas isn't a solid pro prospect, but more that I don't see the lure that

has some saying he's a second or third round pick. I view Thomas

as a guy who has good size and skill, but I'm unsure on whether that will

translate to the NHL level. Because of the uncertainty, I'd say he's more of a player

who should be taken in round four-through-seven.

uBrycen Martin - Swift Current BroncosThe tools are there, but in my opinion, there isn't a more inconsistent player in this year’s draft rankings than Brycen Martin. He has the size and skating that should translate to him becoming a very good NHL player. Add to that the fact that he’s produced a lot offensively in the past and you have a guy who should be a first round pick. But part of being a first round

HOCKEYNOW February 15, 2014 | British Columbia6

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Selected number one overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, Virtanen has not disappointed Calgary Hitmen fans, racking up 32 goals in 50 games so far this season.

Although Alex Schoenborn has played this season for the Portland Winterhawks, he has suited up with both the Wenatchee Wild and the Lincoln Stars in the past.

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uBrayden Point - Moose Jaw Warriors If you don't know the name Brayden Point by now, you'll likely know it by the time the U-18 World Championships get underway. Point has the type of game-breaking talent that few in this year’s draft have – blink and chances are he's put the puck in the net. He's also a dynamic skater, who can at times play with an edge. Add all that up and you have a guy who should be about 15 to 20 spots higher.

uBrett Pollock - Edmonton Oil KingsIt seems like NHL teams are always on the lookout

for big centres who can score a little and play physical, so

I'm not sure why Pollock is being slated to go

somewhere around the third or fourth round. He's a good skater for his size and he's on track to take a run

at netting 30 goals this season. All that to me is

a player who should be off the board by

the middle of the second

round.

pick is playing like a first round pick. Any time I've watched him, I'm left with kind of a ho-hum impression, and to me, a player like that is more of a late second, early third round type of player.

uAlex Schoenborn - Portland WinterhawksAlex Schoenborn at number 57 is one player that was a real head scratcher to me. Sure he's got some good size and he isn't afraid to toss his weight around, but I'm not sure that is worth being ranked in the top 100, let alone the top 60. I think he's got some good tools to maybe round into an NHL player, but I'd have a hard time taking him before the sixth round.

TOO LOWuTyson Baillie - KelownaTyson Baillie might just be the most overlooked player in all of junior hockey. First he was left out of the prospects game and then he ranked number 90 by NHL Central Scouting – and he’s the second-leading scorer on the number one team in the nation. I get that his skating could be better, but there aren't many players with more drive that Baillie. That drive makes him a player I'd consider using a second round pick on.


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NCAA Coaches Shared Their Favourites To Make An Impact At The Next Level

[W]ith more than 100 players currently committed to Division I universities, the

BCHL has no shortage of top prospects for the next level. With that in mind, College Hockey Inc. asked several NCAA assistant coaches, who spend lots of time recruiting in the province, for their favourite players.

What follows is a ranking that takes into account all of their thoughts, provided anonymously, on the BCHL players who are the best bets to succeed in the future.

LANDON SMITH, SALMON ARMThe Quinnipiac commit tops the BCHL in goals and points thanks to a terrific shot that he’s not afraid to unleash from anywhere. A fast skater, Smith should jump right in to the NCAA level and help the Bobcats replace the likes of former BCHL stars Connor and Kellen Jones.

MYLES AND GERRY FITZGERALD, VICTORIATwo-thirds of the Fitzgerald triplets (brother Leo

STORY | Nate Ewell

PROSPECTS IN THE BCHL

It is said that familiarity helps a sports team succeed. If that’s the case, then the rejuvenation of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League should come quicker than expected.

Last summer, general manager Chris Hans and head coach Don Schulz went out and recruited 17 new play-ers for the team’s 2013/14 campaign. A number of them had previous connections, but none were closer than those of defenceman Alex Martin and Ryan Cuthbert, or forward Colton Schell and defenceman Cameron Weir.

That’s because Martin and Cuthbert were teammates with the Delta Ice Hawks of the Pacific Junior Hockey League last season while Schell and Weir both wore the uniform of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Nelson Leafs.

Going into an environment that is radically different from what they are accustomed to – one where academics rather than hockey is the number one priority and in a strange city to top it off – brings obvious difficulties. But having a friendly face around made the move to Kam-loops nearly stress free.

“I took some college courses last year when I played in Delta so I knew what university was all about,” says Martin, who is in the first year of the Police and Justice program. “But having four courses has made it tough to keep up with the workload while also practicing three times a week.”

“I’m in the BBA program,” states Weir. “The work load has been a step up from what I’m used to but nothing I can’t handle.”

A new city, a new school, new living arrangements (for most, this is the first time they are living on their own) and a new team are all formidable challenges. But all four players agree that having someone they are used to seeing on a regular basis has helped ease the transition.

“It’s nice coming here knowing that you’ll know a familiar face in the room,” Weir says of Schell.

“Ryan and I are good friends off the ice,” Martin ex-plains. “We have different personalities but we keep in pretty good contact away from the rink.”

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

FAMILIARITY HELPS WOLFPACK ROOKIES ADJUST TO LIFE IN THE BCIHL

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“Which makes sense since we’ve been teammates since we were 13 years old,” adds Cuthbert.

The two started playing spring hockey together in Coquitlam and then moved on to Delta where they had been defence partners for the last three seasons. They decided to attend TRU after meeting with Hans after a BCIHL game last season in Langley.

Martin says that he and Cuthbert are the same type of player: “in your face and hard-nosed”.

Their many years of being paired together as teen-agers, along with their ability to communicate on the ice, have made it easier to adjust to the faster-paced BCIHL.

Meanwhile, Schell and Weir have known each other since both attended the Okanagan Hockey Academy in 2009-10.

“I didn’t really know him back then because we were

on different teams, but it’s kind of funny how everything pans out because we wound up in Nelson together last year,” says Weir.

“He was in one of my classes last term,” says Schell, who like Martin is in the Police and Justice program. “It made it always a fun class to go to.”

With TRU hoping to make a run at the playoffs, this pair of former and current teammates is being counted on to be a big part of that journey. But in order to do so, they’ll need to get healthy again following a recent string of injuries that hit the WolfPack blueline.

“I’m really looking forward to Cutter and Marty returning to the lineup,” Coach Schulz explains. “They provide much needed depth at their position. They’ve become one of the better defence pairings in the league and they’re a key to our success. Wiersy has also been in-jured and his return is important also. Schell is rounding into form and will become one of the top forwards on our team and in this league.”

NAME TEAM GP G A PTS PIMJono Ceci SFU 19 13 25 38 14

Nick Sandor SFU 19 16 21 37 4

Cody Fidgett SEL 17 19 12 31 4

Josh MacDonald TRU 19 15 16 31 10

Logan Proulx SEL 17 10 21 31 22

Duncan Schulz TRU 16 11 19 30 34

Connor McLaughlin SEL 16 17 12 29 28

J.P. Villeneuve TWU 19 17 12 29 10

Aaron Enns SFU 19 9 18 27 36

Jackson Garrett SEL 16 5 20 25 42

TEAM GP W L OT-SOL PTS GF GA

Simon Fraser University 19 16 2 1 33 92 41

Selkirk College 17 13 3 1 27 102 41

Thompson Rivers University 19 9 10 0 18 68 61

Trinity Western University 19 9 10 0 18 53 83

University of Victoria 18 4 11 3 11 48 76

Eastern Washington University 18 4 13 1 9 35 96

Salmon Arm’s Landon Smith was described by one NCAA coach as “dominant every night.”

TOP 10has been injured most of the year) are essentially inseparable, and earn co-number two honours on this list. Headed to Bemidji State next fall, they are undersized but play with a lot of heart. Not surprisingly, they have great chemistry, and both rank among the league’s top five scorers.

BRAD MCCLURE, PENTICTONA dynamic play maker on one of the league’s top teams, McClure is in his second season with the Vees since coming over from his hometown Stratford Cullitons in Ontario. Headed to Minnesota State in the fall, he will bring a natural goal-scoring ability that ranks among the best in the BCHL.

ALEX GILLIES, SALMON ARMThe top BCHL player on Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2014 NHL Draft (number 102), Gillies has formed a potent one-two punch with Smith in Salmon Arm, particularly on the power play. The Vernon native can work in traffic and tight spaces. He is one of eight BCHL players currently committed to Michigan Tech.

BRETT BEAUVAIS, PENTICTONHeaded to Bemidji State with the Fitzgeralds, Beauvais is the top defenceman on the list. The Prince Edward Islander has an excellent all-around game and has flourished offensively for the Vees, leading BCHL defencemen with well over a point per game.

ADAM ROCKWOOD, COQUITLAMA recent Wisconsin commit now in his second full season with the Express, the 1995-born Rockwood is described as an elite passer. His assist totals reflect that, as he boasts a healthy lead at the top of the league.

MICHAEL MCNICHOLAS, VERNONA Californian who spent his first BCHL season with Nanaimo, McNicholas took his strong all-around game to Vernon this season and leads the Vipers in scoring. He will play at New Hampshire next season.

JARID LUCOSEVICIOUS, POWELL RIVERThe BCHL’s top rookie scorer this season, Lucosevicious has one more year of seasoning before he enrols at Denver in 2015. The Squamish native has elite offensive instincts and will be among the most dangerous players in the league next season.

OLIVIER MANTHA, PENTICTONOne of several goaltenders to earn mention from the coaches we polled, Mantha got the nod as the best of the bunch. The La Tuque, Que. native has excelled in the often-challenging role of backstopping an offensive team like the Vees. He has committed to Alaska Anchorage.

DANE BIRKS, MERRITTThe lone player on this list who has already been drafted in the NHL, Birks was taken by Pittsburgh in the sixth round last summer. The Williams Lake native will head to Michigan Tech in the fall. Blessed with good size, he plays a pro-style game and boasts excellent offensive instincts.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Marcus Vela (Langley), Alec Dilon (Victoria), Jarrod Hilderman (Penticton), Jason Cotton (West Kelowna), Ryan Scarfo (Powell River)

Those are just 16 of the nearly 50 names mentioned as top prospects from the league in our informal polling, a sure sign of the wealth of talent the BCHL has to offer.

*as of Feb 2

*as of Feb 2

PACIFIC JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE PACIFIC JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

Talent on DisplayThe Pacific Junior Hockey League is generally considered to be one of the top Junior B leagues in the country, if not THE top league.

There are stories of PJHL teams holding their own against Junior A teams, with the coaching

and player personnel standing as a cut above in Canada’s sea of Junior B leagues.

Being primarily a feeder for the BCHL, also considered one of the top Canadian Junior A loops, the PJHL attracts talent from across BC

and the west coast, and as such, has plenty to be proud of.

That is never more true than during their two annual showcases, the All-Star Game and the Top Prospects Game, held two weeks apart in January.

While the All-Star Game is a more traditional affair, with the top players in the league being selected for the game by coaches from around the league, the Prospects Game is intended as a showcase for those who look most likely to crack a Junior A or Major Junior roster next season.

While both games offered a little

something different, it was clear from both that the PJHL once again hosts a tremendous amount of young talent, and will continue to do so for years to come.

Abbotsford, host of this year’s Keystone Cup, were given the hosting rights for the All-Star Game as a sort of mini tune-up, and despite the game being held on a Monday night, drew a decent crowd.

The Pilots sent the highest number of players to the game, dressing 8 of the Brittain Conference’s 18 total players, including goaltender Zach Station and leading scorer Bradley Parker.

The game was your typical run-and-gun affair, with both teams easing off the gas pedal and having some fun, with the Brittain Conference emerging victorious with a 10-8 win.

The Pilots, no doubt feeding off of their chemistry from playing with each other all year, had many of the leading scorers for the Brittain Conference, with Parker notching 3 assists, Kolten Grieve picking up 4 helpers, and Braeden Monk notching a goal to go along with 2 assists.

The Aldergrove Kodiaks’ two leading scorers were surprisingly quiet, with league leading scorer Stephen Ryan collecting just a single goal, with his teammate Spencer Unger scoring

a pair of goals to go along with an assist.

The surging Ridge Meadows Flames sent 3 players to the game, including goaltender Tyler Read, and the Brittain Conference’s MVP, Travis Oddy, who was able to put 3 goals past the Shaw Conference netminders, while adding an assist.

Oddy, a Flames overager, has had a quiet second half for the Ridge Meadows squad, but was anything but quiet on this night, taking advantage of some new linemates to score some nice goals.

For the Shaw Conference, it was not surprising to see two thirds of the team made up of the Conference’s two powerhouse squads, the Richmond Sockeyes and the North Vancouver Wolf Pack.

Where the Brittain Conference had some standout scoring from the Pilots and Oddy, the Shaw Conference distributed the wealth a bit more evenly, with 15 of their 18 skaters notching at least a point.

The MVP for the Brittain Conference was 16 year-old John Wesley. The youngster from White Rock, BC, has had a dynamite second half of the season, and was full value for his 2 goals and 2 helpers in the game.

Grandview Steelers’ siblings Chris and Cam Seto combined for a hat trick of goals, and Colin Catchpole of the North Delta Devils also grabbed two helpers.

The Prospects Game, much like its counterpart in the CHL, is a much different affair, with players hoping to impress the scouts in the stands, and giving it their all.

Just by taking a quick look at the score, a 4-1 victory for the Shaw Conference, one can already tell the difference between the two games.

One thing that remained eerily the same was the standout play of John Wesley, who once again nabbed MVP honours for the Shaw Conference, once again scoring a pair of goals

for his team.

It’s hard to imagine the 16 year-old is long for the PJHL. The ’97-born Wesley now has 50 points in 41 games for the Sockeyes, and with the trophies beginning to mount on his shelf, he is sure to garner a long look from scouts this offseason.

Many staff of PJHL teams will tell you that the main goal of the PJHL is to develop players, and that is also quite evident looking at the rosters for both the All-Star Game and Prospects Game, with 8 players suiting up for both games.

That so many of the league’s young players are also considered their top players is a feather in the league’s cap, and the talent on display in both games was remarkable.

The Grandview Steelers sent the most prospects to the game with 6, including goaltender Cole MacInnes, who combined with Braden Krogfoss of the North Vancouver Wolf Pack to hold the Brittain Conference to a single goal. Both second-year players, the two goalies

have been very good for their respective squads, despite both being in a true tandem situation on their teams.

For the Brittain Conference, it was once again a Ridge Meadows Flame who took home the MVP honours, as forward Boston Colley took home the trophy.

Colley has been an effective player in his rookie season for the Flames, scoring nearly a point per game, despite only making it into 27 games so far this season.

While their two squads have been fighting for the last playoff spot and have struggled at times this season, it was great to see the Mission City Outlaws and Port Moody Panthers send 7 players to the game.

And in fact, it was the Outlaws and Panthers, embroiled in such a battle and separated by one point in the standings, who combined for the Brittain Conference’s only goal, as Adam Rota of the Panthers scored, with helpers from Holden Wilkerson and David McGowan from the Outlaws.

The PJHL All-Star and Prospects Games Give the League’s Top Players a Chance to Shine

The Grandview Steelers sent 5 players to the Prospects Game, more than any other team in the PJHL

The Pilots sent an astounding 8 players to the All-Star Game, including goaltender Zach Station, pictured above making a mad scramble for a save

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COVER STORY COVER STORY

[A]s the minor hockey landscape across the country shifts, associations and governing

bodies are left to wonder how coaching and management should shift with it.

Changes to the structure of minor hockey are nothing new — for years there have been elite levels of play, hockey academies, summer programs and off-season training regimes. More and more though, hockey is becoming a year-round sport, with players and parents becoming involved in the sport to a greater degree.

So where does that leave coaching and management in the minor hockey ranks?

In recent years, some minor hockey associations have started to adopt paid positions within their organizations — both within the coaching ranks and upper-level management. This isn’t a new development in elite-level hockey, but some community associations have started the practice with younger age groups.

In B.C., the vast majority of minor hockey associations still make use of volunteer minor hockey coaches and executives. Most are parents — mothers and fathers getting involved in the game after their so-called day jobs.

That’s the case in Kamloops, where a volunteer coach is the only type of coach. George Cochrane, Kamloops Minor Hockey Association’s head coach, said that all of the association’s coaches are currently unpaid volunteers. With about 1,300 kids playing on more than 80 teams, there are between 200 and 250 coaches.

Cochrane said the volunteer model works best for an association the size of Kamloops’s, noting that to pay more than 200 coaches would quickly become prohibitive. He said the quality of the coaches the association gets is exceptional year after year, even without offering a stipend for services.

Plus, with the coaches being volunteers, the association knows they’re getting into it for the right reasons.

“I think the spirit of the game, so to speak, has resulted in a lot from volunteers, at all levels,” Cochrane said. “On the coaching side, it’s people that are looking to give back to the game.”

While KMHA hasn’t instituted paid coaching positions, it has caved to pressure at the executive level, installing Cochrane’s head coach position. He oversees coaches in all divisions, working with them to ensure proper development and delivery of programs and to keep the association’s focus on player development.

It’s a position that was once left to a volunteer, but has now become paid because of the time and effort its responsibilities require.

So while Cochrane said there’s no plan to implement paid coaches in Kamloops at the moment, it’s a change he could see taking place down the road.

“I do think that, whether it’s coaching hockey, soccer, baseball, any sport, or whether it’s working as a member of the association . . . it’s getting harder and harder to find volunteers,” he said. “So those are some things that are kind of a constant conversation around which way is best to go, in terms of volunteers versus paid [employees]. Or, if we did pay coaches, who would be paid?”

“One, if you want the best hockey people, the best hockey people in the world . . . you have to pay them,” Ward said. “Two, it’s a full-time job. It’s not like minor hockey, these guys work seven days a week, 365 days a year.”

Ward noted the situation is obviously different for an organization like OHA and emphasized there will always be room for the volunteer coach in minor hockey. He said the paid versus unpaid debate shouldn’t be looked at as an “either or” situation, but rather a pair of approaches for streams of hockey with different goals and directions.

More is expected of paid coaches — an inherent difference when payment becomes part of the equation — and they are more accountable to the program that employs them. Accountability is something OHA must ensure with parents sending their kids to an elite academy, with which they entrust not only the development of their hockey abilities but their education and maturity.

Ward and OHA believe employees fill a certain niche, and that’s not necessarily a niche present in every minor hockey association.

“In our country, it’s the volunteers that run Hockey Canada,” he said. “Your paid coaches get into the more specific realm of high-intensity training and private programs. Minor hockey associations would have a really tough time trying to pay 100 coaches in their associations a full-time wage, it’s just not going to happen.”

Because of its stringent requirements when hiring coaches, OHA rarely runs into the conflicts of interest and favouritism that can sometimes plague association hockey. Because many association coaches are also parents, they can be faced with difficult decisions regarding ice time, how to properly handle coachable moments and whether winning or learning should be the priority for the team.

Bains said the Surrey minor hockey association deals with relatively few issues surrounding favouritism and conflicts of interest amongst its coaches. In Kamloops, Cochrane said KMHA deals with relatively few issues as well, but added the association can sometimes find itself in a no-win situation, with parents seeing favouritism even if there is none.

So, instead of waiting for issues to arise, the association takes a proactive approach.

“We address that pretty regularly,” he said, explaining that the association tries to talk about issues of

Associations Are Rewriting The Rules When It Comes To Volunteer And Paid Coaches

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Cochrane said he could foresee a situation arising, similar to that which resulted in his head coaching position, where eventually the job becomes too big for a volunteer to handle.

In Kamloops, if the association ever did make use of paid coaches, it would be at the Tier 1 levels in divisions like bantam and midget. At those levels, the association’s teams are going up against the likes of the Okanagan Hockey Academy and Kelowna’s Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy — organizations that make use of a number of paid employees who earn their living in minor hockey.

In Surrey, the Surrey Minor Hockey Association also uses an entirely volunteer coaching model. SMHA president Harbs Bains said that part of the reason the association uses volunteer coaches is to keep costs down. The board has made it a priority to keep the game affordable for its constituents; implementing a paid coaching model would make that more difficult than it already is.

Bains also said he is of the mind that just because a coach is a volunteer doesn’t mean they’re any less knowledgeable, or their teams less able.

“There are excellent coaches who are volunteers, just like there are excellent coaches

who are paid, as well,” Bains told Hockey Now. “Our association, and others that have volunteer coaches, are just as competitive as the ones that aren’t [based around the volunteer model].”

And while not necessarily disagreeing with Bains, organizations like the Okanagan Hockey Academy have paid their coaches and executives since inception. Dixon Ward, of the academy, said that for OHA, paying coaches isn’t so much about keeping up with the Joneses, but instead a necessity if the organization is to attract the best hockey minds available.

The academy employs about 15 coaches, the majority of which work on a full-time basis.

STORY | Adam Williams

TO PAY NOT TO PAY

I think the spirit of the game, so to speak, has resulted in

a lot from volunteers, at all levels."


COVER STORY

favouritism so they don’t become a problem. He did note however, that it can be difficult for coaches to find the right balance when they have a child on the team.

“Hopefully they can find the balance . . . and try and treat the player like everyone else,” Cochrane said.

Rather than pay the entire gambit of coaches, some associations have elected to pay a select few, as Cochrane said KMHA would do should it ever decide it has the need to institute payments. The Semiahmoo Minor Hockey Association, which serves more than 1,000 players in the communities of White Rock and South Surrey, has elected to use a hybrid coaching model the last two seasons. The association pays coaches at the rep level an honorarium, while recreational coaches remain volunteers.

Andrew Grieve, coaching coordinator for Semiahmoo, said introducing a paid system has presented the association with a double-edged sword but that they are generally happy with the outcomes it has generated.

Though finding good coaches, even when they will be paid, isn’t an exact science. Some coaches don’t realize the level of commitment that will be expected of them; others may find that the number of hours required might not translate into what they would deem to be a fair wage.

Grieve said Semiahmoo started paying its coaches because it felt it was necessary to do so in order to keep up in the sport’s changing landscape. With other service offerings like club and academy hockey popping up, Semiahmoo needed to adapt to the needs of players and families in the region, or risk losing them altogether.

“The landscape has changed,” Grieve said, pointing to the wealth of hockey opportunities, along with the demands and requirements placed on coaches. “With that, the requirements for coaching . . . there’s a lot of demand and fair amount of pressure on them. The quantity and availability isn’t there, I don’t think, of people who want to [coach] anymore.”

Right now, the association has about five paid coaches, all of whom have their expenses covered by the association and receive an honorarium for services. Grieve said with two years of the hybrid model under the association’s belt, the feeling amongst executives and parents is the association should continue with it.

But in continuing it, some education and changes might be necessary.

The association has encountered communication problems with other segments of the population — those outside the paid-coach model — about where the funding for coaching wages is coming from. He said the cost of paying coaches is carried by the teams and isn’t tacked onto fees paid by the rest of the association.

“The whole association didn’t bear the brunt of it, so the kids who are playing recreational aren’t covering it,” Grieve said. “That’s a bit of a fallacy, in our association. General registration for the whole association does not cover more costs in rep. We fund every player in the association equally and if you’re going to go on a rep or a high performance team, you get an incremental charge, for the extra practice, the extra ice, the list of [all the extras].”

The collective jury is still out on the direction that coaching will need to go in order to best serve the needs of growing minor hockey associations and a changing hockey landscape. While many associations have found success with various models of remuneration for coaches and executives, there’s no silver bullet that can be applied across the province.

Associations are left to examine their particular needs, assess the resources available to them and do the best they can to remain competitive, ensuring players are learning and having fun with the game.

Because with all this talk about what’s best for coaches, management and associations, it can be easy to forget that minor hockey is still all about the kids.

MINOR HOCKEY

STORY | Adam Williams

TEAM BLUE COMES OUT ON TOP IN MAJOR MIDGET LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME

B.C. HOCKEY COACHING MANDATES:In order to coach recreational hockey, a coach must complete B.C. Hockey’s hybrid coaching program (the equivalent of Hockey Canada’s Intro to Coaching and Coach Stream certifications). The hybrid course includes a four hour online course and nine hours of classroom time, which focuses on:

In order to coach at the rep level — unless in the pre-novice to atom age ranges — a coach must complete B.C. Hockey’s Developmental 1 coaching program (the equivalent program to Hockey Canada’s Developmental 1 Stream certification). The Developmental 1 program includes 16 hours of classroom time and focuses on:

In B.C., all coaches must complete the Respect in Sport program, an online program reinforcing roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in the game and focusing on positive sport behaviours, effective communication and fun and camaraderie of the activity.

SKILLS ANALYSISSKILL TEACHING TECHNIQUESTEACHING BODY-CHECKING

LESSON ORGANIZATIONRISK MANAGEMENTPRACTICE PLANNING

INFORMATION ON THE ROLE OF A COACHTEACHING PROGRESSION INSTRUCTIONS

GAME-DAY PREPARATIONS

DRILL DESIGNINTRODUCTORY TACTICS

DRILL PROGRESSIONTEACHING BODY-CHECKING

ATHLETIC SKILLSGOALIE INSTRUCTIONSEASONAL PLANNING

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[T] eam Blue played to an 8-6 victory over Team White in the 2014 Major Midget League all-star

game, played at the George Preston Arena on Jan. 17.

Dexter Robinson of the Thompson Blazers opened the scoring for Blue and BCMML player of the month Matt Bradley of the Valley West Hawks chipped in with three goals and an assist. Tanner Campbell of the Okanagan Rockets also chipped in with a pair of markers and an assist, and Okanagan’s Jake Kryski and Liam Finlay rounded out the eight-goal effort from Blue.

Team White stayed in the game until the third frame, when Blue pulled ahead for good. White had a pair of goals from both Dante Fabbro of the Vancouver North West Giants and Dante Hannoun of the Greater Vancouver Canadians. Hunter Findlater of the North Island Silvertips had a goal and an assist, while Colton Kerfoot of the Vancouver NW Giants added a goal of his own. Nicholas Ponal, a Fraser Valley Thunderbirds product, had a pair of assists, while Steven Jandric of the Cariboo Cougars, Scott Munro of the Canadians and Coy Prevost of the Kootenay Ice chipped in with helpers.

Finlay (first), Bradley (second) and Hannoun (third) were named the game’s three stars.

The all-star game took place in conjunction with the BCMML’s Showcase Week, in which ten of the league’s

Team Blue and Team White pose at the 2014 B.C. Major Midget League all-star game.

11 teams took part in a pair of showcase double headers.

The Canadians played to a victory in their first game against the South Island Royals, 5-3, and came back to play to a 3-3 draw in the second game. The Giants defeated the Silvertips in back-to-back games, 4-1 and 7-2, while the Rockets and the Thunderbirds each took home a victory in their head-to-head matches, 6-2 for the Rockets and 4-3 for the Thunderbirds. The Hawks stunned the Ice, 8-1 and 6-0, and the Blazers and the Vancouver North East Chiefs split their games, 3-0 for the Chiefs and 4-3 for the Blazers.

NANAIMO MINOR HOCKEY GETS CREATIVE WITH GOALTENDING WOESIf you ask Tom Russell, goaltending gets forgotten in minor hockey.

But he’s out to fix that.

Russell, a lifelong goalie and the Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association’s equipment manager, brought

the idea of a developmental program for goaltenders to life. The association had identified goaltending in the middle age groups (atom, peewee and bantam) as needing improvement and decided it needed to make changes at the initiation and novice levels.

“We’re looking at our competitive teams and our house teams and we can’t find kids to play goal,” Russell said. “Our competitive coaches are saying ‘I’ve got one good rep goalie and one good house goalie’ because our goaltending program just hasn’t been looked after.”

Though it’s early, Russell said the association is already noticing little improvements in its goaltending situation. The aim of the program is not just to

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

All rep players from the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association are once again benefiting from an affiliation with Performance Institute.

Throughout the season, players from 11 squads attend weekly strength and conditioning sessions at Performance Institute.

This marks the third season BMHA players have been training at the Burnaby facility. Sessions are slotted in to accommodate each team's practice and game schedules.

Performance Institute owner Steve Ramsbottom believes there is a huge benefit to minor hockey players who incorporate strength and conditioning workouts to their in-season training. His facility works with BMHA players from Atom through Midget (ages 9 to 17).

"Going into various other levels of hockey or to university hockey, they're going to be able to handle these loads a lot better now," Ramsbottom said. "They have to be able to handle lifting. If they're starting from scratch, they're not going to adapt to their programs as well."

Ramsbottom said the amount of input BMHA coaches provide to his staff regarding their team's weekly workout varies.

"Some of the coaches leave everything to us but some of them are a lot more hands-on," he said, adding at times bench bosses whose teams have had a hectic schedule during the past week do not want to have overly vigorous workouts.

Ramsbottom said he's in a constant educating mode. Thus, he sends out weekly or bi-weekly videos to the families of all the participating BMHA players of workout sessions.

"The big thing is we try to educate them on what we're trying to accomplish," he said. "We want to educate the players, the parents and the coaches and show them there is a method to our madness."

GOALIE PROVIDES STABILITY Having a reliable puck stopper has considerably improved the fortunes of the BMHA's Hockey 4 team.

The Novice house league squad had its share of struggles early on this season, primarily because the club did not have a main goalie. Instead, the team simply had volunteers go between the pipes for its games, a tactic that did not work that well.

Since December, however, Kassius Warne has earned the majority of the team's starts in net. And he's done a rather admirable job.

"With the stability of him playing most of the games now, we get a little more consistency in net," said Jason Neufeld, the team's coach.

Neufeld added Warne's efforts have boosted the performances of others as well.

"It's quite interesting how different the dynamics of the team are now," he said. "I find now that having this goalie gives them all more confidence."

As of early February, Neufeld's club had posted an overall record of 8-11-3 this season.

ALL TEAM MEMBERS IMPROVE Since scores are not kept at this level, BMHA Hockey 3 coach Lance Bourne insists he has no idea what his team's record is.

Yet he is deeming the club's season a success as he believes all of the team's players have made some improvements this year.

The Hockey 3 level is the third year of organized hockey offered at the BMHA. It features players born in 2006.

Bourne's roster includes four players who are in their first year of the sport. With just over a month to go in the club's season, Bourne was pleased with the progress of all of his players.

"You can see the improvement at every level and not just with the guys in their first year," he said.

The team's roster includes Alexander Coventry.

"He's a very experienced player," Bourne said. "He's a really hard worker and he's a good leader on the ice."

WORKOUTS BENEFIT BMHA PLAYERS

MINOR HOCKEY

develop skills with the goaltenders at younger ages, but also to draw awareness to the position.

“At the end of the year, if we find these kids come back the following year, we know they’re keen on playing the position,” he said. “So that’s what we’re trying to do, is create an awareness of who really wants to play that position.”

Last season was the first year for the program and

Russell said nine kids from the program went on to land starting goaltending jobs with their atom clubs. This season the program is full, with 18 kids enrolled and another four on a waiting list. Russell said it’s a program that has helped to bring the association together in a sense — every Friday night he and his two instructors, about eight volunteers, and mentor goalies from midget, bantam, atom and sometimes the junior-B Nanaimo Buccaneers, come together to teach the skills of goaltending.

“When I see the improvement from the beginning of the season . . . and see what they do at the end of the season, it’s just amazing,” Russell said. With the goaltending program now off the ground, he’s looking at bringing in Parksville’s Gold in the Net and Victoria’s Progressive goaltending to work with goaltenders in the older age groups. He’s also offering his services to coaches during practices. Russell said goaltending often gets overlooked in practice time and the association’s coaches are hoping that he can

come in and work with the goalies while they practise with the rest of the team.

Russell said he admits it’s a difficult position for kids to play when they’re young. They’re still relatively small and the nets are so big. But he said the important thing isn’t how many pucks the kids are stopping, it’s about their positioning, their skating ability and whether or not they really want to be playing goal.

“Do you play goal because you watch Luongo and he makes all these great saves, or do you play goal because you really want to play that position?” he said.

Russell is hoping his program can help develop a few more of the latter.

BRADLEY LIGHTS UP DECEMBER FOR VALLEY WEST HAWKSWith 19 points, including 11 goals, in seven December games, the B.C. Major Midget League named Matt Bradley the player of the month for December.

Bradley, a forward with the Valley West Hawks, is third in league scoring with 49 points, including 25 goals; in December he was ranked 16th in the scoring race. The leader, Colton Kerfoot of the Vancouver NW Giants, has 54 points, including 23 goals.

The Surrey native has helped keep the Hawks in contention, as the Okanagan Rockets and the Vancouver NW Giants attempt to run away from the rest of the league at the top of the BCMML. The Rockets and Giants were tied with 47 points as of Jan. 20 and the Hawks were just eight points back with 39.

Liam Finlay of Team Blue slides the puck past goaltender Carson Schamerhorn of the Kootenay Ice, during the 2014 B.C. Major Midget League all-star game.

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

BWC ALUMNIThough his own NHL playing days ended a decade ago, Burnaby Winter Club graduate Cliff Ronning continues to be actively involved in the sport.

Ronning will also once again be among the lead instructors at the BASE Hockey Performance Camp, which will be staged at the BWC this summer.

The camp, now in its third year, will run Aug. 5 to 8.Ronning, who played 1,263 NHL contests during his pro career, also passed on his expertise at the camp the previous two years.

This year he'll also be joined by Glenn Anderson, another BWC grad and a Hockey Hall of Famer who won the Stanley Cup six times during his illustrious career.

Ronning, 48, is rather content that he's still working in the sport.

"Hockey is my life and something I enjoy doing," he said. "If I can help a kid or a player then I'm all for it."A year ago more than 100 players from across North America, Europe and Asia participated in the BASE Hockey Performance Camp.

"It's an intense camp," said Ronning, who played for seven NHL franchises (St. Louis, Vancouver, Phoenix, Nashville, Los Angeles, Minnesota and New York Islanders). "It's not a babysitting camp."

This year's camp can accommodate 120 elite-level players. Six age groupings will be offered, for players born anywhere from 1998 (or earlier for the oldest division) through to 2005.

"There's a lot of things we can pass on to the kids," said Ronning, who racked up 955 NHL points, including 335 goals.

This year's camp will utilize the three ice pads at the BWC.

Ronning will be instructing the stick handling and skill development (including passing and deking) sessions.

His 16-year-old son Ty, a BWC alumnus who is now a rookie with the WHL's Vancouver Giants, will also be assisting with these sessions.

Anderson will be among those in charge of the scoring sessions. He certainly knows a thing or two about putting the puck in the back of the net as he averaged close to a point per game throughout his NHL career. He accumulated 1,313 points in 1,354 matches.

As for the power skating workouts, among those helping out there will be a pair of current pros, Tyler McNeely and Wade MacLeod, who are both also BWC graduates.

McNeely, 26, is in his third pro season and is toiling in Germany's league with the Rosenheim Star Bulls. MacLeod, 27, is also in his third pro campaign. He's a member of the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies.

Working at hockey schools is nothing new for Ronning. He's been doing so for more than two decades, including numerous years when he was still playing in the NHL.

Ronning is also an owner and the vice-president of BASE Hockey, a company that provides year-round instruction, shooting analysis and custom hockey sticks.

The company has its own Burnaby facility and Ronning heads up the shooting analysis and custom fitting divisions.

BASE Hockey conducts a shooting analysis for individual players, a process that takes about one hour. It involves a pair of cameras capturing a player's shots, which are then analyzed through slow motion.Analysts will also recommend the best custom stick in terms of height, flex and lie to maximize a player's shooting ability.

More information on BASE Hockey and the August camp is available at www.basehockey.ca.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

FEBRUARY 2014OTTAWA, ONFeb. 14 - 16. 10th Annual Capital House League Championships. Bantam - Midget. House. [email protected] or bellsensplex.caSEATTLE, WA Feb. 14-16. Spring Thaw Tournament. Pee Wee ‘C’ Recreational. [email protected] or sjhatournaments.weebly.comMONTREAL, PQFeb. 14 - 16. Canadian Cup II. Atom, Bantam - Midget, High School. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comLAKE PLACID, NYJan. 18 - 20. American Cup VI. Minor Atom - Atom, Minor Bantam - Bantam. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comOTTAWA, ONFeb. 21 - 23. 10th Annual Capital House League Championships. PeeWee. House. [email protected] or bellsensplex.caTORONTO, ONFeb. 21 - 23. George Bell Hockey Association Select Hockey Tournament. Atom, Bantam. Selects. [email protected] VEGAS, NV Feb. 21 - 23. CAN/AM Challenge Cup. Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.com MONT TREMBLANT, PQFeb. 21 - 23. Mont-Tremblant Pond Hockey Challenge. Male, Female. Adult Rec. All [email protected] or chehockey.comLAS VEGAS, NVFeb. 21 - 23. Las Vegas Adult Challenge Cup. Male, Female. Adult Rec. All [email protected] or chehockey.com

MARCH 2014OTTAWA, ONMar. 1. 10th Annual Ottawa Senators Initiation FUN Day. Initiation. All Levels. [email protected] or bellsensplex.ca NIAGARA FALLS, ONMar. 7 - 9. Niagara Falls Weekend Hockey Tournament.Adult Rec. [email protected] or weekendhockey.com TAMPA, FLMar. 7 - 9. Tampa Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. [email protected] or weekendhockey.com SEATTLE, WA Mar. 14 - 16. Spring Festival. Mite, Novice ‘C’ Recreational. [email protected] or sjhatournaments.weebly.comMONTREAL, PQMar. 14 - 16. Canadian Cup III. Atom, Bantam - Midget. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comMAPLE RIDGE, BC Mar. 14 - 17. Hometown Hockey Hero Spring Rep Tournament. Peewee, Bantam & Midget. B - AAA & Selects. [email protected] or ridgemeadowshockey.comSEATTLE, WA Mar. 21 - 23. Fred Chomos Memorial. Squirt Rep, Atom ‘A’, Squirt, Atom ‘C’ Select. [email protected] or sjhatournaments.weebly.com

OTTAWA, ONMar. 21 - 23. 31st Kanata Girls Hockey Association House League. Novice - Midget. House. [email protected] or bellsensplex.caATLANTIC CITY, NJMar. 21 - 23. CAN/AM Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.com

SALMON ARM, BC Mar. 28 - 30. Shaw Challenge. Male & Female. Adult Rec. [email protected] or salmonarmhockeyschool.comLONDON, ON Mar. 28 - 30. London Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comVANCOUVER, BC Mar. 28 - 30. Vancouver Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comOTTAWA, ON Mar. 28 - 30. Ottawa Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comCHICAGO, IL Mar. 28 - 30. CAN/AM Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.com

APRIL 2014FORT LAUDERDALE, FL Apr. 2 - 7. Saveology.com Iceplex (Panthers Practice Facility). [email protected] or www.nahhtours.comLAS VEGAS, NV Apr. 3 - 6. Las Vegas Cup II. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comHALIFAX, NS Apr. 3 - 6. 37th Annual SEDMHA International. Atom, Bantam, Midget, Novice & PeeWee. A-B. [email protected] or www.sedmha.comNEW YORK, NYApr. 4 - 6. New York Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. [email protected] or weekendhockey.comKELOWNA, BC Apr. 4 - 6. Kelowna Cup I. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comNIAGARA FALLS , ON Apr. 4 - 6. Niagara Falls I. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comATLANTIC CITY, NJ Apr. 4 - 6. Atlantic City Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comCHICAGO, IL Apr. 4 - 6. Chicago Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comPHOENIX, AZ Apr. 4 - 6. Phoenix Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comBANFF,AB Apr. 4 - 6. Banff Cup III. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comCHILLIWACK, BC Apr. 4 - 06. Chilliwack Jr Chiefs Spring Kickoff. Novice - Atom. AA& A. [email protected] or chilliwackjrchiefs.wix.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON Apr. 4 - 06. Niagara Falls Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.com

LONDON, ON Apr. 4 - 06. London Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.comMISSISSAUGA, ON Apr. 4 - 6. 50th Annual Mississauga Spring Tournament. Male, Female. Novice,Tyke,Minor Atom,Atom. All Levels [email protected] or repshockey.comORLANDO, FL Apr. 9 - 14. Ice Factory and RDV Sportsplex. [email protected] or www.nahhtours.comLAS VEGAS, NV Apr. 10 - 13. Las Vegas III. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comLAKE PLACID, NY Apr. 10 - 13. CAN/AM Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.comPITTSBURGH, PAApr. 11 - 13. Pittsburgh Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. [email protected] or weekendhockey.comBOSTON, MAApr. 11 - 13. Boston Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. [email protected] or weekendhockey.comMONTREAL, PQ Apr. 11 - 13. Montreal Cup II. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comNIAGARA FALLS, ON Apr. 11 - 13. Niagara Cup II. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comKELOWNA, BC Apr. 11 - 13. Kelowna Cup II. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comBANFF, AB Apr. 11 - 13. Banff Cup IV. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comFORT LAUDERDALE, FLApr. 11 - 13. Ft. Lauderdale Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.com LAKE PLACID, NY Apr. 17 - 20 . CAN/AM Challenge Cup. Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.comMONTREAL, PQ Apr. 18 - 20. CAN/AM Challenge Cup. Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or canamhockey.comVANCOUVER, BC Apr. 18 - 20. Pacific Spring Showcase. Male & Female. Initiation - Bantam. AAA. [email protected] or psshockey.comFORT LAUDERDALE, FL Apr. 23 - 27. Canadian Hockey Enterprises. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comLAS VEGAS, NV Apr. 24 - 27. Las Vegas IV. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. [email protected] or chehockey.comMONTREAL, PQApr. 25 - 27. Montreal Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. [email protected] or weekendhockey.com

BWC HOCKEY ACADEMY

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Burnaby Winter Club officials are thrilled with the successes of one of their new programs and are already planning for next season.

This marked the first year the BWC operated its Hockey Academy. The program featured two squads; Elite 15 and Prep Under-18.

All players in the academy are also students at Burnaby Central Secondary School. Besides attending classes they also receive on- and off-ice hockey instructions during the school day.

"I think it's been a real great experience for everyone," said Aaron Wilbur, the coach of the Prep Under-18 club.

Wilbur believes there have been many benefits to the program.

"The curriculum really resembles that of a Junior A or Western Hockey League player," Wilbur said.Besides on-ice workouts, those in the program also have their share of video sessions, analyzing their own efforts.

A total of 38 players are in the program this season, 19 on each of the two teams.

The BWC clubs compete in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. When exhibition and tournament matches are included, the teams will play about 50 games each during the season.

Wilbur, whose team is on the ice most days from Mondays through Fridays, also is thrilled his charges will have more than 130 practices during the year. That provides him with plenty of coaching opportunities.

"The best part of that is that you get so much time to prepare for games," said Wilbur, who coached the Richmond Sockeyes to a Western Canadian Jr. B championship last season.

Wilbur, who has also served as a coach for teams in the British Columbia Hockey League as well as the UBC Thunderbirds, said there are several other positives for those in the program.

"Our guys are done here every day by 3:30 (p.m.)," he said. "That allows them to have a social life. And they can have dinner with their families every night."

Leland Mack, who is coaching the BWC Elite 15 side, is thrilled he accepted the position this season.

"I love every day of it," said Mack, who had spent the past six seasons coaching in the B.C. Major Midget league. "I love the model. I love the structure. And I love what you can do every day of the week."

Mack especially likes the amount of practices his team has.

"You can really progress their skills," he said. "And I don't feel as rushed like I did in Major Midget."

Mack added this inaugural season with BWC's Hockey Academy has turned out to be more than what he expected.

"I was really excited prior to the season," he said. "But I had never lived it. It was an imagination thing. But now I can say it's been much better than I could have imagined."

An orientation session for next year's Hockey Academy teams will be held on Feb. 18 at Burnaby Central Secondary School, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The BWC is planning to once again ice its Elite 15 and Prep Under-18 squads for the 2014-15 campaign.

Tryouts for both squads will be staged this spring.

Those planning to attend the orientation session are asked to send an email to [email protected] to confirm their interest.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

BWC INITIATION DIVISION

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken.

For example, the Burnaby Winter Club has a policy that hockey parents are not supposed to coach their own kids.

But that rule was waived this season when Doug Macdonald, who played 11 seasons of pro hockey including some stints in the NHL, expressed an interest in coaching with the BWC this season.

Macdonald, 44, is coaching a team in the BWC's Initiation Division. The club includes his 7-year-old son Noah.

BWC officials waived their parents-coaching-their-own-kids rule for Macdonald.

"I was really appreciative of that," he said.Macdonald is not a stranger to the BWC. He played his final season of youth hockey, a midget season with the BWC in the mid-80s.

Macdonald then went on to play a pair of seasons at the Junior A level in the British Columbia Hockey League. From there he spent four years at the University of Wisconsin before turning pro.

Macdonald played the majority of his pro career in the minors, either with the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans or with the International Hockey League's Cincinnati Cyclones.

But the former forward also managed to get called up to the NHL at various times and appeared in a total of 11 contests with the Buffalo Sabres.

During his pro career, Macdonald also suited up for clubs in Germany and Northern Ireland.

There were a couple of different reasons why Macdonald was keen to coach in the BWC this season.

"I know some of the kids and some of the parents," he said.

Plus, having played for the club before he's aware it has a solid name in the hockey community.

"They have a reputation for development and having strong programs," he said.

Macdonald said he especially likes the fact that teams in the Initiation Division tend to have smaller rosters.

His club has a total of 11 players.

And that's a desirable number for him, especially when it comes to practices and the times when he's trying to pass on some knowledge from his years of hockey.

"You're able to help them out a lot more," he said. "There's a lot less standing around. I'm a big believer in keeping the kids moving."

Meanwhile, the BWC's Initiation Division also features another notable coach this season, Jon Calvano, who is also the associate coach and assistant general manager for the BCHL's Langley Rivermen.

"My schedule permits me to come and give back to the club," Calvano said.

With just two practices and one game per week in the Initiation Division, Calvano said it is not a huge time commitment for him to assist the BWC program.

"And I enjoy working with the young kids and seeing their development," he said.

Like Macdonald, Calvano is pleased with the mandate of the BWC's Initiation Division.

"The main focus for the program is working on their skill development," he said.

For Macdonald, this isn't the first time he has coached a team in the Initiation Division. He was also in charge of teams four and five seasons ago.

Before joining the Rivermen this season, Calvano served as the bench boss for another BCHL franchise, the Coquitlam Express, for three years.

Pictured: Game vs Dallas Stars Elite at Tier 1 Elite League Showcase in Denver) Photo by: YSPN Photography

Pictured: Kyle JohnsonPhoto by: Stinky Lockers photgraphy

Photo by: Go Time photgraphy

Photo by: Go Time photgraphy


BCHL ROUND UP

BCHL PLAYOFFS A MONTH AWAYIt’s Tight For Top Spot And Also For The Final Playoff Spot In The Island Division And Teams Are Leapfrogging Back And Forth Each NightSTORY | Brent Mutis

Captain Mark McLellan and the rest of the Victoria Grizzlies will try to block the resurgent Powell River Kings for first place in the Island Division.

[T] he New Year indicates the stretch run in the world of Junior hockey and with the BCHL’s

end of the regular season on Mar. 1, it really is the final push for that final playoff spot and jockeying among the top teams. With the postseason in sight, the second Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup looms so we’ll look at what’s going on in the other Western CJHL leagues. Off the ice, the BCHL held its semi-annual board of governors meeting on Jan. 15, where clubs collaborated on improving operations of the league.

POSTSEASON IMPLICATIONS AT EVERY TURNWhether it’s the tug-of-war for top spot or the battle for the final berth, the Island Division is full of entertainment. After a so-so season last year, the Powell River Kings are back to their usual standard with the dynamic goalie duo of Jeff Smith and Jonah Imoo and an effective attack that gets contributions from veteran Drew Dorantes, rookie Jarid Lukosevicius and set-up man Kurt Keats. The Kings rivalry with the Victoria Grizzlies is getting good as a result. The teams squared off in last year’s first round of the playoffs with the Grizz eking out a five-game series win in overtime.

As of this writing, the Kings led the Grizz by a point and had a game in hand on them in the schedule. They face each other just once — on Feb. 9 — but it might be said Victoria has the tougher schedule, as it presents more road than home games.

Meanwhile, it’s a Valley feud between Alberni and Cowichan. The Bulldogs have slowly but surely

plugged away and were actually within a point going into a Jan. 22 game versus Nanaimo. The ’Dogs and Caps don’t play each other for the rest of the season.

BCHL GOVERNORS MEETING RESULTSA lot of rumours were swirling around about the league going to a so-called pay-for-play model that would see players and their families finance a big chunk of each team’s annual budget, but that did not come to pass. The BCHL release in the week following the Jan. 15 board of governors meeting stated the league remains committed to providing a first-rate player experience including maximum development and exposure to college and pro scouting.

Other considerations can be written into effect to assist in team budget management and though specifics weren’t offered, travel and meal costs on the road are a significant expense for teams. There may be some ideas that can be executed to cut down on the excessive expenditures currently going to accommodations.

WCC WATCHDauphin, Man. hosts the 2014 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup from Apr. 25 to May 4. The best bets to be there besides the host Kings? The AJHL boasts two of the top clubs in the Junior A rankings with the Spruce Grove Saints and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. In Saskatchewan, the Melville Millionaires could emerge but the Humboldt Broncos will be heard from too. The Steinbach Pistons, last year’s Manitoba champs, are back and the Selkirk Steelers are strong too. In the BCHL, it should be a great playoff campaign with the

aforementioned Kings and Grizzlies along with West Kelowna and Penticton who are capable of emerging from the Interior. Don’t forget about the Langley Rivermen who lead the Mainland.

MCCOLGAN JOINS VEESIt’s not every day that an NHL-drafted player joins the BCHL. When that player also has experience in the American Hockey League, that’s even more rare. But that is the case for Shane McColgan, who joined the Penticton Vees in mid-January. The Manhattan Beach, Calif. native is a New York Rangers selection, going in the fifth round in 2011 and played five games with their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale during the 2011-12 season. He doesn’t bring a ton of size at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but he does offer high-end skill as he notched 84 goals and 187 assists for 271 points in 291 WHL games, mainly with Kelowna. He played last season with Saskatoon and played 10 games with Portland this season. It may take him time to generate chemistry with his Vees linemates; after three games he had registered one assist, but his presence will make the already-strong Vees line-up even harder to deal with.

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