[TO PAY] [NOT TO PAY]

OR
ASSOCIATIONS ARE REWRITING THE RULES WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTEER AND PAID COACHES
NCAA PROSPECTS FROM THE BCHL GOALTENDING WOES NOT STOPPING NANAIMO MINOR

10
TOP

WHL PLAYERS SLATED FOR THE DRAFT IN JUNE

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February 15, 2014

IN THIS ISSUE
5 STAND ON GUARD
Publishers Note

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

Ian Esplen: Around The Boards

8 TOP 10 PROSPECTS IN THE BCHL

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

College NCAA

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

PUBLISHER Larry Feist larry@hockeynow.ca

22 BCHL PLAYOFFS A MONTH AWAY

BCHL Round Up

12

TO PAY OR NOT TO PAY

Cover Story

MANAGING EDITOR + MANAGER, BRAND MARKETING Scott Whitemarsh scott@hockeynow.ca

ART + PRODUCTION Stacey Coleman stacey@hockeynow.ca

MARKETING COORDINATOR, DIGITAL PRODUCTS + SOCIAL MEDIA Meagan Boyle meagan@hockeynow.ca

COPY EDITOR Emily Lukach

DISTRIBUTION ofce@hockeynow.ca

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Larry Feist larry@hockeynow.ca

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ian Esplen, Nate Ewell, Brent Mutis, Adam Williams ON THE COVER Photo by Penny Hardie Photography

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ENDS FEBRUARY 28, 2014

PUBLISHERS NOTE

STAND ON GUARD
Will The Lack Of Pro Hockey Players In The Olympics Raise Our National Pride?
every four years as it relates to the mens hockey lled with excitement but tempered by huge anxiety. I mean, what happens if Canada doesnt win? Will we have to have another Summit? Our World Junior team hasnt won gold for years now, so if the mens team gets silver or worse then what? Will the womens teams success or failure be included in this go round analysis? And as for the future of the NHLs involvement in the Olympics, what if their players dont go anymore? Wouldnt 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 mens Olympic hockey, one would think Canada could eld 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 wont 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, its interesting to consider the possibilities. Dont 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 wont be super thrilled if the NHLers dont go to Korea, but if they dont I will still cheer, maybe even with more excitement. to Toronto on February 9th for a week [I]ew of sales meetings and a couple of workrelated 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 Je Carter play well with Crosby? Will Nash t 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 dierent than in the 1980s and up until 1998. Back when we had a national team, which was mainly castos, 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. Lets think back to 1994 and before. Remember Calgary and our fourth place nish? Calgary hosted and none of us expected much from the Canadian roster. Zalapski, Tambellini, Burke, Moog, Dr. Randy Gregg, PeplinskiI 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 wasnt 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. Wasnt that cool? I nd my lead up to the Olympic tournament

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LARRY FEIST, Publisher

NEXT EDITION February 28, 2014 CONTACT THE PUBLISHER: larry@hockeynow.ca

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HOCKEYNOW February 15, 2014 | British Columbia

British Columbia | February 15, 2014 HOCKEYNOW

5 19 11

IAN ESPLEN: AROUND THE BOARDS

IAN ESPLEN: AROUND THE BOARDS

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

Virtanen, Honka And Bleakley Are My Favourites So Far

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 years 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 Kings It 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 o the board by the middle of the second round.

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

[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 ve-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 rst 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-theWHL 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).

After a breakout January, watch for Luke Philp in the second half of the season
real good chemistry together, Philp said when asked what was behind his recent oensive 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.
CHRIS PULLEN/CRANBROOK PHOTO STUDIO

[T]

he Western Hockey League is a little more than halfway through their season and that means two things: one, we start to nd 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.

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 Broncos Erik 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 o-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 Rebels I 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 years draft, and his competitive nature will make him more than just some player. He is excellent on face-os 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. uBen Thomas - Calgary Hitmen Its 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 Broncos The tools are there, but in my opinion, there isn't a more inconsistent player in this years 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 hes produced a lot oensively in the past and you have a guy who should be a rst round pick. But part of being a rst round

pick is playing like a rst round pick. Any time I've watched him, I'm left with kind of a hohum impression, and to me, a player like that is more of a late second, early third round type of player. uAlex Schoenborn - Portland Winterhawks Alex 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.

MY FAVOURITES

uJake Virtanen - Calgary Hitmen You're not going to nd too many players in this draft with more upside than Jake

TOO LOW

TOO HIGH

uTyson Baillie - Kelowna Tyson 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 hes 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.

PHOTO BY BRYAN HEIM

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.

PHOTO BY BRAD WATSON

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.

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

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.

HOCKEYNOW February 15, 2014 | British Columbia

British Columbia | February 15, 2014 HOCKEYNOW

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE COLLEGE NCAA

TOP 10 PROSPECTS IN THE BCHL

NCAA Coaches Shared Their Favourites To Make An Impact At The Next Level
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.
STORY | Nate Ewell

has 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 leagues top ve scorers.

BRAD MCCLURE, PENTICTON

A dynamic play maker on one of the leagues 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.

FAMILIARITY HELPS WOLFPACK ROOKIES ADJUST TO LIFE IN THE BCIHL

It is said that familiarity helps a sports team succeed. If thats 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 players for the teams 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. Thats 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 Leagues 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 Kamloops 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. Im in the BBA program, states Weir. The work load has been a step up from what Im used to but nothing I cant 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. Its nice coming here knowing that youll know a familiar face in the room, Weir says of Schell. Ryan and I are good friends off the ice, Martin explains. We have different personalities but we keep in pretty good contact away from the rink. Which makes sense since weve 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 teenagers, 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 didnt really know him back then because we were on different teams, but its 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, theyll need to get healthy again following a recent string of injuries that hit the WolfPack blueline. Im really looking forward to Cutter and Marty returning to the lineup, Coach Schulz explains. They provide much needed depth at their position. Theyve become one of the better defence pairings in the league and theyre a key to our success. Wiersy has also been injured 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.

ALEX GILLIES, SALMON ARM

The top BCHL player on Central Scoutings 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 trac and tight spaces. He is one of eight BCHL players currently committed to Michigan Tech.

BRETT BEAUVAIS, PENTICTON

[W]

LANDON SMITH, SALMON ARM

Headed 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 ourished oensively for the Vees, leading BCHL defencemen with well over a point per game.

SCORING LEADERS STANDINGS

The Quinnipiac commit tops the BCHL in goals and points thanks to a terric shot that hes 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.

ADAM ROCKWOOD, COQUITLAM

A 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 reect that, as he boasts a healthy lead at the top of the league.

MYLES AND GERRY FITZGERALD, VICTORIA

Two-thirds of the Fitzgerald triplets (brother Leo
DAMON JAMES

MICHAEL MCNICHOLAS, VERNON

TEAM Simon Fraser University Selkirk College Thompson Rivers University Trinity Western University University of Victoria Eastern Washington University

GP 19 17 19 19 18 18

W 16 13 9 9 4 4

L 2 3 10 10 11 13

OT-SOL 1 1 0 0 3 1

PTS 33 27 18 18 11 9

GF 92 102 68 53 48 35

GA 41 41 61 83 76 96

A Californian who spent his rst 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 RIVER

The BCHLs top rookie scorer this season, Lucosevicious has one more year of seasoning before he enrols at Denver in 2015. The Squamish native has elite oensive instincts and will be among the most dangerous players in the league next season.

*as of Feb 2

NAME
Jono Ceci Nick Sandor Cody Fidgett Josh MacDonald Logan Proulx Duncan Schulz Connor McLaughlin J.P. Villeneuve Aaron Enns Jackson Garrett

TEAM
SFU SFU SEL TRU SEL TRU SEL TWU SFU SEL

GP
19 19 17 19 17 16 16 19 19 16

G
13 16 19 15 10 11 17 17 9 5

A
25 21 12 16 21 19 12 12 18 20

PTS
38 37 31 31 31 30 29 29 27 25

PIM
14 4 4 10 22 34 28 10 36 42

OLIVIER MANTHA, PENTICTON

One 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 oensive team like the Vees. He has committed to Alaska Anchorage. The 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 oensive 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 oer.

DANE BIRKS, MERRITT

*as of Feb 2

Salmon Arms Landon Smith was described by one NCAA coach as dominant every night.

HOCKEYNOW February 15, 2014 | British Columbia

PACIFIC JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

PACIFIC JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

Talent on Display
The PJHL All-Star and Prospects Games Give the Leagues Top Players a Chance to Shine
and player personnel standing as a cut above in Canadas 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 The Pacic 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 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 years 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 Conferences 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 Conferences 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.
Photo by Doug Abbott

For the Shaw Conference, it was not surprising to see two thirds of the team made up of the Conferences 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

The Grandview Steelers sent 5 players to the Prospects Game, more than any other team in the PJHL for his team. Its 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 leagues young players are also considered their top players is a feather in the leagues 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 ghting 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 Conferences only goal, as Adam Rota of the Panthers scored, with helpers from Holden Wilkerson and David McGowan from the Outlaws.

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

Photo by Doug Abbott

COVER STORY

COVER STORY

TO PAY NOT TO PAY

Associations Are Rewriting The Rules When It Comes To Volunteer And Paid Coaches
STORY | Adam Williams

One, if you want the best hockey people, the best hockey people in the world . . . you have to pay them, Ward said. Two, its a full-time job. Its not like minor hockey, these guys work seven days a week, 365 days a year. Ward noted the situation is obviously dierent 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 shouldnt be looked at as an either or situation, but rather a pair of approaches for streams of hockey with dierent goals and directions. More is expected of paid coaches an inherent dierence 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 ll a certain niche, and thats not necessarily a niche present in every minor hockey association. In our country, its the volunteers that run Hockey Canada, he said. Your paid coaches get into the more specic 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, its just not going to happen. Because of its stringent requirements when hiring coaches, OHA rarely runs into the conicts of interest and favouritism that can sometimes plague association hockey. Because many association coaches are also parents, they can be faced with dicult 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 conicts of interest amongst its coaches. In Kamloops, Cochrane said KMHA deals with relatively few issues as well, but added the association can sometimes nd 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

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 associations teams are going up against the likes of the Okanagan Hockey Academy and Kelownas 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 aordable for its constituents; implementing a paid coaching model would make that more dicult than it already is. Bains also said he is of the mind that just because a coach is a volunteer doesnt mean theyre any less knowledgeable, or their teams less able.

[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 o-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 isnt 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. Thats the case in Kamloops, where a volunteer coach is the only type of coach. George Cochrane, Kamloops Minor Hockey Associations head coach, said that all of the associations 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 Kamloopss, 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 oering a stipend for services.

Plus, with the coaches being volunteers, the association knows theyre 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, its people that are looking to give back to the game. While KMHA hasnt instituted paid coaching positions, it has caved to pressure at the executive level, installing Cochranes head coach position. He oversees coaches in all divisions, working with them to ensure proper development and delivery of programs and to keep the associations focus on player development.

I think the spirit of the game, so to speak, has resulted in a lot from volunteers, at all levels."
Its a position that was once left to a volunteer, but has now become paid because of the time and eort its responsibilities require. So while Cochrane said theres no plan to implement paid coaches in Kamloops at the moment, its a change he could see taking place down the road. I do think that, whether its coaching hockey, soccer, baseball, any sport, or whether its working as a member of the association . . . its getting harder and harder to nd 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?

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 arent [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 isnt 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.

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COVER STORY

favouritism so they dont become a problem. He did note however, that it can be dicult for coaches to nd the right balance when they have a child on the team. Hopefully they can nd 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 nding good coaches, even when they will be paid, isnt an exact science. Some coaches dont realize the level of commitment that will be expected of them; others may nd 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 sports changing landscape. With other service oerings 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 . . . theres a lot of demand and fair amount of pressure on them. The quantity and availability isnt there, I dont think, of people who want to [coach] anymore.

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 isnt tacked onto fees paid by the rest of the association. The whole association didnt bear the brunt of it, so the kids who are playing recreational arent covering it, Grieve said. Thats 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 youre 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, theres 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 whats best for coaches, management and associations, it can be easy to forget that minor hockey is still all about the kids.

[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 Okanagans Jake Kryski and Liam Finlay rounded out the eight-goal eort 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 (rst), Bradley (second) and Hannoun (third) were named the games three stars. The all-star game took place in conjunction with the BCMMLs Showcase Week, in which ten of the leagues

11 teams took part in a pair of showcase double headers. The Canadians played to a victory in their rst 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 Team Blue and Team White pose at the 2014 B.C. Major Midget League all-star game. the Rockets and the Thunderbirds each took home a victory in their head-to-head matches, 6-2 for the idea of a developmental program for goaltenders the Rockets and 4-3 for the Thunderbirds. The Hawks to life. The association had identied goaltending in stunned the Ice, 8-1 and 6-0, and the Blazers and the the middle age groups (atom, peewee and bantam) as Vancouver North East Chiefs split their games, 3-0 for needing improvement and decided it needed to make the Chiefs and 4-3 for the Blazers. changes at the initiation and novice levels.

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

DRILL DESIGN INTRODUCTORY TACTICS DRILL PROGRESSION TEACHING BODY-CHECKING ATHLETIC SKILLS GOALIE INSTRUCTION SEASONAL PLANNING
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, eective communication and fun and camaraderie of the activity.

NANAIMO MINOR HOCKEY GETS CREATIVE WITH GOALTENDING WOES

If you ask Tom Russell, goaltending gets forgotten in minor hockey. But hes out to x that. Russell, a lifelong goalie and the Nanaimo Minor Hockey Associations equipment manager, brought

Were looking at our competitive teams and our house teams and we cant nd kids to play goal, Russell said. Our competitive coaches are saying Ive got one good rep goalie and one good house goalie because our goaltending program just hasnt been looked after. Though its 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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FREEZE FRAME PHOTOGRAPHY

Right now, the association has about ve 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 associations belt, the feeling amongst executives and parents is the association should continue with it.

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

SKILLS ANALYSIS SKILL TEACHING TECHNIQUES TEACHING BODY-CHECKING LESSON ORGANIZATION RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICE PLANNING INFORMATION ON THE ROLE OF A COACH TEACHING PROGRESSION INSTRUCTIONS GAME-DAY PREPARATIONS

PENNY HARDIE PHOTOGRAPHY

B.C. HOCKEY COACHING MANDATES:

MINOR HOCKEY

TEAM BLUE COMES OUT ON TOP IN MAJOR MIDGET LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME
STORY | Adam Williams

MINOR HOCKEY

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
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 its 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, its just amazing, Russell said. With the goaltending program now o the ground, hes looking at bringing in Parksvilles Gold in the Net and Victorias Progressive goaltending to work with goaltenders in the older age groups. Hes also oering his services to coaches during practices. Russell said goaltending often gets overlooked in practice time and the associations coaches are hoping that he can
FREEZE FRAME PHOTOGRAPHY

develop skills with the goaltenders at younger ages, but also to draw awareness to the position. At the end of the year, if we nd these kids come back the following year, we know theyre keen on playing the position, he said. So thats what were trying to do, is create an awareness of who really wants to play that position. Last season was the rst year for the program and

come in and work with the goalies while they practise with the rest of the team. Russell said he admits its a dicult position for kids to play when theyre young. Theyre still relatively small and the nets are so big. But he said the important thing isnt how many pucks the kids are stopping, its 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.

WORKOUTS BENEFIT BMHA PLAYERS

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." 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.

BRADLEY LIGHTS UP DECEMBER FOR VALLEY WEST HAWKS

With 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.

ALL TEAM MEMBERS IMPROVE

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.

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."

GOALIE PROVIDES STABILITY

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

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

FEBRUARY 2014
OTTAWA, ON Feb. 14 - 16. 10th Annual Capital House League Championships. Bantam - Midget. House. tournaments@bellsensplex.ca or bellsensplex.ca SEATTLE, WA Feb. 14-16. Spring Thaw Tournament. Pee Wee C Recreational. hockeydirector@sjha.com or sjhatournaments.weebly.com MONTREAL, PQ Feb. 14 - 16. Canadian Cup II. Atom, Bantam - Midget, High School. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com LAKE PLACID, NY Jan. 18 - 20. American Cup VI. Minor Atom - Atom, Minor Bantam - Bantam. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com OTTAWA, ON Feb. 21 - 23. 10th Annual Capital House League Championships. PeeWee. House. tournaments@bellsensplex.ca or bellsensplex.ca TORONTO, ON Feb. 21 - 23. George Bell Hockey Association Select Hockey Tournament. Atom, Bantam. Selects. GBHockeytournament@gmail.com LAS VEGAS, NV Feb. 21 - 23. CAN/AM Challenge Cup. Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com MONT TREMBLANT, PQ Feb. 21 - 23. Mont-Tremblant Pond Hockey Challenge. Male, Female. Adult Rec. All Levels.goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com LAS VEGAS, NV Feb. 21 - 23. Las Vegas Adult Challenge Cup. Male, Female. Adult Rec. All Levels.goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com

OTTAWA, ON Mar. 21 - 23. 31st Kanata Girls Hockey Association House League. Novice - Midget. House. tournaments@ bellsensplex.ca or bellsensplex.ca ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Mar. 21 - 23. CAN/AM Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com SALMON ARM, BC Mar. 28 - 30. Shaw Challenge. Male & Female. Adult Rec. gord@habs1.ca or salmonarmhockeyschool.com LONDON, ON Mar. 28 - 30. London Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com VANCOUVER, BC Mar. 28 - 30. Vancouver Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com OTTAWA, ON Mar. 28 - 30. Ottawa Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com CHICAGO, IL Mar. 28 - 30. CAN/AM Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com

APRIL 2014
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL Apr. 2 - 7. Saveology.com Iceplex (Panthers Practice Facility). nahhtours@aol.com or www.nahhtours.com LAS VEGAS, NV Apr. 3 - 6. Las Vegas Cup II. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com HALIFAX, NS Apr. 3 - 6. 37th Annual SEDMHA International. Atom, Bantam, Midget, Novice & PeeWee. A-B. chairman@sedmha.com or www.sedmha.com NEW YORK, NY Apr. 4 - 6. New York Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com KELOWNA, BC Apr. 4 - 6. Kelowna Cup I. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com NIAGARA FALLS , ON Apr. 4 - 6. Niagara Falls I. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Apr. 4 - 6. Atlantic City Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com CHICAGO, IL Apr. 4 - 6. Chicago Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com PHOENIX, AZ Apr. 4 - 6. Phoenix Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com BANFF,AB Apr. 4 - 6. Ban Cup III. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com CHILLIWACK, BC Apr. 4 - 06. Chilliwack Jr Chiefs Spring Kicko. Novice - Atom. AA& A. clarkewismer@gmail.com or chilliwackjrchiefs.wix.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON Apr. 4 - 06. Niagara Falls Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com

MARCH 2014
OTTAWA, ON Mar. 1. 10th Annual Ottawa Senators Initiation FUN Day. Initiation. All Levels. tournaments@bellsensplex.ca or bellsensplex.ca NIAGARA FALLS, ON Mar. 7 - 9. Niagara Falls Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com TAMPA, FL Mar. 7 - 9. Tampa Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com SEATTLE, WA Mar. 14 - 16. Spring Festival. Mite, Novice C Recreational. hockeydirector@sjha.com or sjhatournaments.weebly.com MONTREAL, PQ Mar. 14 - 16. Canadian Cup III. Atom, Bantam - Midget. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com MAPLE RIDGE, BC Mar. 14 - 17. Hometown Hockey Hero Spring Rep Tournament. Peewee, Bantam & Midget. B - AAA & Selects. tournaments@ridgemeadowshockey.com or ridgemeadowshockey.com SEATTLE, WA Mar. 21 - 23. Fred Chomos Memorial. Squirt Rep, Atom A, Squirt, Atom C Select. hockeydirector@sjha.com or sjhatournaments.weebly.com

LONDON, ON Apr. 4 - 06. London Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com MISSISSAUGA, ON Apr. 4 - 6. 50th Annual Mississauga Spring Tournament. Male, Female. Novice,Tyke,Minor Atom,Atom. All Levels chantelle.savoie@outlook.com or repshockey.com ORLANDO, FL Apr. 9 - 14. Ice Factory and RDV Sportsplex. nahhtours@aol.com or www.nahhtours.com LAS VEGAS, NV Apr. 10 - 13. Las Vegas III. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com LAKE PLACID, NY Apr. 10 - 13. CAN/AM Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com PITTSBURGH, PA Apr. 11 - 13. Pittsburgh Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com BOSTON, MA Apr. 11 - 13. Boston Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com MONTREAL, PQ Apr. 11 - 13. Montreal Cup II. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON Apr. 11 - 13. Niagara Cup II. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com KELOWNA, BC Apr. 11 - 13. Kelowna Cup II. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com BANFF, AB Apr. 11 - 13. Ban Cup IV. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com FORT LAUDERDALE, FL Apr. 11 - 13. Ft. Lauderdale Adult Challenge Cup. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com LAKE PLACID, NY Apr. 17 - 20 . CAN/AM Challenge Cup. Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com MONTREAL, PQ Apr. 18 - 20. CAN/AM Challenge Cup. Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. tournaments@canamhockey.com or canamhockey.com VANCOUVER, BC Apr. 18 - 20. Pacic Spring Showcase. Male & Female. Initiation - Bantam. AAA. info@psshockey.com or psshockey.com FORT LAUDERDALE, FL Apr. 23 - 27. Canadian Hockey Enterprises. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com LAS VEGAS, NV Apr. 24 - 27. Las Vegas IV. Male & Female. Adult Rec. All Levels. goals@chehockey.com or chehockey.com MONTREAL, PQ Apr. 25 - 27. Montreal Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Rec. info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com

BWC ALUMNI
Though 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 tting 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, ex and lie to maximize a player's shooting ability. More information on BASE Hockey and the August camp is available at www.basehockey.ca.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
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BWC HOCKEY ACADEMY

Burnaby Winter Club ofcials are thrilled with the successes of one of their new programs and are already planning for next season. This marked the rst 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 benets 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.
Pictured: Kyle Johnson Photo by: Stinky Lockers photgraphy

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 ofcials waived their parents-coaching-theirown-kids rule for Macdonald. "I was really appreciative of that," he said. Macdonald is not a stranger to the BWC. He played his nal 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 rst time he has coached a team in the Initiation Division. He was also in charge of teams four and ve seasons ago.
Photo by: Go Time photgraphy

Photo by: Go Time photgraphy

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

Those planning to attend the orientation session are asked to send an email to lmcneelybwc@shaw.ca to conrm their interest.

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

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

BCHL ROUND UP

BCHL PLAYOFFS A MONTH AWAY

Its Tight For Top Spot And Also For The Final Playoff Spot In The Island Division And Teams Are Leapfrogging Back And Forth Each Night
STORY | Brent Mutis

aforementioned Kings and Grizzlies along with West Kelowna and Penticton who are capable of emerging from the Interior. Dont forget about the Langley Rivermen who lead the Mainland.

MCCOLGAN JOINS VEES

BCHL GOVERNORS MEETING RESULTS

A 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 nance a big chunk of each teams 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 rst-rate player experience including maximum development and exposure to college and pro scouting.

POSTSEASON IMPLICATIONS AT EVERY TURN

Whether its the tug-of-war for top spot or the battle for the nal 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 Je Smith and Jonah Imoo and an eective 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 o in last years rst round of the playos with the Grizz eking out a ve-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, its a Valley feud between Alberni and Cowichan. The Bulldogs have slowly but surely

Other considerations can be written into eect to assist in team budget management and though specics werent oered, travel and meal costs on the road are a signicant expense for teams. There may be some ideas that can be executed to cut down on the excessive expenditures currently going to accommodations.

WCC WATCH

Dauphin, 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 years Manitoba champs, are back and the Selkirk Steelers are strong too. In the BCHL, it should be a great playo campaign with the

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

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GARRETT JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY

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he New Year indicates the stretch run in the world of Junior hockey and with the BCHLs end of the regular season on Mar. 1, it really is the nal push for that nal playo spot and jockeying among the top teams. With the postseason in sight, the second Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup looms so well look at whats going on in the other Western CJHL leagues. O the ice, the BCHL held its semiannual board of governors meeting on Jan. 15, where clubs collaborated on improving operations of the league.

plugged away and were actually within a point going into a Jan. 22 game versus Nanaimo. The Dogs and Caps dont play each other for the rest of the season.

Its not every day that an NHL-drafted player joins the BCHL. When that player also has experience in the American Hockey League, thats 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 fth round in 2011 and played ve games with their AHL aliate Connecticut Whale during the 2011-12 season. He doesnt bring a ton of size at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but he does oer 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 lineup even harder to deal with.

HOCKEYNOW February 15, 2014 | British Columbia

British Columbia | February 15, 2014 HOCKEYNOW

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