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EYE ON THE PRIZE SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS STEAMROLLING THROUGH EARLY SEASON WITH EYE ON RECLAIMING THEIR WHL PLAYOFF SPOT
WICKFEST INSPIRES NEXT GENERATION
OVER 1,500 GIRLS FLOCK TO CALGARY FOR 2016 WICKENHEISER FEMALE WORLD HOCKEY FESTIVAL
MONEY TALKS WE TALK TO NEW YORK RIVETERS DEFENCEMAN KALEIGH FRATKIN ABOUT RECENT NWHL PAY CUTS
[PART 2]
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
IN PART 2 OF OUR SERIES, SPORTSNET’S DAREN MILLARD AND WOMEN’S HOCKEY PIONEER FRAN RIDER SHARE HOW HOCKEY HAS BEEN THEIR STEPPING STONE TO SUCCESS December 3, 2016
2018 MEMORIAL CUP SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
HAMILTON BULLDOGS, OSHAWA GENERALS AND REGINA PATS DECLARE INTENTION TO BID HockeyNow.ca
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE
COUNTDOWN IS ON F
OR SO MANY, THIS IS A CRAZY BUSY time of the year, and that couldn’t be truer for HockeyNow. (But if you need a little help making things a big less crazy in the gift department, make sure to take a look at our interactive 2016 Gift Guide. Download it, share it – it’s a really good one this year and we’ve thrown in a couple extra goodies that even some – gasp – non-hockey lovers would like.) This month brings our second Fans’ Choice Awards. For the past month, we’ve been collecting votes (plus some extra nominations – thanks for those) to name the hockey favourites in 20 categories. The turnout was huge again this year and really showed how much Canadians value these companies, schools, leagues, tournaments, products and destinations that allow them to enjoy and play the game. Our winners and finalists were 100% voted in by fans and readers and are a stellar bunch this year. Make sure to check out our Fans’ Choice section and congratulate and keep supporting these favourites. We’ll be announcing all our winners online and on our social media streams, so stay tuned to see the winners and finalists you chose get recognized. Of course, in the hockey world, December is dominated by one thing: the World Juniors. Hockey Canada just announced their training roster, and not to get ahead of ourselves after last year, but the team should be deep and skilled with a solid amount of tournament experience. The only undrafted players are G Michael McNiven, who signed with Montreal as a free agent, and Nolan Patrick, the consensus first overall pick for the 2017 draft (as of now). As we expected, a few of our Players of the Year were also invited, including 2012 B.C. POY Mathew Barzal, who is returning to camp alongside Dylan Strome, Mitchell Stephens, Thomas Chabot and Julien Gauthier. HockeyNow’s 2013 B.C. Minor Hockey Player of the Year Dante Fabbro is also invited to camp. After last year, the pressure is on, but really the pressure is always on. Canada only has one gold and one bronze since 2012, but prior to that they had a medal in 13 straight years, five of them gold. Anything short of gold is generally considered a failure, but no question this roster should have a solid shot at it. As we do every year, our mid-December issue will feature a huge World Juniors Preview, with a closer look at the team’s top players, exclusive interviews, history, stats, and predictions. We’ll be closely watching and covering the training camp in Blainville and bringing you tons of exclusive stories and interviews once the tournament gets underway at the end of the month. Pick up the next copy, check us out online at hockeynow.ca, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to catch everything as soon as it comes out. Thanks to all the readers who voted in this year’s Fans’ Choice awards, and as always, thanks for reading.
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NATIONAL EDITION Vol. 17, No. 15, Issue 670 - December 3, 2016
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NEXT EDITION: December 24, 2016 CONTACT THE EDITOR: larry@hockeynow.ca December 3, 2016 HockeyNow
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2016
CHRISTMAS
Gift Guide
FOR THE HOCKEY ENTHUSIASTS ON YOUR LIST... The 2016 HockeyNow: CRAVE Christmas Guide is full of one-of-a-kind gift ideas that are sure to please hockey players and enthusiasts of all ages. From gear to games to devices – some time-tested favourites, others hot off the press – we’ve got it all. Happy shopping and Merry Christmas from HockeyNow! ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE AT HockeyNow.ca
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CONTENTS FOR THESE CANADIANS, THE ROAD TO SUCCESS WAS PAVED BY ICE [PART 2]
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features... 9 PROSPECT PROFILES
NHL DRAFT ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS MARKUS PHILLIPS, JARET ANDERSON-DOLAN, AND ARNAUD DURANDEAU
15 MOMS CORNER
A HOCKEY MOM’S WORST NIGHTMARE: TEAM PICTURE DAY
in this issue... 6 WHL
AFTER LAST YEAR’S DISAPPOINTING FINISH, BRONCOS POISED FOR POSTSEASON RUN
12 MINOR
HAYLEY WICKHEISER AND FRIENDS HELP INSPIRE HUNDREDS AT 2016 WICKFEST
7 OHL
22 NCAA
8 QMJHL
23 U SPORTS
10 CJHL
26 FEMALE
ERIE OTTERS CONTEND FOR TOP SPOT WITH DYLAN STROME’S RETURN TO OHL
GATINEAU’S RUSSIAN DRAFT PICKS TRENIN AND ABRAMOV HOPING FOR TICKET TO WJC
TRENTON GOLDEN HAWKS PREPARING FOR DUDLEY HEWITT CUP TOURNAMENT
DENVER PIONEERS BOUNCE BACK FROM A SLOW START TO REGAIN TOP 3 SPOT
WORLD JUNIORS EXHIBITION GAMES AND WINTER UNIVERSIADE FAST APPROACHING
NWHL ANNOUNCES SALARY CUTS AND LOOKS FOR NEW REVENUE STREAMS
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MAJOR JUNIOR
WHL
DARWIN KNELSEN/SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
From left: Aleksi Heponiemi, Artyom Minulin and Tyler Steenbergen are proving to be the difference makers for the Swift Current Broncos, who are shaking off last year's disappointing outside-playoff finish with a solid early season.
BLAZING SADDLES Swift Current Broncos eyeing return to postseason after missing last year’s playoffs
months of the year, while Steenbergen has been creating a new role for himself as well with an impressive start to his sophomore season. The 18-year-old centre posted 20 goals and 26 assists through 67 games with Swift last season. In his first 26 games since the puck dropped in September, the Sylvan Lake native has 18 tallies and 12 helpers. What’s more, STORY Ryan McCracken Steenbergen became the first player in the league to crack 10 power play goals this season — something he credits HE SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS ARE WELL ON THEIR to the artful assistance of his teammates. way to shaking last season off their saddles. “We’ve got some skilled guys on there,” Steenbergen said of the power play unit, which was clicking at 24.6 After missing the playoffs for the first time since percent through mid-November. “We’re making plays, 2012, the Broncos have been battling their way back into we’re making seam passes and that’s opening up a lot of the conversation thanks to a potent power play, a few areas for us to shoot. We’re getting the puck deep and fresh faces and an undeniably tenacious will. getting it to the net. It’s been awesome.” “We’re never giving up when we’re down,” said BronMuch of the success has come off the sticks of Russian cos forward Tyler Steenbergen, who was leading his team in goals with 18, and whose team was leading defenceman Artyom Minulin and Finnish forward Aleksi the league with 10 trips into overtime through their Heponiemi, who combined for 28 assists on the power first 26 games, for a 13-7-2-4 record. “We’ve come play through their first 26 games, while Heponiemi’s 18 back from two-goal deficits, three-goal deficits and power play helpers led the league through four-goal deficits. That’s what’s driving us. We’ll end mid-November. up getting some of these games, we’ll get that extra In his second year with the team, Minulin has already point. We’ll keep pushing for it.” matched his previous season’s tally of five goals in roughly While the Broncos lost former leading scorer Jon Martin a third of the time, and with 19 assists through mid-No— who posted 73 points in 70 games vember, he’s well on his way to a career last year — as an overager in the off-seayear all around. son, the Broncos were able to return a Heponiemi meanwhile has been strong core of players, and many are taking the WHL by storm since being already well on their way to career years. drafted 10th overall by Swift Current Nineteen-year-old power forward Lane in the summer’s CHL import draft. Pederson, who was second in team While Heponiemi stands just 5-footscoring with 55 points in 72 games last 10 and weighs 141 pounds, the highly season, has been picking up where he skilled forward produced 28 points left off, producing at better than a Tyler Steenbergen, through his first 25 games in the Dub, point-per-game through the first few Swift Current Broncos many of which have come with the
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man advantage. “They’re both unbelievable players. We’ve got Minulin back there, who is a point per game for a D-man and we’ve got Heponiemi, who has been awesome for us this year,” said Steenbergen. “Having them on the power play creates a lot of stuff. Back in Europe, they’re skilled guys there and that’s what they want to do. They want to make plays.” But to find overtime as often as Swift Current has been doing, it takes some depth. And the Broncos have been seeing contributions from players up and down the lineup. Sophomore defenceman Colby Sissons is already more than halfway toward matching his previous year’s point totals, with a plus-four rating to boot, while veteran blueliner Max Lajoie continues to provide a strong presence at the back end. Even rookie Riley Stotts has been getting in on the action with four goals through the first 12 games of his career, though a lower-body injury has forced him to the shelf for the next few weeks alongside point-per-game centre Glenn Gawdin. While the Broncos have been struggling to get on top of things in overtime and the shootout, with six of their first 28 points coming by way of extended losses, there’s no shortage of goaltending talent in Speedy Creek. The Broncos have been receiving very sound netminding from their tandem of Taz Burman and Travis Child. The pair have been splitting time almost down the middle through the first few months of the season, and with both continuing to sport plus-900 save percentages, it’s unlikely the trend will change anytime soon. The Broncos now enter an ever-important month of December, with seven of their 10 games coming against division opponents, and plenty of room to climb.
MAJOR JUNIOR
TERRY WILSON/OHL IMAGES
OHL
MEMORIAL CUP SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
The odds of the 2018 Memorial Cup coming to Ontario look good at this point. While it would normally be the Quebec League’s turn to host the event, next year’s instalment will be up to a national bidding process for the special 100th anniversary edition. Six teams (two from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL) were permitted to be on the shortlist, but only three – the Hamilton Bulldogs, Oshawa Generals and Regina Pats – declared their intention to bid. Can the OHL host another Memorial Cup so soon after the 2017 event in Windsor? It appears likely, especially if the CHL wants to try and tap into the Toronto market. Oshawa and Hamilton are both within an hour of Toronto and both have modern arenas with seating capacities capable of hosting an event of this calibre. The FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton has a capacity over 17,000, but there could be concerns over the Bulldogs’ average attendance shy of 4,000 through 2015-16. Meanwhile, Oshawa had a more robust figure of 5,353, much closer to the 6,000 and change the General Motors Centre can occupy. Along with Regina, Oshawa and Hamilton will have the opportunities to make formal bid presentations before the tournament host is announced in February. The interesting part about the OHL clubs will be whether or not they end up being buyers or sellers around the trade deadline in January. Currently, they’re among the top three teams in the Eastern Conference while Oshawa has a comfortable five-point cushion atop the standings. They could make a run to the OHL final, and maybe even this year’s Memorial Cup with the right pieces in place. For Oshawa, overage goaltender Jeremy Brodeur will definitely be moving on next year while captain Anthony Cirelli and Mitch Vande Sompel will most likely be moving onto the pro ranks. Trading any of those players would bring back a huge return of high draft picks and young talent that the Generals could turn around and deal away for star power in pursuit of the Memorial Cup next season. There’s a lot of talk about Hamilton and Oshawa as Memorial Cup hosts for sure, but it’s important not to forget about the Pats, Canada’s oldest major junior franchise. They have a passionate fanbase in place and with the Memorial Cup’s military history, the Pats’ strong tie to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry could also be a deciding factor.
SILVER LININGS SETBACK Dylan Strome’s step down from the NHL should mean a big leg up for the Erie Otters STORY Iain Colpitts
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OR OHL EASTERN CONFERENCE FANS HOPING After playing seven games with the Arizona Coyotes, Dylan Strome has been reassigned to the Erie Otters, their teams would get a bye to the Memorial Cup furthering their likelihood of Memorial Cup contention. just by reaching the OHL final if the host Windsor Spitfires made it there as well, don’t hold your breath. The league-leading London Knights and Erie Otters Meanwhile, the Knights have surpassed the Otters for are making just as much of a case for the Western Contop spot in the West thanks to a six-game winning streak ference crown and are among the most dangerous teams and a 9-1 stretch over their last 10 games. in the OHL over a 10-game stretch. London is missing the services of last year’s stars like Erie in particular looks even more deadly now that top Marner, Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk, but Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome has been reasBuffalo Sabres prospect Cliff Pu has stepped up big time. signed to the OHL after playing seven games in the NHL. He has 39 points (16 goals and 23 assists) in 20 games He’ll be a welcome addition to a lineup that includes to sit fourth in league scoring and has only gone pointless the league’s top scorers, Taylor Raddysh and Alex Dein one game, his second of the year. Brincat, and Troy Timpano, one of the OHL’s most Import draft pick Janne Kuokkanen is a top-10 scorer reliable goalies. as well with 32 points (12 goals and 20 assists) over Strome, of course, has scored more than 110 points in 20 games, including a 13-game point streak he’s curback-to-back seasons, including a 111-point year last rently riding. season despite missing 12 games due to the World Junior Captain JJ Piccinich, Max Jones, Victor Mete and Sam Hockey Championships. Miletic have been impressive as well while Calgary Flames Over the holidays, he’ll be highly depended on again prospect Tyler Parsons has missed nearly a month due to as a returning player and captain candiinjury, but is back now and look out if date for Team Canada as they look to he gets back into Memorial Cup form. DYLAN STROME redeem themselves after last year’s sixthThe Spitfires will be without leading CENTRE place finish. scorer and top NHL Draft prospect GaLike Mitch Marner, who is having a briel Vilardi indefinitely after he underShoots: Height: Weight: great rookie season with the Toronto Mawent an appendectomy, but there’s plenty Left 6'3" 198 ple Leafs after leading the Knights to the of offence to work with thanks to players 2016 Memorial Cup, Strome was expectlike Logan Brown, Jeremiah Addison and BIRTHDATE: ed to stick with the Coyotes this year, but recent trade acquisitions Graham Knott March 7, 1997 he ended up playing in only seven out of and Sean Day. HOMETOWN: 17 games, recording a single assist over They also have Michael DiPietro, who Mississauga, ON that span. at the age of 17 has one of the OHL’s best While it took them a while to come to goals against averages. NHL DRAFT: a decision on his fate, the Coyotes ultiWith a potential championship run in 2015 round 1 mately felt Strome was better suited in an the works for all three teams, expect this year’s #3 overall by Arizona Coyotes environment where he could once again trade deadline to be one of the most anticiOHL DRAFT: go far into the OHL playoffs while playing pated periods yet as they engage in a bidding 2013 round 1 #2 overall by Erie Otters a starring role at the World Juniors. war for the league’s best talent. December 3, 2016 HockeyNow
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QMJHL
PAIR OF ACES Gatineau Olympiques teammates Yakov Trenin and Vitali Abramov look to crack Russian National Team roster STORY Mike Beasley
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HE CANADIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE IMPORT DRAFT has been fairly good to the Gatineau Olympiques. Since the annual late June draft, which was instituted in 1992, the organization has used their picks to bring in a variety of players from numerous locations in Europe. Some stand out for their outstanding junior careers which lead to quality time in the NHL, while others either chose not to come to North America or simply fizzled out and couldn’t make the leap to the CHL. At the forefront are names like Jiri Fischer, Radim Vrbata, Ales Hemsky and David Krejci who became stars in the QMJHL. Now you can add Yakov Trenin and Vitali Abramov, two Russian-born forwards to the list. In 2014, Gatineau selected Trenin in the first round (32nd overall) of the Euro Draft. A year later, the Olympiques stared bad luck square in the face and won when the club picked up C Vitali Abramov, 13th overall. For some unknown reason, Gatineau refrained from making a selection in 2016, becoming the only QMJHL team to remain idle. Obviously they had their reasons to pass on a European pick, and haven’t commented on what may have been behind the decision. As for Trenin and Abramov, the two Russians have a lot in common. Both were born in Chelyabinsk, Russia which is located on the border of Europe and Asia with a population of 1.15 million people.
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At 19, Trenin is a year older than Abramov who is still 18, but the duo followed similar paths to the CHL, and both skated with Tractor Chelyabinsk in the Russian U16 and U17 league. The Russian duo has international experience with their country’s national team at the U17 and U19 levels. Another similarity is the fact that they were drafted into the NHL after their first seasons in Gatineau. Trenin was selected by the Nashville Predators in the second round (55th overall) in 2015 while Abramov was summoned by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016 with the 65th overall pick (third round). Things came together nicely for the pair this November as they were named to Team Russia for the QMJHL leg of the 2016 CIBC Canada-Russia Series. “It was a great honour and privilege to represent our country during those two games against the QMJHL team,” Abramov said. “Sharing the experience of coming to Canada and now playing for Russia with Yakov has been a lot of fun and something we will always remember.” Despite losing both games to Team QMJHL by a combined score of 8-1, both skaters enjoyed every minute of the interaction with their fellow Russians. “It gave us the chance to speak and be coached in Russian, see some of our friends again and compete for a spot on our National Junior team,” explained Trenin. When asked about the Russians legendary coach, Valeri Bragin, Trenin and Abramov paused and agreed, “the coach is very good and very demanding, we have to play
Yakov Trenin (L) and Vitali Abromov (R) have followed a similar path through the CHL and hope to have something else in common later this month: a spot on Team Russia at the World Juniors.
with lots of structure and intensity.” Seconds later, both players started laughing when they compared Bragin to Benoit Groulx, the former Gatineau Olympiques coach who they played for last season. “Bragin and Groulx are very similar coaches,” Trenin said with a big smile on his face. “You have to work hard all the time and be held accountable for the way you play, they will have it no other way. That’s why they have been so successful.” Bragin led the Russian U18 junior team to a gold medal at the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships. The following season he coached the Russian National Junior Team to a silver medal at the 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Following stints in the Russian Super League and KHL, Bragin returned as the head coach of the Russian National Junior Team in the summer of 2010. He guided the team to a gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Buffalo, New York. The comparison to Groulx is justified with the current bench boss of the AHL Syracuse Crunch sporting an impressive coaching résumé of his own. Groulx was behind the ’Piques bench for 13 seasons and three President's Cup championships. His biggest accomplishment was coaching Canada’s World Junior team to a gold medal performance at the 2016 IIHF U20 championships. With the 2017 World Juniors on the horizon, Trenin and Abramov will be patiently waiting for a phone call, text, email or Facebook message inviting them to Russia’s training camp. “We did the best we could in the two games, I hope it was enough to get an invite to play for our country, especially with the tournament being played in Canada,” Trenin said. “We know how much hockey means to people in Canada. It’s the same in Russia. It would be special to be a part of the event, play against Canada and compete for a medal.”
COURTESY SPOKANE CHIEFS
BY Marshall Mackinder
JARET ANDERSON-DOLAN C – SPOKANE CHIEFS HEIGHT: 5’11" WEIGHT: 185 lbs. SHOOTS: Left
BORN: September 12, 1999 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
DRAFTED: 2014 WHL DRAFT – ROUND #1 (14TH OVERALL) BY THE SPOKANE CHIEFS
JaretAnderson-Dolan saw some success early in the season centring fellow 2017 draft eligible forward Kailer Yamamoto and could see huge offensive numbers if he sticks on his line. Sees time on both the power play and penalty kill. A very intense forechecker and highly motivated puck chaser, he wants the puck on his stick always. Tremendous work ethic and will battle in the corners and win puck possession. Has good acceleration and is fast even when he is gliding down the middle of the ice. Loves to shoot from in close and can pick the top corners almost every time. Difficult to knock him off the puck and keeps his balance with low centre of gravity. Likes to show emotion and gets on the nerves of opposing players often. One of the youngest in this draft class and is maturing at a steady pace.
DID YOU KNOW? In his short career, Phillips has established himself a leader in the eyes of Hockey Canada. He was named Captain
TERRY WILSON / OHL IMAGES
of Canada at the recent 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. During the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge in Fort St. John / Dawson Creek, Phillips was captain of Team Canada Red.
MARKUS PHILLIPS D – OWEN SOUND ATTACK HEIGHT: 6’0" WEIGHT: 207 lbs. SHOOTS: Right
BORN: March 21, 1999 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DRAFTED: 2015 OHL DRAFT – ROUND #1 (9TH OVERALL) BY OWEN SOUND ATTACK
Markus Phillips’ speed and skating ability give him the advantage to win puck races and get back into position after a pinch. He is very light on his edges and at times looks like his coasting speed is equal to opponent’s top speed. Looks real comfortable in his own end and has worked and improved on those skills that he needed to build on from his rookie season. He uses his speed to retrieve pucks and get to the corners first to eliminate any puck pursuits. He can elude forecheckers and be patient with the puck in his own end and get the breakout set up. Phillips like to shoot the puck but needs to work on accuracy and timing of his shots as he has many shots blocked in traffic.
DID YOU KNOW? In his short career, Phillips has established himself a leader in the eyes of Hockey Canada. He was named
HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS PHOTO
Captain of Canada at the recent 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. During the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge in Fort St. John / Dawson Creek, Phillips was captain of Team Canada Red.
ARNAUD DURANDEAU LW – HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS HEIGHT: 5’11" WEIGHT: 183 lbs. SHOOTS: Left
BORN: January 14, 1999 Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada
DRAFTED: 2015 QMJHL DRAFT – ROUND #1 (7TH OVERALL) BY THE HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS
Arnaud Durandeau is a smaller guy with good stickhandling skill and can be crafty with his jukes and dangles. Shows soft hands around the net and will always follow his shot looking for rebounds. Likes to go hard to the net and plays the game bigger than he is. Works hard to find open space for himself. Reacts well and has good awareness of when he is skating himself into trouble and battles it out despite his smallish frame. Very quick and agile. Appears to have gained hockey sense and has gained more confidence in his shot. Looks to be improving game by game. Has a real high offensive potential. Needs to improve strength and play a three-zone game to continue to show is can play both an offensive and defensive game.
DID YOU KNOW? Durandeau had 51 points in 42 games during the 2014-15 season for the Lac St-Louis Lions in the
Quebec midget AAA league. The Mooseheads had not picked in the top 10 in the QMJHL Draft since they took current Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin second overall in 2011.
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CJHL
AMY DEROCHE/OJHL IMAGES
JUNIOR
AROUND THE BCHL VIDEO REVIEW COMMENCES Video review has arrived in the BCHL. Well, sort of. And not on a grand scale by any means. As of Nov. 19, video review capability is now available at the South Okanagan Events Centre, home of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees. An off-ice official will be available to review video and determine whether the puck crossed the line for a good goal. But the off-ice official will not be assisting on any other calls. For example, it will still be up to the on-ice officials to determine whether a puck was kicked into the net, if it was directed into the net via a high stick or whether time had expired before the puck entered the net. The league’s Board of Governors raised the idea of video review at their 2016 annual general meeting.
The Trenton Golden Hawks are hoping to do their share of celebrating at the 2017 Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament they are hosting next May.
Members of the Vees organization were most keen to pursue this issue.
A GOLDEN YEAR Trenton Golden Hawks gearing up for event-filled season capped by Dudley Hewitt Cup STORY Sam Laskaris
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HE TRENTON GOLDEN HAWKS KNOW THEY WILL BE participating in the Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament for a second straight year. But things are considerably different this time around. That’s because the Golden Hawks, members of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), are hosting the 2017 tournament, scheduled for May 2 to 6. Since it is hosting the event, a qualifier for the national championship RBC Cup tournament, the Trenton side is guaranteed a spot in the Dudley Hewitt Cup tourney. But plenty of behind-the-scenes work needs to be done to ensure the tournament runs smoothly. “It’s very much a different ballgame this year,” said Rob McDonald, a co-director for the 2017 Dudley Hewitt Cup organizing committee. A year ago, the Golden Hawks captured the OJHL crown and then travelled north to the tournament, which was hosted by the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. Trenton also won that four-team event and advanced to the nationals, which were hosted by the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Lloydminster Bobcats. McDonald, who is also the Golden Hawks director of game day operations, is co-directing the Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament with Sarah Ditmars. Ditmars also serves as the athletic therapist for the Trenton squad. McDonald said the Golden Hawks staff must juggle various items this season. For starters, it is doing its best to stage various special events on game nights. This included Trenton’s hugely successful Hockey For Harambe night in October, which attracted media attention across North America. This night saw the Golden Hawks don commemorative jerseys during the warmup
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honouring Harambe, the gorilla that was shot dead at a Cincinnati zoo this past May. The jerseys were later auctioned off for charity. While staging various special nights throughout the season, the Golden Hawks staff is also gearing up for a successful tournament in May. “We also have to keep a focus on that even though we know we have a ways to go still,” said McDonald, whose father John serves as the Golden Hawks director of business operations. Tournament organizers are hoping to have sellouts throughout the Dudley Hewitt Cup tourney. “We have an incredible fanbase here,” said the younger McDonald. Though the event is still half a year away, ticket sales are going well. There’s already a commitment of about 300 packages for tournament passes, granting access to all eight games that will be staged. Only tournament packages, selling for $125 each, are on sale right now. The Golden Hawks home rink, the Duncan McDonald Memorial Gardens, has seating for about 900 fans and can squeeze in about another 250 standing-room spectators. Tournament organizers are also planning to show a live stream of the game at a second rink, adjacent to their home facility. McDonald is anticipating a party atmosphere inside and outside the rink throughout the Dudley Hewitt Cup tourney. “We have a huge parking lot here and we’re fortunate with the way things are laid out,” he said, adding festivities will include Hockey Hall of Fame exhibits as well as some yet-to-be announced events.
Since resources and the degree of technology varies at BCHL rinks, at this time video review was not implemented on a league-wide basis. League officials, however, will closely monitor how the situation develops in Penticton and pass that information on to the BCHL’s Board of Governors for further consultation.
BCHL EARNS HUGE ASSIST WITH FOOD CAMPAIGN Besides battling each other on the ice, all BCHL squads are once again involved in a friendly off-ice competition this year. This marks the fourth season all squads from the league have participated in the Five Hole For Food Campaign. The project, which runs from November through February, sees all BCHL squads host a night where they encourage their fans to bring items to be donated to their local food bank. The Nanaimo Clippers had the early lead this season in this competition. The Clippers and their supporters raised a whopping 5,513 pounds of food during their Nov. 12 home contest. Items were turned over to the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo. The campaign will continue until Feb. 14. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs will be the last BCHL club this season to host its food drive night. During the past three years, teams from across the league combined to bring in more than 110,000 pounds of food. The Vernon Vipers won last year’s challenge as they collected 6,877 pounds on their night.
WILD FORWARD LEADS SCORING RACE It’s been rather tough to keep Wenatchee Wild forward Brendan Harris off the scoresheet this season. The 20-year-old had 15 multipoint contests in his first 25 games. Harris was averaging almost two points per outing, having earned 47 points, including 11 goals, to lead all BCHL pointgetters.
CJHL
AROUND THE AJHL
AROUND THE OJHL
JUNIOR
AROUND THE CCHL
RBC CUP LEAVES SCHOLARSHIP LEGACY
DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE PAYING DIVIDENDS
GLOUCESTER FRANCHISE MOVING TO ROCKLAND
A new scholarship fund has been established from the proceeds arising from the 2016 RBC Cup tournament.
OJHL officials are thrilled that its development league is indeed fulfilling its goal.
Goodbye Gloucester Rangers.
The AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats hosted the national Junior A championship this past May.
More than one-third of the players who participated in the Ontario Junior Development League this past May through July are now on OJHL rosters.
The CCHL’s Board of Governors recently announced they had approved the transfer of the Rangers’ ownership to four individuals: Andre Chaput, Andre Charlebois, Jean-Robert Leger and Robert Boudreau.
The scholarship fund, approximately $60,000, is geared to assist Bobcats’ alumni with their postsecondary education. Those who played in the Lloydminster Minor Hockey Association are also eligible to benefit from the fund. A maximum of five scholarships will be awarded each year. The goal is to have the fund last for a minimum of 12 years. The application deadline for the inaugural list of scholarship recipients is Dec. 15. Those who have already started their postsecondary education are still eligible for the scholarship. Applicants will not be eligible to win the award in more than one year. Thus, a minimum of 60 individuals will benefit from the fund over the next dozen years. The Bobcats were one of five clubs that participated in this year’s national tourney. The Lloydminster side advanced to the championship final. But the British Columbia Hockey League’s West Kelowna Warriors captured the national crown with a 4-0 victory in the final.
LEAGUE APPROVES NEW SCHEDULE Changes are coming to the AJHL. But not immediately. The league’s Board of Governors voted to accept a new interlocking regular season schedule at its recent semi-annual meeting. The new schedule, which will not commence until the 2018-19 season, will see all 16 of the league’s entrants square off four times against each of their opponents. This new balanced schedule is drastically different from the current model. At present, teams play each of their divisional rivals six times. And they only have two games each against all of the squads from the league’s other division. The AJHL features eight clubs in its North Division and another eight in the South Division.
A total of 262 players suited up in the OJDL this year. And 92 of those athletes (which works out to 35 percent) have made the jump to an OJHL roster. The OJDL kicked off in 2015 with just four teams. The idea was to provide players with a glimpse of what Junior A hockey is all about. It also allowed OJHL team officials to get a better gauge of those who might be capable of cracking their rosters. The league took off this year, expanding to 14 teams. Squads were split up into three divisions and played out of venues in Burlington, Oshawa and Toronto. All clubs played a minimum of 12 contests.
RAIDERS GOALIE AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS Josh Astorino spent his first three seasons of junior eligibility backstopping squads at the Junior C and Junior B levels. But now Astorino, who turns 20 on Dec. 9, is starring in his first year with the Georgetown Raiders. Astorino, who hails from Niagara Falls, Ont., has been one of the OJHL’s top puckstoppers this season. He had a 15-2-1 record and one shutout in his first 19 appearances. Also, Astorino’s 2.12 goals against average was good enough for third among all OJHL goalies. Plus he was tied for the second best save percentage with a .929 mark. Astorino had kicked off his junior career during the 2013-14 season with the Grimsby Peach Kings, a Junior C squad. He then played the past two seasons at the Junior B level with the Thorold Blackhawks, members of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Under the new format, teams will continue to play 60 regular season contests each.
YOUNG ROOKIES EXCELLING They are two of the youngest players in the AJHL this season. But Kyler Kupka and Cody Laskosky, 17-year-old forwards suiting up for the Camrose Kodiaks and Whitecourt Wolverines, respectively, are making immediate impacts with their clubs. Both 1999-born players are averaging close to a point per game in their AJHL rookie campaigns. Kupka had racked up 23 points, including 10 goals, in his first 24 contests. He was second in team scoring for the Kodiaks. And Laskosky had earned 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in his first 27 matches. He was third in the Wolverines’ team scoring race.
And hello Rockland Nats.
Chaput had previously owned the franchise when it was called the Orleans Blues. He sold the squad to Paul Jennings in 2007. Jennings sold the team to the new quartet of owners in late September, pending approval from the CCHL’s Board of Governors, which came in late October. The new ownership group will relocate the franchise to Rockland, located about 30 kilometres east of Gloucester. The Rangers, however, will finish off the current campaign in Gloucester. The Nats will begin playing out of their home rink, Rockland’s CIH Arena, starting with the 2017-18 season. To give those in Rockland a glimpse of what they can anticipate next year, the Gloucester squad did stage its Nov. 20 regular season contest versus the Hawkesbury Hawks at the CIH Arena. Hawkesbury registered a 3-1 win in that match, which attracted 207 spectators. That’s a slight improvement over the 186 fans the Rangers are averaging per home game in Gloucester this season. Gloucester, however, might not be without Junior A hockey for long. That’s because there are whisperings another CCHL franchise could potentially be on the move and end up relocating in Gloucester.
BROCKVILLE GOALIE BREAKS RECORD Brockville Braves goalie Henry Johnson still has a half season remaining to possibly add to his recordbreaking accomplishments. Twenty-year-old Johnson, who is in his second season with the Braves, became the CCHL’s all-time career shutout leader on Nov. 18. Johnson earned his 10th CCHL shutout by blanking the three-time defending league champion Carleton Place Canadians 3-0. For Johnson, a native of Minneapolis, that was his first shutout of the season.
DUKES AND FURY DOMINATE SCORING RACE
A year ago he racked up nine shutouts in 48 appearances. In just that one season, he tied five other puckstoppers who had earned nine shutouts apiece during their CCHL careers.
There’s a good chance this year’s OJHL scoring race will be captured by a member of the Wellington Dukes or Whitby Fury.
GRADS HAVE ROAD WOES
That’s because as the midway point of the regular season was approaching, players from the two squads were the top five pointgetters thus far in the league. Wellington’s Brayden Stortz was atop the list with 48 points in 26 games while his teammate Nic Mucci had 44 points. Whitby teammates Ryan Heeps and Nik Coric were next in line with 41 points apiece. And another Fury player, Luke Keenan, was occupying fifth place in the race with 40 points.
It took them quite a long time but the Cumberland Grads finally registered a road victory. After the starting off their season with 11 consecutive road losses, the Grads registered a 5-1 triumph against the Ottawa Jr. Senators on Nov. 18. Cumberland, however, was unable to make it back-to-back road wins as it lost its next away game, 3-0 versus the Kemptville 73’s on Nov. 22. The Grads were having more success at home, winning seven of their first 16 contests.
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FEATURE
DAVE HOLLAND/WICKFEST
MINOR
GABRIELLA DURANTE WINS GRACE BOWEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Demonstrating she understands the meaning of playing with grace has won a Calgary goalie a scholarship from the Hayley Wickenheiser Female World Hockey Festival. “Grace emulates never quitting and pushing past instances to get through things. It ultimately defines your character by what you can get through,” said 15-year-old Gabriella Durante, winner of the Grace Bowen Memorial Scholarship.
THE PLACE TO BE With over 1,500 participants, 2016 marked Wickfest’s biggest turnout to date, and organizers already have their sights set on expansion STORY Kristi Patton
I
T IS A HOCKEY TOURNAMENT WHERE WHAT HAPPENS off the ice is just as important as what happens on it. The sentiment trickles down from coaches to players to even volunteers and organizers of the Hayley Wickenheiser Female World Hockey Festival — more commonly known as Wickfest. “Obviously hockey is at the heart of Wickfest, but there are so many other things that happen during it that make it so unique,” said organizer Ceilidh Price, of the tournament held in Calgary. “It is just a few days after we finished and I have already received emails from people who want to sign up for the 2018 tournament. They are starting their fundraising for it right now.” It has everything to do with the experience. Players were treated to workshops, clinics and inspirational talks from Olympians and female role models such as Rosie MacLennan (trampoline), Kaillie Humphries (bobsleigh), Erica Wiebe (wrestling) and Stephanie Labbé (soccer). “There was a moment when they were chatting among themselves as they were preparing to get ready to speak to the kids and these three little girls just happened to come across them casually hanging out. The next thing you know they are riding on their backs and taking photos with them. All I could think about is where else would these three little girls get an opportunity to hang with these amazing athletes all in one place and in such a relaxed atmosphere?” said Price. Having just wrapped up their seventh year, there are no signs of Wickfest slowing down. It is why organizers decided to split the event over two consecutive weekends (Nov. 17 to 20 and Nov. 24 to 27) to allow for more participating teams. With 20 more teams entered and
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over 1,500 players, the tournament still has not lost its core ideology. “There is a real festival atmosphere and jamming it all into one weekend dilutes the experience because we previously had to spread it over nine arenas. With everything concentrated at WinSport Arena, I could feel that great atmosphere return, and I am certain the players did too,” said Price. Plans are to continue to grow the event. The only thing limiting them is ice. “If I was a billionaire I would build more ice at WinSport,” said Price. “It breaks my heart having to say we are full to teams that want to enter. But, we have big ideas and have been talking about doing some crazy things, like building outdoor ice at that venue. We want to grow it but make sure we are keeping at heart what it is meant to be.” Feedback has already started filtering in, reaffirming to organizers what they are doing is working. Craig Clark, a coach of a team that came for the second time all the way from Nova Scotia, summed it up simply as “awesome.” The first time the team came, they won every game so they decided to move themselves up a division. “This trip we lost every game and it really didn’t change how great the trip was,” he said. “Wickfest is not just a hockey tournament. I’ve been coaching female hockey for many years and that has taken me to tournaments all over North America so I’ve seen lots. But this event is unique and special. The atmosphere at events like the kick-off with Olympian interaction, the interaction with the Calgary Inferno, the sessions and the hands on role Hayley takes in the weekend create an experience like no other,” said Clark.
It was Durante’s fourth year playing in the Wickfest tournament and while her team lost in the semifinals this time around, the goalie said there are no regrets attending the festival. “Teams come from all over and it is just so cool because we all have this common love for hockey. It is so awesome to be able to connect with all the players,” said Durante. One of the moments Durante will hold close with her was when Olympian Erica Wiebe spoke to them. “She was telling us she trained for 15 years before she got to hold her gold medal. How hard she works just proves to me that I also have to work that hard to get to where I want to be. I have been cut from teams but I have to keep going and training. It has been during those times that I actually have fallen in love with the process of training, practicing and getting better.” DAVE HOLLAND/WICKFEST
This year the Hayley Wickenheiser Female World Hockey Festival split the tournament into two weekends to invite more teams including the first year Timbits hockey players.
Each year at Wickfest, the scholarship is awarded to an applicant who can explain what it means to play with Grace. The $500 award is a way to recognize Grace Bowen (Grafton, Ont.), who died at just age nine after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer. A feisty player on the ice, she maintained that in her battle against osteosarcoma. Living up to her name, she lived with grace and her resilient attitude resonated with Wickenheiser. The joy and humility that Bowen showed led to the creation of the scholarship in her honour.
Gabriella Durante (left) with Hayley Wickenheiser (middle) after the announcement she won the Grace Bowen Scholarship.
ACROSS CANADA
MINOR
STORY Neil Hilts
BRITISH COLUMBIA MINOR HOCKEY NEWS
ALBERTA MINOR HOCKEY NEWS
ONTARIO MINOR HOCKEY NEWS
PENTICTON FACING DECISION ON RINK
BLANCHETTE BROTHERS PACING AMHL IN SCORING
8TH ANNUAL PROSPECTS GAME DAYS AWAY
So many top players have skated on the Memorial Arena ice: Paul Kariya, Brett Hull and Duncan Keith to name a few.
They may not be twins like Daniel and Henrik Sedin, but brothers Eric and Graham Blanchette are showing a similar sibling scoring touch. They lead the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL) in points with 27 and 24 respectively.
Final preparations are underway for the 8th Annual GTHL Top Prospects Game Powered by Under Armour.
But the rink is old – 66 years to be exact – and the time has come for the City of Penticton to decide whether they should repair it, or replace it. The price tag for repair is $13.5 million, while a replacement arena would reportedly cost $16 million. In 2008, the South Okanagan Events Centre was opened and is home to the British Columbia Hockey League’s (BCHL) Penticton Vees. It hosts top concerts, the annual Vancouver Canucks Young Star Classic, featuring the top prospects from the NHL teams of Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. However, with the need for ice high in the city of around 33,000, the aging rink has to be improved. Several minor hockey teams regular hit Memorial ice, including those from the Okanagan Hockey Academy and Okanagan Hockey School, and Penticton Minor Hockey Association. With plenty of history and a lower cost associated with the repair, there is support from many in the community to preserve it. However, it will come down to the recently-assembled arena task force, created by the mayor and councillors.
STORIED INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS FAST APPROACHING The puck is set to drop on two major international tournaments at the end of the month. The Richmond International Bantam Midget Hockey Tournament is in its 36th year of operation and will be kicking off on Boxing Day and wrapping up on New Year’s Eve. This year’s event will once again be hosting teams from from the U.S. (Alaska, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington) and across Canada (Ontario, Alberta, B.C). The 2016 event will also be bringing in Hungary’s U16 National Team to compete in the Midget Major division. The tournament is divided into six divisions, Bantam (tiers 1, 2 and 3), Midget (tiers 1 and 2) and Midget Major. A total of 72 teams will be playing over 190 games at Richmond Ice Centre, Richmond Olympic Oval and Minoru Arena. Kamloops is also hosting its own international tournament at the end of the month. The Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament is taking place from Dec. 28 to Jan. 1 and teams will compete in the Tier 1 (Randy Lindros) or Tier 2 (Founders) division. This marks the 49th rendition of the tournament, which will be bringing in teams from across B.C., select U.S. teams, as well as a team from across the North Pacific, the Hong Kong Typhoons.
The duo play for their local Sherwood Park Midget AAA Kings and have led their team to a 13-1-2 start, giving them a 15-point lead on the next closest team in the Dodge (North) Division as of Nov. 23. Graham, older by one year at 17, has the second-most goals and is tied for second-most assists in the league. He has already matched his goal scoring output from last year in half the games, plus has gotten a game in with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). Younger Eric, 16, holds the scoring crown and is the assist leader with 27 points and 16 assists. Last year, he played with the Minor Midget squad in Sherwood Park and had nearly a point-per-game, but he has taken a huge step forward this year. The lucky guy rounding out the line with the Blanchettes is Chase Lowry, who has 22 points in 16 games and has shown tremendous chemistry with the brothers. Lowry, who like Eric is 16, was drafted in the third round by the Red Deer Rebels in 2015 and has played one game in the WHL this year. With Red Deer brass watching Lowry, they could take a liking to either Blanchette brother, who are undrafted into the WHL. However, the Jr. A Crusaders have apparently also shown interest, so if the siblings can continue their hot season, they should find themselves playing a premier level next year.
SPORTSMANSHIP IN EDMONTON Even league rivals can put aside differences for sportsmanship, whether it’s a handshake, high five or gesture of sharing. In Edmonton, one man revealed through a letter to the editor the kindness of another team and coach that helped propel his team to their first win. Minutes before a Novice game was to take place, head coach of Confederation Travis Lamb panicked because his team’s goalie had still not shown up. Getting off the ice from the previous game was Confederation’s rival, the SWAT 639 Bandits, and they were willing to lend their goalie equipment. Winless on the season, Lamb said his team played their best game of the year and held a one-goal lead late into the third. In the dying seconds, the opposition had a breakaway, and as fate would have it, the Confederation goalie made a huge pad save, much to the delight of their coach and the rest of the team. The gesture by SWAT had such a big impact on Lamb and his team that he wrote to the Edmonton Journal, thanking the opposing coach, David Hole, and the entire SWAT team. Stories like this really show what minor hockey relationships are so important.
The Top Prospects Game has become a huge draw and has featured several now-NHL standouts, including Connor McDavid, Sam Bennett and Max Domi. Each of the two teams will be coached by a combination of GTHL and celebrity coaches. Last year’s events featured celebrity coaches Adam Graves, Wayne Primeau, Shayne Corson and Keith Primeau. The GTHL will be announcing its players, league and celebrity coaches in the coming days. Tickets go on sale on Dec. 3 for the Dec. 13 game, at 7:30 p.m. at Scotiabank Pond in Downsview Park.
ONTARIO TEAMS DONATING OLD GEAR UP NORTH Donating hockey gear to less fortunate communities seems to be a common theme throughout minor hockey associations across the country in recent years. Just like the Langley Minor Hockey Association did last month, another group of young players have banded together to provide equipment to a First Nations community. Led by goalie Ethan Kowatcsh, he and his Toronto Titans teammates have filled hockey bags, gathered up sticks and tethered up pads to send to northern Ontario communities. Kowatsch, who has been shipping old gear for five years, was put in touch with former NHL goaltender Paul Harrison, who distribute the equipment around the community of Fort Albany, only accessible by plane. Located on the Hudson Bay, Fort Albany has a huge need for new gear, so the donations gathered by the Toronto Titans and Harrison make a massive difference.
SAULT STE. MARIE HONOURING TATEN HAMMERBERG Thousands of minor hockey players in Sault Ste. Marie are honouring Taten Hammerberg, one of their former teammates, who tragically passed away after losing his battle with cancer earlier this year. After losing his leg and being fitted with a prosthetic, Taten still wanted to play hockey and was an inspiration to teammates, coaches and fans – and still is. Taten’s coaches started the “Taten’s Warriors” campaign to honour his fighting spirit and help carry on his legacy. What started as small campaign took off like wild fire. Players across the city are now sporting a “Taten’s Warriors” sticker on their helmets and have helped raise over $40,000, most of which was donated to ARCH, a local hospice. Many players have expressed how much Taten meant to them and how they will continue to honour his legacy by wearing the sticker and working hard to overcome personal obstacles, just like Taten Hammerberg did.
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
ANATOMY OF AN IP HOCKEY PROGRAM THE UNDERLYING FRAMEWORK BEHIND THE BURNABY CLUB BRUINS Every successful product or service has its key ingredients for delivery. The Burnaby Winter Club Bruins is one of the most prestigious and successful hockey programs in North America. There are several reasons for their success but one of the principle ones is simple but extremely effective. The Club’s Executive and Hockey Staff put a tremendous amount of emphasis and pride in the way their Development Plan is put together and executed. The club’s Initiation 4 coaches, which consist of Burt Henderson (C1), Brad Reynolds (C2) and James Sullivan (C2), do an outstanding job with the little ones as they introduce them to the game of hockey and teach the fundamentals of the sport. “All three gentlemen could easily be outstanding elementary school teachers,” said Maco Balkovec, BWC Director of Hockey. Balkovec also serves as the Winter Club’s Academy Director and Head Coach of the Prep team, so he has a pivotal say in the curriculum of both programs. “They coach their players with a manner that is both kind and demanding, the BWC prides itself in the high expectations for the way our players practice, play and carry themselves off the ice.” Henderson has been coaching the Bruins for the past four years and is a firm believer in what the Burnaby Winter Club has to offer when it comes to skill development. “I believe that we (BWC) offer great training for players and provide opportunities for them to develop to their full potential.”
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Henderson explained. The former junior and professional player credits some of his former coaches with shaping how his coaching mindset and how he’s teaching the next generation of BWC Bruins. “Most of my coaching philosophies come from personal experience as a kid playing with the Burnaby Winter Club. After my minor hockey days at the club, I went on to play professional and learned from some excellent coaches like Willie Desjardins of the Vancouver Canucks,” Henderson said. Every good coach or instructor is always in a learning mode where they acquire ideas or discuss strategy with their peers. Henderson has mastered that approach and his players/students have reaped the benefits. His playing experience definitely had an impact on the way he coaches and openly admits that he is surrounded by quality coaches that translates into a class like atmosphere at the BWC. “I have had the privilege of coaching alongside John Batchelor with the Bruins Bantam AAA team for the past three years. It’s been a great opportunity to develop and hone my coaching skills.” Henderson has capitalized on the working relationship to bring out the older kids to show the younger ones the BWC way when it comes to on ice development and overall leadership. “An important aspect of my coaching is to bring the older players from the Bantam team to the H4 practices as mentors. This helps the Bantam players with their leadership skills as well as giving the younger kids a direct connection with the players they are working so hard to become.” The BWC emphasizes skill development at every level and holds the Bruins coaches accountable when it comes to teaching progression. “My coaching philosophy is based on what I believe to be the two most important skills for hockey players this age, number one skating and number two passing. The Bruins have adopted the concept of using a smaller rinks to work on skill development and take advantage of any available ice. “Using the smaller ice surface also helps players learn to make quick decisions when handling the puck and moving it up the ice. I try to teach my players good habits and try to eliminate the bad ones.” That’s good news for the Bruins, but not such good news for their opponents in the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association (PCAHA). Coach Brad Reynolds
HOCKEY MOMS CORNER
Smile! IT’S TEAM PICTURE DAY! I
T'S 8:00AM ON A SUNDAY MORNING. I AM LONGING TO QUIETLY LINGER OVER MY freshly poured hot cup of coffee, but it is simply not to be. It is hockey team picture day and I am in the midst of unsuccessfully coaxing my sixteen-year old daughter out of bed. The person – let’s call him The Conjuror – who scheduled photos for a Midget girls team at 8:45AM on a Sunday, sandwiched between a Novice team and an Atom team, truly has a sick sense of humour. Any email attempts at rescheduling our team’s time slot have been met with a cheery “LOL!”, so I guess there is no delaying this: hot coffee or not, we have to be on the road in fifteen minutes. If there is a hockey mom out there who has survived team picture day without loss of temper, dignity, or blood, you are my hero and I salute you. Please know that after sixteen years as a hockey mom I am still working on my picture day game plan, but bribery is still my go-to champion. Promises of Fruit Loops and Slushies, however, have given away to shopping excursions and free beer but please don’t judge me. “Let’s go! Dad and I have to be in the picture too, you know!” I shout up the stairs. It’s true too; as bench coach and manager, he and I will be in the picture with her but I’m not sure if this helps or hurts the getting-out-of-bed process. From her bedroom comes an incomprehensible human response followed by a loud thud which we will all just interpret to mean “I’ll be right down.” My husband has generously brought in her hockey equipment from the garage which, thanks to a very mild November, does not require thawing. As all hockey moms know, there is not even enough room to change a shoe in the team picture room let alone a hockey player so you must arrive at team pictures fully dressed in your hockey gear. Lord have mercy. Despite the conversation between my daughter and I during this process, with me speaking in English, and her speaking in a mysterious uncharted language, she is dressed and ready to go in record time. This will cost me a trip to Sephora for sure. Arriving at the arena community room allocated for our association’s team picture day, I take one look at the photographer and any amount of sympathy I had for my daughter and her teammates is immediately transferred to this beleaguered soul who obviously needs something stronger than a hot cup of coffee. As he struggled moments before to get the Novice team to just stand still for two seconds he now wrestles with getting this Midget team to even move an inch. Then, in three weeks, I will receive my order for these team pictures; I will marvel at her smile and forget the chaos it belies. And how did your picture day go, hockey moms? Three cheers for team picture day – and for the wizard that is the team photographer!
ASTRA GROSKAUFMANIS
Ottawa mom of 3 poking fun at motherhood, middle age and minor hockey! Author of Offside by a Mile – Confessions of a Hockey Mom WEBSITE: astragroskaufmanis.com TWITTER: @mydustbunnies December 3, 2016 HockeyNow
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JUSTIN SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY
That's what's so great about hockey. You learn right away that you're part of a team and you're only one small piece of the puzzle. FRAN RIDER
STORY | MIKE TOTH
MANY SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS WILL TELL YOU THAT SPORTS UNLOCKED THEIR PASSION AND DRIVE TO THRIVE IN OTHER AREAS OF LIFE. AND IN CANADA, THAT SPORT IS MOST OFTEN HOCKEY. IN PART 2 OR OUR SERIES, TWO MORE PROMINENT CANADIANS TELL US HOW THE GAME OF HOCKEY HELPED THEM TAKE THEIR FIRST STEPS TO SUCCESS.
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N THE LAST EDITION OF HOCKEYNOW, WE INTRODUCED YOU TO A PAIR OF UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE USED HOCKEY AS A STEPPING STONE TO SUCCESS. Anthony Hollyoak, an expert from the world of business, has hundreds of millions of dollars in sales to his name and an impressive hockey résumé that includes serving as a head coach in the highly-respected Don Mills Flyers organization. We also profiled Dave Bidini, an award-winning Canadian musician, who is also an acclaimed hockey author and a self-professed puck nut, who still laces up the blades for a series of weekly pick-up games. In this edition of HockeyNow, we document the success stories of two other people who owe the game of hockey a huge assist when it comes to their high-profile positions. Daren Millard is one of hockey's premier broadcasters, serving as an
on-air host for NHL broadcasts on Rogers Sportsnet. But when he's not refereeing the popular Hockey Central panel on national television and radio, Millard hits the ice himself as a former Junior A goalie who is still extremely passionate about living a huge portion of his life between the pipes. Fran Rider is considered the "godmother" of women's hockey in Canada. Rider is the long-time president of the Ontario Women's Hockey Association and is often cited as one of the people most responsible for the phenomenal growth that the female game continues to experience around the globe. The road to success? For a lot of people, it was paved by ice and HockeyNow is pleased to share some more of their fascinating adventures in Part Two of Hockey, The Perennial Stepping Stone. u
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[DAREN MILLARD] AREN MILLARD IS ONE OF THE FACES OF THE GAME. The veteran broadcaster is part of the Roger's Sportsnet team that broadcasts National Hockey League action, live and in living colour, across the country. But there was a time when Millard actually thought he'd be placing his handsome mug in front of NHL pucks. Millard, as it turns out, was a talented young goaltender who grew up playing Triple A hockey in Brandon, Manitoba and then had a two-year stint in the Manitoba Junior A Hockey League with the Dauphin Kings. And forget about a career in broadcasting. When Millard was just a sprout, goaltending was his first love. "My first year playing hockey was when I was seven years old," recalled Millard. "The first game, somebody else played goal and the coaches asked if anybody else wanted to give it a try. I put my arm up, and my dad put my arm down. So I put my other arm up, and my dad pushed that arm down. And then I put my first arm up again, and dad finally said “okay." So I played my first game as a skater and since then, every other time I've been on the ice I've been between the pipes."
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When you're a goalie and you let in a bad goal or have a bad game or practice, you have to rinse it. When you work in broadcasting, it's the same deal. DAREN MILLARD
Daren Millard suited up as a goaltender from the word go and still finds time in his busy broadcasting schedule to hit the ice with top tier players, including a recent scrimmage with the Mississauga Steelheads (pictured with Gregg Zaun, right).
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ROB BEINTEMA/MISSISSAUGA NEWS
COURTESY OF SPORTSNET
At the age of 46, Millard still slaps on the pads three times a week. In fact, during those nasty NHL lockouts of years gone by, Millard even had the opportunity to skate with NHLers such as Eric Lindros, one of this month's new inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame. "I remember facing Eric and having him take a one-handed wrist shot at me, putting it top corner, and you just realized the power he had. I also played for a long time at a little 3-on-3 rink in Newmarket with ex-NHLers like Mike Gartner, Kris King and Bob McGill. Gartner came down the wing one time and he didn't take it easy on me just because I didn't play pro. He took a shot and hit me right in the face and bent my cage in and I now have the mask in my rec room. I want to get it signed by Mike one day to show that a guy who scored over 700 NHL goals once caved my face in." And yes, just in case you're wondering, Millard has also faced numerous shots off the stick of former NHLer Nick Kypreos, who, along with former NHL coach and general manager Doug MacLean, is part of the entertaining Sportsnet hockey panel that Millard hosts on television and radio. "I've skated with Nick a bunch of times and there's a certain amount
of acceptance because I might not stop everything, but I stand in there and at least he's not afraid to shoot on me. I passed the test and there's a certain respect level in that. The other thing is that Nick and Doug didn't play goal so I have some credibility when it comes to an on-air discussion about goaltending." Meanwhile, actually sharing an ice surface with NHL talent comes with other professional advantages. "The opportunity to skate with NHL alumni or getting to suit up with current players during NHL lockouts has really provided me with a great gateway of opportunity. As a broadcaster, it's invaluable because you get a lot of extra information that other reporters just don't have the same access to." A big part of the Rogers Sportsnet hockey package is the great chemistry between Millard, Kypreos and MacLean. It features a "take no prisoners" brand of humour that has its origins in the unique world of the hockey dressing room. "It really helps being familiar with a locker room environment," admitted Millard. "Not to confuse that with Donald Trump, but a locker room environment features a lot of kibitzing and camaraderie. If you've never been in a dressing room situation, you may get a little wide-eyed by all the shots that go back and forth and you've got to know how to handle that." What about other important lessons that Millard has gathered from a life spent in the crease? "When you're a goalie and you let in a bad goal or have a bad game or practice, you have to rinse it. When you work in broadcasting, it's the same deal. If you have a bad show or a bad segment, you have to forget about it and move on." To be honest, Millard doesn't have too many bad shows. With 18 years under his belt performing on national television, he's one of the most talented broadcasters in the country. But there's still a part of him that wonders "what might have been" when it comes to his passion for goaltending. "I was never that talented but there is a thought process when you're out with NHLers and you stop a guy like Eric Lindros, you can't help but think, ‘Wow! That feels pretty good. Why didn't I work harder when I was younger?’” Still, life is pretty sweet for Millard. Thanks to young Canadian-based NHL stars such as Connor McDavid, Austen Matthews and Patrik Laine, Sportsnet's television ratings are expected to shoot through the roof. Meanwhile, Millard is enjoying his family life that includes two young daughters. Both of them play hockey and, yes, one of them shows signs of being a goalie. "Both my girls are in The First Shift program. (Sponsored by Bauer, Canadian Tire and Hockey Canada) They don't use real goalies yet but every time they have a scrimmage, my oldest daughter heads straight for the net to try and stop some pucks." And if goaltending doesn't work out? What the heck. It wouldn't be such a bad thing to see another member of the Millard family get into the broadcast business.
[FRAN RIDER] O MATTER WHO YOU TALK TO IN THE GAME OF HOCKEY, THEY'LL INEVITABLY TELL YOU THE SAME THING. "If you're doing a story, make sure and include women's hockey in the mix. It's the biggest growth area in our game." That's music to the ears of 65-year-old Fran Rider. She's been involved in women's hockey since the late 1960's, serving as the President of the Ontario Women's Hockey Association since 1982. Rider has a storehouse full of honours and accolades celebrating her life in hockey, including being inducted into the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame and receiving the Order of Canada. But hockey hasn't always been the only thing on Rider's crowded plate. "I started out working in the banking industry and then got involved in a number of different entrepreneurial activities (including a family restaurant, and several real estate ventures). I moved into hockey on a volunteer basis. I didn't plan the life I'm experiencing. I just saw things that could potentially happen and moved forward with them." Did she ever. Today, more girls are playing the game than ever before. Canada is an international powerhouse and, on a worldwide basis, 38 countries are now internationally ranked in women's hockey; an astounding growth rate that Rider believes took root long ago. "I started out playing hockey in my backyard wearing a pair of figure skates and when I found a real team putting on actual hockey skates and real hockey gear, the environment was so welcoming. The tone of women's hockey back in those days was still competitive, but it was also about creating a spirit of cooperation and giving women the opportunity to learn new skills. We realized there were far more important things in life than the simple score of a hockey game. The score was part of the game, of course, but there were greater victories to be won. The life lessons you receive and the support for women to feel good about themselves, the friendships you develop and the chance to bring more people into the game are far greater than the score of any game." In the modern women's game, it's true that the score has become more important. Canadians, for instance, don't take it lightly when our Women's National team happens to lose to their American arch-rivals. But Rider stresses that a welcoming environment still has to remain at the forefront of women's hockey. "When you're first thrust into an environment with some really good players and you don't even know how to take a shot or receive a pass because you've never played the game, every skill you learn is a major accomplishment. But when you get help from other players and coaches and you hone your skills to get to the point that you're actually capable of helping your team on the ice and they're not covering up for you every time, it's quite a personal victory. Women probably still sell themselves a little short, and it's important for us to continue to develop their confidence." When it comes to developing a successful organization, Rider points to a number of philosophies that come straight from her hockey background.
"That's what's so great about hockey. You learn right away that you're part of a team and you're only one small piece of the puzzle. There's a lot of people that go into making everything stronger. It's a multi-pronged world that we live in when you're trying to grow the game. There's so many different aspects to it – from the financial end, to marketing, to promotion, to the medical part of the game. What's so important is to make sure to find the best people to guide us. Establishing those connections is absolutely critical. One of my philosophies is that in everything I do, there's somebody who knows more about it than I do." And Rider can point to some specific individuals who have had a huge impact on the success of women's hockey. "When we were dealing with spinal cord injuries and concussions, we went to (renowned Canadian physician) Dr. Charles Tator and he's been so valuable to us. He's an outstanding resource and an amazing person and tapping into his expertise has been so valuable." Hazel McCallion, meanwhile, the former longtime Mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, is another example of Rider reaching out for some "expert advice.”
You might see a short-term victory from taking the easy way out when you make a tough decision, but that only adds up to long-term defeat. FRAN RIDER
"In the days when people felt that girls shouldn't be playing hockey, we attached ourselves to individuals with credibility and rode their coattails. So when people such as Hazel (a passionate hockey player herself ) would speak about women's hockey, people listened. It's important to find those advocates because people are geared to respect them and listen to what they have to say and it's our job to push them forward. There are some incredibly powerful and wonderful people who have helped grow our game." Rider, of course, has been leading the charge when it comes to women's hockey and, when it comes to leadership, she has a core belief. "The key to being a good leader is owning a solid value base. If you stick with a good value system and focus on the rules of fair play, you can usually come up with the right answer. You can never, ever get away from your values. You might see a short-term victory from taking the easy way out when you make a tough decision, but that only adds up to long-term defeat." It's been a long road for Rider to help make sure that women's hockey is receiving the respect it deserves. But it's obvious that, these days, the women's game is experiencing far more victories than defeats. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
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Fran Miller was recently inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame for her contributions to building women’s hockey (pictured at induction ceremony with Hockey Canada President Tom Renney, above, and with Gord Miller and fellow inductee Maria Rooth, left). December 3, 2016 HockeyNow
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PACIFIC JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
COMPETITION REMAINS CLOSE IN It’s more of the same atop the PJHL standings as the Aldergrove Kodiaks and Grandview Steelers continue to lead the Brittain and Shaw Conferences, respectively. With matching 3-1 records over the last two weeks, the Kodiaks have a three-point lead over the Abbotsford Pilots and Grandview holds a four-point edge over both the Delta Ice Hawks and Richmond Sockeyes. For Aldergrove (17-5), captain Eric Callegari is riding a nine-game point streak and has scored two points in each of his last six games to move into a tie with Mission’s Baylee Wright for the league lead in scoring with 34 points. Cameron Davitt of the Kodiaks rounds out the top five with 27 points and teammate Quincy Leroux is eighth with 25 point. In goal, Dawson Rodin has been a steady presence who has registered a 2.86 goals against average and .901 save percentage. Backups Caleb Ziemann and Holden Davidson are a combined 7-0. Aldergrove continues to lead the league in goals with 98 and has the second best power play record, connecting at a rate of 22.14 per cent. That helps alleviate a fourth-worst penalty kill of 82 per cent. For Grandview, special teams are flip-flopped with a league-best 88.68 penalty kill percentage balancing out a third-worst 12.5 power-play rate.
Defence is the name of their game and it’s justified by a league-low 52 goals against. They have allowed two goals or less in all six games through November. That’s thanks in large part to the efforts of Matteo Paier-Chow, who sports a goals against average of 2.14 (second best among goalies who’ve played more than 10 games) and a third-best save percentage of .923. Grandview doesn’t have a player among the league’s top 20 scorers. Instead, they score by committee with Nico Bruno (21 points), Jacob Siebenga (20 points), Mateo Coltellaro and Adam Rota (each with 17 points) leading the way. As strong as Aldergrove and Grandview are, there’s still teams who are hot on their tails and others around the league who can’t be taken lightly. Abbotsford Pilots (15-7-0-1, second in Brittain Conference) The Pilots have been able to keep pace with the Kodiaks over the last two weeks with three wins over that span. Included in that stretch was a convincing 8-1 win over Delta, a game in which Alexander Methorst scored four points. Kolby Steen remains third in the league with 33 points and captain Mitchell Plevy is just outside the top 10 with 25. Reliable goalie Jacob Crawford has come through as well with a 2.63 goals against average and .920 save percentage.
DOUG ABBOTT PHOTO
Delta Ice Hawks (14-9-0-0, second in Shaw Conference) The Ice Hawks have stumbled over the last week with three straight losses and only four goals scored in that stretch. However, both the present and future seem bright as a number of youngsters are leading the charge. Jordan Bogress leads the team and all PJHL rookies in scoring with 23 points while fellow freshmen Jonathan Stein, Tyson Lin and Henry Rhyu are close to the point-per-game pace. In goal, Jordan Naylor is 8-3 to go along with a strong 2.25 goals against average and .930 save percentage. Mission City Outlaws (7-12-0-2, fourth in Brittain Conference) The Outlaws have fallen behind with three losses in their last four games and will have to get by without second-leading scorer Jackson Waniek as he’s facing a three-game suspension. There’s still a positive to look towards as Baylee Wright is tied for the league lead in scoring and has 19 points during an eight-game point streak.
The Ridge Meadows Flames have struggled since starting the PJHL season off with a 9-2 record, but are still in contention in the Brittain Conference.
North Vancouver Wolf Pack (9-11-1-0, fourth in Shaw Conference) The Wolf Pack have won two of their last three games, including an 11-0 triumph over Surrey. Ian Creamore sits fourth in league scoring with 28 points and North Vancouver boasts the league’s best power play (22.45 per cent). The Wolf Pack have been able to count on goalie Alex Forster,
PACIFIC JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
PJHL STANDINGS who has taken over starting duties in his rookie year and has a 2.89 goals against average and .910 save percentage. Port Moody Panthers (8-13-0-0, fifth in Shaw Conference) After missing last year’s playoffs, the Panthers were two wins shy of .500 before losing three straight and allowing seven goals against in each of their last two. Still, they’re doing their best to keep pace in the competitive Shaw Conference and Keito Lee and Daniel Szpakowski are helping out in that regard. They’re among the top 10 scorers with 27 and 26 points, respectively.
uwSAT, DEC. 3 6:45P Abbotsford Pilots VS Mission City Outlaws
7:00P Delta Ice Hawks VS North Vancouver Wolf Pack 7:45P Grandview Steelers VS Port Moody Panthers
Richmond Sockeyes (12-7-1-3, third in Shaw Conference) Three wins in their last five games have the Sockeyes tied in points with Delta near the top of the conference. Richmond has been sparked by Merek Pipes, who boasts the league’s best goals against average among number one netminders (2.07) and tops the league and save percentage at .932. Brett Gelz and Connor Alderson have also been impressive with 22 points in as many games.
SUN, DEC. 4 4:00P Richmond Sockeyes VS Grandview Steelers
Ridge Meadows Flames (12-10-0-0, third in Brittain Conference) It’s been a rocky road for the Flames since they jumped out to a 9-2 start. They’ve since gone 3-8 with a four-game losing streak from Oct. 25 to Nov. 4, but they’ve turned the tide somewhat with two wins in their last three games. Bradley Crompton and Andrew Strelezki are the leaders up front, Crompton with 25 points and Strelezki with 24.
TUE, DEC. 6 7:35P Mission City Outlaws VS Delta Ice Hawks
Surrey Knights (0-19-0-1, fifth in Brittain Conference) It continues to be a rough season so far for the winless Knights, who are understandably at the bottom of the league in most categories. They lost by only a goal to the Pilots on Nov. 4 and have been outscored 26-2 in three games ever since. Surrey has also been a revolving door with several players, including leading scorers Blake McCulloch and Nicolas Bizzutto being traded elsewhere.
SPECIAL BROADCAST FEATURE - FREE-VIEW Catch the LIVE action broadcast FREE of charge as our GAME OF THE MONTH. December 10, 2016 - 6:45pm Ridge Meadows Flames host the Mission City Outlaws. Visit www.pjhl.net and click on the game link. View on computer, mobile, smartTV, game console etc. Fabulous HD quality, replays, great commentary - all FREE for one night only in December.
8:00P Aldergrove Kodiaks VS Port Moody Panthers
WED, DEC. 7 7:15P Grandview Steelers VS Aldergrove Kodiaks THU, DEC. 8 7:45P Richmond Sockeyes VS Surrey Knights FRI, DEC. 9 7:30P Aldergrove Kodiaks VS Abbotsford Pilots
7:00P Abbotsford Pilots VS North Vancouver Wolf Pack 7:45P Delta Ice Hawks VS Port Moody Panthers
SUN, DEC. 11 4:00P Port Moody Panthers VS Grandview Steelers
TUE, DEC. 13 7:35P Grandview Steelers VS Delta Ice Hawks
7:30P Surrey Knights VS Ridge Meadows Flames SAT, DEC. 10 6:45P Ridge Meadows Flames VS Mission City Outlaws
WED, DEC. 14 7:15P Mission City Outlaws VS Aldergrove Kodiaks
THU, DEC. 15 7:00P North Vancouver Wolf Pack VS Richmond Sockeyes 7:45P Delta Ice Hawks VS Surrey Knights FRI, DEC. 16 7:30P Surrey Knights VS Abbotsford Pilots
7:30P Richmond Sockeyes VS Ridge Meadows Flames SAT, DEC. 17 6:45P North Vancouver Wolf Pack VS Mission City Outlaws 7:45P Ridge Meadows Flames VS Port Moody Panthers
NCAA
COURTESY OF DU ATHLETICS
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Squamish, B.C. native Jarid Lukosevicius is among seven Canadians hoping to lead the University of Denver Pioneers back to the Frozen Four this season.
READY TO POUNCE Denver Pioneers shake off adversity to remain among NCAA hockeyelite STORY Randy Lucenti
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HE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER PIONEERS WERE picked by many NCAA Division 1 men's hockey observers to be among a handful of teams poised to challenge for a national title in 2016-17. With a lineup backstopped by one of the top goaltenders in the country, Red Deer, Alta. native Tanner Jaillet, featuring one of the most dangerous offensive threats in sophomore forward Dylan Gambrell and a coach with one of the best records in the nation, who wouldn't believe the Pioneers had a good shot at the Frozen Four title this season? In four seasons as the Pioneers head coach, Montreal, Que. native Jim Montgomery led his charges to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and guided the club to its first Frozen Four berth since 2005 in 2015-16. For his effort, Montgomery was a finalist for both the Herb Brooks Award as NCHC coach-of-the-year (won by North Dakota's Brad Berry) and the Spencer Penrose Award as top bench boss in the entire NCAA (won by Quinnipiac's Rand Peckhold) last season. As a sophomore last season, Jaillet finished with a 175-5 record while appearing in 31 games. His goals-against-average of 2.27 and save percentage of .922 were among the best in the nation. Gambrell, in just his freshmen season, finished second
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in team scoring in 2015-16 with 47 points (17G, 30A) in just 41 starts and was rewarded by being drafted in the second round (60th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The Pioneers, ranked among the top four teams in the nation, entered the new campaign with high hopes and expectations. Then the puck dropped. They came out of the gate flat and dropped their first two starts, 3-2 to the Ohio State Buckeyes and 3-1 to Boston College Eagles. They then lost Gambrell to an upper body injury on Oct. 11 which required surgery and the possibility of a four- to six-week recovery time. Rather than bury their heads in the sand, the Pioneers regrouped and refocused. With Jaillet returning to last season's form, Denver went undefeated in their next 10 starts (seven wins and three ties), including a victory and tie in North Dakota against the defending national champion Fighting Hawks, the team that knocked them out of the Frozen Four in last year's semi-final. During the streak, Jaillet, who played his junior hockey for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in the AJHL, led the nation in goals-against-average (1.61) and save percentage (.935) while compiling a 7-1-3 record in 11 starts. Gambrell, who hails from Bonney Lake, Wash., surprised all by returning after missing just four games and racked up seven points (3G, 4A) in just eight starts. Jaillet is joined on the roster by six fellow Canucks, including four forwards. Heading the list up front is sophomore Jarid Lukosevicius and senior Matt Marcinew, both among the team scoring leaders to date. Lukosevicius, from Squamish, B.C., played his junior hockey for the Powell River Kings of the BCHL while Marcinew, from Calgary Alta., played for the Olds
Grizzlys of the AJHL before heading to Denver. The other forwards are freshmen Liam Finlay from Kelowna, B.C. (Vernon Vipers of the BCHL) and sophomore Logan O'Connor from Calgary, Alta. (Sioux Falls of the USHL). The Canadian defencemen with the Pioneers are junior Tariq Hammond from Calgary, Alta. (Okotoks Oilers of the AJHL) and junior Adam Plant from Penticton, B.C. (West Kelowna of the BCHL). Recruiting has been key to the success of the Pioneers over the past four seasons and the program has already announced five more key components heading to Denver next season. Signing National Letters of Intent to join the Pioneers program in 2017 are goaltender Dayton Rasmussen, forwards Adam Goodsir and Kohen Olischefski along with rearguards Ian Mitchell and Griffin Mendel. Olischefski, from Abbotsford, B.C., has played for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL for the past four seasons. He tallied 48 points (13G, 35A) in 2015-16 and has 27 points (9G, 18A) in 26 games this season. Mitchell, who hails from Calahoo, Alta., is a member of the Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL. He helped Team Canada White win gold at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and represented Canada at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Mendel, from Kelowna, B.C., has played for the past two seasons with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL. He also helped Team Canada White win gold at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Currently ranked second in the nation behind the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (10-2-2), the Pioneers will get the chance to prove who should be number one when the clubs face off for the final two games before the Christmas break in Denver on Dec. 9 and 10.
U SPORTS
COLLEGE
MARC LAFLEUR PHOTO
40 PLAYERS FROM 14 OUA UNIVERSITIES INVITED TO UNIVERSIADE TRAINING CAMP
Forward Brett Welychka of the Carleton Ravens is one of 40 OUA players invited to a training camp in Caledon, Ont. to select the Canadian team which will compete at the 2017 Winter Universiade in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
TAKING THE WORLD STAGE U Sports, under the guidance of Queen’s Gaels coach Brett Gibson, prepares for two of the season’s biggest events STORY Randy Lucenti
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T FIRST GLANCE, THE MONTH OF DECEMBER looks to be a quiet one for veteran U Sports (formerly CIS) men's hockey coach Brett Gibson of Queen's Gaels. In fact, it's anything but. The Gaels play just a pair of OUA games in the final month of 2016 and both are at home in Kingston, on Dec. 2 against the Laurentian Voyageurs from Sudbury and on Dec. 3 against the UQTR Patriotes. While most of the Gaels players and staff head home for the Christmas break and some down time before the stretch run in the new year, Gibson will be selecting and guiding the fortunes of a pair of teams which will be representing Canadian university hockey in major backto-back events. First up is a two-game exhibition series featuring an all-star team from U Sports facing off against Canada's national junior team prospects as they prepare for the IIHF World Junior Championships taking place in Toronto and Montreal from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Those games will be played at the Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau, home of the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, in Blainville, Que. on Dec. 12 and 13. Gibson, in his 11th season as bench boss of the Gaels, will be joined behind the bench for the series by Mark Howell of the University of Calgary Dinos, Brad Peddle of the St. FX X-Men and Marc-Etienne Hubert of the UQTR Patriotes. The U Sports all-star squad, which will be announced in early December, will be made up of 11 players from the OUA along with six players from both the AUS and
Canada West teams. Last December, the university all-stars split the two matches with the national team. After the exhibition series wraps up, Gibson has been tasked with selecting the 22-man roster which will be representing U Sports at the 28th Winter Universiade taking place in Almaty, Kazakhstan from Jan. 29 to Feb. 8, 2017. Since 1997, U Sports men's hockey has rotated its representative team in the event with the OUA, AUS and Canada West taking turns providing the coaching staff and players. With 2017 being the OUA's turn, Gibson will be joined by assistant coaches Brian Bourque of the Waterloo Warriors (who will also act as the team manager), Craig Duncanson of the Laurentian (Sudbury) Voyageurs and Marty Johnston of the Carleton Ravens. A total of 40 OUA players have been invited to a fourday Universiade training camp at the Teen Ranch in Caledon from Dec. 27 to 30, and then Gibson and his staff are faced with whittling the group from 40 to 22. Heading the list of invitees is last season's OUA East Division most valuable player Guillaume Asselin of the UQTR Patriotes. Last season, the Quebec City native led the nation in both goals (27) and points (47) while his six game-winning markers ranked him first in the OUA. Former OUA rookies of the year, forwards Brett Welychka of the Carleton Ravens from London, Ont. and Dylan Denomme, who plays for his hometown Windsor, Ont. with the Lancers, will also be competing for a roster spot.
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LAURENTIAN
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MCGILL
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QUEEN’S
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RYERSON
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UOIT
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UQTR
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WATERLOO
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WESTERN
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YORK
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Four Gaels will be joining their head coach in Caledon, including goaltender Kevin Bailie. The Belleville, Ont. native was named OUA East Division MVP and rookie of the year in 2013-14. The other Kingston players taking part in the camp are forwards Slater Doggett from Oakville, Ont. and Eric Ming from Williamstown, Ont. along with 2014-15 East Division defenceman of the year Spencer Abraham from Campbellville, Ont. The Patriotes lead the way in number of invitees to the camp with six, Carleton and McGill are both sending five, while Queen's and the Western Mustangs are represented by four each. Concordia, Ryerson and Waterloo are sending three apiece, with Guelph Gryphons sending two. Brock Badgers, UOIT Ridgebacks, Laurentian, Windsor and York are each sending one. Six OUA teams, Ottawa Gee Gees, Nipissing (North Bay) Lakers, RMC Paladins, Laurier Golden Hawks, Lakehead (Thunder Bay) Wolverines and Toronto Varsity Blues, are not represented at the camp. In three previous appearances, the OUA reps have captured a pair of bronze medals (1999 and 2011) while placing fifth in 2005. Overall, Canada has medaled 14 times in 15 appearances at the event including four Universiade titles in 2013 (AUS), 2007 (AUS), 1991 (senior national team) and 1981 the University of Alberta Golden Bears. At the last games in Granada, Spain, the Canada West all-stars placed third overall behind champion Russia and runner-up Kazakhstan. The Universiade is a biennial international multi-sporting event. It is recognized as the largest global event for student-athletes with a record of 2,668 participants during the 2013 event in Trentino, Italy and 52 countries taking part in the 2011 competition in Erzurum, Turkey. December 3, 2016 HockeyNow
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1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
BEST HOCKEY SCHOOL IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
BEST HOCKEY SCHOOL IN ALBERTA
BEST HOCKEY SCHOOL IN ONTARIO
PROFORMANCE GOALIE SCHOOLS
OKANAGAN HOCKEY CAMPS
GRETZKY HOCKEY SCHOOL
FINALISTS Okanagan Hockey Camps | Pursuit of Excellence | Vancouver Hockey School
FINALISTS Gretzky Hockey School | Serdachny Power Skating
FINALISTS Teen Ranch | Power Edge Pro
1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
BEST HOCKEY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER
BEST HOTEL TO STAY IN ON A HOCKEY TRIP
BAUER
SANDMAN
FINALISTS CCM | Vaughn
FA
1ST PLACE
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FINALISTS Best Western | Holiday Inn
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1ST PLACE
BEST MINOR HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
BEST ADULT HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
PACIFIC SPRING SHOWCASE
WEEKEND HOCKEY
FINALISTS John Reid Memorial Bantam AAA Hockey Tournament | Weekend Hockey | Mainland Hockey Tournament
FINALISTS Canlan Classic Tournaments | Canadian Hockey Enterprises
1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
BEST SPORT SCHOOL IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
BEST SPORT SCHOOL IN ALBERTA
BEST SPORT SCHOOL IN ONTARIO
BURNABY WINTER CLUB
BANFF HOCKEY ACADEMY
CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY ACADEMY
FINALISTS Okanagan Hockey Academy | Delta Hockey Academy
FINALISTS The Edge School | OHA Edmonton
FINALISTS Blyth | The Hill Academy | Ontario Hockey Academy
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AND THE WINNERS ARE...
HockeyNow is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of our second annual Fans’ Choice Awards. Just as their name suggests, the Fans’ Choice Awards are determined by fans across Canada, who once again showed up to vote for their hockey favourites. The awards were created to give Canadians the chance to honour the country’s best hockey destinations, manufacturers, equipment, companies, leagues, tournaments, and schools. Over the last month, HockeyNow tallied thousands of votes cast in 20 categories
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1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
BEST PLACE TO WATCH HOCKEY IN B.C.
BEST PLACE TO WATCH HOCKEY IN ALBERTA
BEST PLACE TO WATCH HOCKEY IN ONTARIO
BOSTON PIZZA
BOSTON PIZZA
WAYNE GRETZKY'S
FINALISTS The Shark Club | The Pint Public House & Sports Bar
FINALISTS Schanks Sports Grill | The Beer Hunter Bar and Grill
FINALISTS Boston Pizza | Real Sports Bar & Grill
1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
BEST HOCKEY APPAREL
BEST ADULT HOCKEY LEAGUE
BAUER
PLANET ICE (MULTIPLE LOCATIONS)
FINALISTS Under Armour | Gongshow
FINALISTS Canlan (multiple locations) | CARHA (multiple locations)
1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
BEST HOCKEY TRAINING DEVICE
BEST HOCKEY PRO SHOP
GREEN BISCUIT
SOURCE FOR SPORTS
FINALISTS HockeyShot | Snipers Edge Hockey
FINALISTS Pro Hockey Life | Sport Chek
1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
BEST HOCKEY PRO SHOP IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
BEST HOCKEY PRO SHOP IN ALBERTA
BEST HOCKEY PRO SHOP IN ONTARIO
THE HOCKEY SHOP
UNITED CYCLE
GOALIE HEAVEN
FINALISTS Cyclone Taylor Sports | Chevy's Source For Sports
FINALISTS B & P Cycle & Sports | Adrenalin Source For Sports
FINALISTS Just Hockey | Coach's Corner
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– and also added some worthy candidates to our lists based on reader suggestions. And, of course, due to the abundance of top notch hockey products and organizations out there, we saw a number of tight races in several categories. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to recognize the winners our readers have chosen as their national and provincial favourites. The fans have spoken. Thank you to the readers who showed their support to their top hockey picks, and our congratulations to the winners and finalists of the HockeyNow 2016 Fans’ Choice Awards.
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NWHL
COURTESY OF THE NWHL
Burnaby, B.C.'s Kaleigh Fratkin, who plays for the National Women's Hockey League New York Riveters, said it was shocking news to learn that the league was cutting salaries for all players in half but she will continue to play for the rest of this season.
TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM New York Riveter Kaleigh Fratkin one of many NWHL players dealing with league’s recent salary cuts STORY Kristi Patton
H
UDDLED INTO A ROOM WITH HER TEAMMATES, Kaleigh Fratkin was expecting the meeting called by the New York Riveters coach was to be go over game film. Instead the National Women’s Hockey League player was gutted when she was told the only league paying elite female hockey players in North America was cutting salaries. “It was heartbreaking. I can speak on behalf of all the players when I say we invest so much time, sweat and tears for this game because we simply love it and we want to be compensated the way we should,” said Fratkin, who grew up in British Columbia. “So when you're told that financially there are cutbacks and they affect your salary it becomes alarming. Alarming for players who rely solely on the league salary, alarming for the financial statement of the league.” League commissioner Dani Rylan said players across the league would be taking a pay cut. A cut to what is already a measly wage compared to their male counterparts in the NHL. The NWHL players were making between $10,000 to $26,000, the latter wage being paid to Amanda Kessel, a U.S. national team member. Each team had a salary cap of $270,000 to start the season. Fratkin, who played on the Connecticut Whale last season and toiled in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League – a five-team league mainly based in Canada that does not pay its players but includes high-profile Canadian Olympians – said all is not lost. At least not yet. “My reaction to it now that I've had some time to think about is that at the end of the day our salaries didn't get cut completely. To me that is huge. We're still getting
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paid and the league is still able to stay afloat. Ultimately, the league needs the players and the players need the league for the future of women's professional hockey. We need to come to a middle ground in terms of players’ rights while still understanding that this league is still in its infancy,” she said. Fratkin added she will stick it out in the NHWL for the rest of the season, but would not speak beyond that. “Right now, I’m playing for the future generation of young female players,” she said. From the outside, the news doesn’t shed a very positive light on the league that is just in its second year. Already Dunkin’ Donuts, one of the league’s main sponsors, has stepped up to put another $50,000 in the coffers. The NWHL remains tight-lipped on other investors, although some media outlets have identified Canadian businessman Joel Leonoff as an backer. His daughter Jaimie Leonoff is a goaltender that played in the league last year, but is sitting out this season due to an injury. While things may seem dark now, Fratkin said it potentially could be turned into something positive. “While some may think it's damaging, I actually see it as an opportunity for someone, or the NHL, to step in. Hockey is too much of a popular sport and women's hockey for that matter, in the past five years, has grown way too much for it to come to a dead end,” she said. “Women's hockey has a market. This league has shown that, but it can't do it alone.” With its obvious need for financial help, Fratkin questions when the NHL will finally step up for the women’s game. In the CWHL, several partnerships have developed with NHL clubs. Calgary, Toronto and Montreal all
are sharing marketing resources with their CWHL counterparts, and others are offering funds for coaching costs, and to offset equipment, uniforms and travel expenses. In 2012, the Toronto Maple Leafs sponsored the Toronto Furies with a $30,000 investment over five years. The CWHL has stated their intentions to one day pay players. League commissioner Brenda Andress previously told HockeyNow that could start happening as early as next season. Things could even be tougher next year for both leagues. Many of the high profile players that are recognizable to those that follow the sport or might remember them from the Olympics (NWHL: Hilary Knight, Kelli Stack; CWHL: Marie Philip Poulin, Natalie Spooner) will be centralized with their national teams as they prepare for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. What that has meant in previous Olympic years is that these players do not play in these elite leagues, instead they are training as one unit with their national team. Fratkin doesn’t view that as any kind of setback for the league next season, if there is one. “I don't think the league will suffer without the Olympians (Team USA). Realistically they comprise one team in the NWHL, being Boston (Pride). If anything, the league will actually give really talented players an opportunity to make a name for themselves. This league is becoming the next platform for the best post-college hockey players. It's just an added bonus that some of them can represent their nation once every four years,” she said. In many respects, Fratkin is correct. As well, the Olympics tend to be when women’s hockey gets its biggest audience. Remember, 4.9 million people tuned in to NBC to watch the gold medal game where Canada defeated the U.S. in overtime. An absolute thriller, especially when compared to the Canadian men’s 3-0 win over Sweden for gold, the game had the highest viewership for women’s hockey since the 2002 final.
TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
DECEMBER 2016 BRADFORD, ON | Dec. 2 - 4 Bradford Blue & Gold Classic. Male. Divisions: Initiation - Midget. Levels: B, House, Selects. Contact: weekendhockey.email@gmail.com or weekendhockey.com MONTREAL, PQ | Dec. 2 - 4 CANADIAN CUP II. Male & Female. Divisions: Minor Atom - Squirt. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com ROCHESTER, NY | Dec. 2 - 4 OneHockey 2016 Rochester High School Rebound AAU. Male. Divisions: Bantam, Midget, Juvenile, High School. Levels: Senior, Junior. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com ROCHESTER, NY | Dec. 2 - 4 OneHockey 2016 2nd Rochester Red Lamp. Male. Divisions: Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, Squirt. Levels: AA, A. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com LAKE PLACID, NY | Dec. 9 - 11 AMERICAN CUP II. Male & Female. Divisions: Minor Atom - Squirt. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com OTTAWA, ON | Dec. 9 - 11 3rd Annual GCGH Kickin Ice in the Capital. Female. Divisions: Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget. Levels: AA, A, B. Contact: tournaments@sensplex.ca or sensplex.ca THUNDER BAY, ON | Dec. 15 - 18 2016 Thunder Bay Kings Invitational Showcase. Male. Divisions: Peewee, Bantam, Minor Midget, Major Midget. Levels: AAA. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com OTTAWA, ON | Dec. 16 - 18 13th Annual Ottawa Senators Novice Holiday Classic. Male. Divisions: Novice. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, House, All Levels. Contact: tournaments@sensplex.ca or sensplex.ca ROCHESTER, NY | Dec. 16 - 18 OneHockey 2016 Rochester Hockey Fest. Male. Divisions: Novice, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, Juvenile, High School, Squirt. Levels: AA,A,B. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com ROCHESTER, NY | Dec. 16 - 18 OneHockey 2016 Rochester Girls Premier Showcase. Female. Divisions: Bantam, Midget, Juvenile, High School. Levels: AA. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com CAMBRIDGE, ON | Dec. 27 - 30 50th Annual Hespeler Olympics Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Initiation - Juvenile. Levels: A, B, Selects. Contact: weekendhockey.email@gmail.com or weekendhockey.com
RICHMOND, ON | Dec. 27 Richmond IP Fun Day Holiday Hockey Challenge. Male & Female. Divisions: Initiation. Levels: House. Contact: tournaments.rmmha@gmail.com or rmmh.pointstreaksites.com RICHMOND, ON | Dec. 28 RMMHA Midget A House League Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Midget. Levels: A, House. Contact: tournaments.rmmha@gmail.com or rmmh.pointstreaksites.com RICHMOND, ON | Dec. 28 RMMHA Bantam A House League Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Bantam. Levels: A, House. Contact: tournaments.rmmha@gmail.com or rmmh.pointstreaksites.com RICHMOND, ON | Dec. 29 RMMHA Bantam B House League Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Bantam. Levels: B, House. Contact: tournaments.rmmha@gmail.com or rmmh.pointstreaksites.com LAKE PLACID, NY | Dec. 29 - 31 AMERICAN CUP III. Male. Divisions: Minor Atom - Bantam. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com RICHMOND, ON | Dec. 30 RMMHA Midget B House League Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Midget. Levels: B, House. Contact: tournaments.rmmha@gmail.com or rmmh.pointstreaksites.com BURLINGTON, ON | Dec. 30 - Jan 1 Burlington Weekend Hockey Tournament Tournament. Male Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com
JANUARY 2017 OTTAWA, ON | Jan. 6 - 8 13th Annual Capital Winter Classic - Weekend 1. Male. Divisions: Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Major Midget. Levels: AA, A, B. Contact: tournaments@sensplex.ca or sensplex.ca LAKE PLACID, NY | Jan. 12 - 15 AMERICAN CUP IV. Male. Divisions: Minor Atom - Bantam. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com BRADFORD, ON | Jan. 13 - 15 Bradford Blue & Gold Classic. Male. Divisions: Peewee - Midget. Levels: B, House, Selects. Contact: weekendhockey.email@gmail.com or weekendhockey.com MONTREAL, PQ | JAN. 13 - 15 CANADIAN CUP III. Male & Female. Divisions: Minor Atom - Squirt. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com QUEBEC CITY, PQ | Jan. 13 - 15 QUEBEC CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Atom - Bantam. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com OTTAWA, ON | Jan. 13 - 15 12th Annual Ottawa Senators Winter Showcase Tournament. Female. Divisions: Bantam, Midget. Levels: AA. Contact: tournaments@sensplex.ca or sensplex.ca
BLAINE, MN | Jan. 13 - 16 OneHockey 2017 5th Minnesota Gone Wild. Male & Female. Divisions: Peewee, Bantam, Midget, Squirt. Levels: AAA, AA. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com BRADFORD, ON | Jan. 20 - 22 Bradford Blue & Gold Classic. Male. Divisions: Initiation - Minor Peewee. Levels: B, House, Selects. Contact: weekendhockey.email@gmail.com or weekendhockey.com OTTAWA, ON | Jan. 20 - 22 13th Annual Capital Winter Classic - Weekend 2. Male. Divisions: Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee. Levels: AA, A, B. Contact: tournaments@sensplex.ca or sensplex.ca JASPER, AB | Jan. 27 - 29 Jasper Pond Hockey Challenge. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com
FEBRUARY 2017 OTTAWA, ON | Feb. 3 - 5 37th Annual Nepean Girls Hockey Association Winter Tournament. Female. Divisions: Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget. Levels: AA, A, B. Contact: tournaments@sensplex.ca or sensplex.ca BRADFORD, ON | Feb. 3 - 5 Bradford Blue & Gold Classic. Male. Divisions: Initiation - Midget. Levels: B, House, Selects. Contact: weekendhockey.email@gmail.com or weekendhockey.com ROCHESTER, NY | Feb. 3 - 5 OneHockey 2017 Rochester Roughing Tournament. Male. Divisions: Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, Juvenile ,High School, Squirt. Levels: AA, A, B. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com ROCHESTER, NY | Feb. 3 - 5 OneHockey 2017 Rochester Girls Showcase Shootout. Female. Divisions: Bantam, Midget, High School. Levels: AA. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com LAKE PLACID, NY | Feb. 10 - 12 AMERICAN CUP VI. Male. Divisions: Minor Atom - Squirt. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com BRAMPTON, ON | Feb. 10 - 12 Brampton Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.comLAS VEGAS, NV | Feb. 10 - 12 Las Vegas Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com MONTREAL, PQ | Feb. 17 - 19 CANADIAN CUP IV. Male & Female. Divisions: Novice - Squirt. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com
LAKE WORTH, FL | Feb. 17 - 20 OneHockey 2017 Florida Mites Cross Ice Challenge. Male. Divisions: Novice. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com RICHMOND, ON | Feb. 20 RMMHA Atom C House League Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Atom. Levels: House. Contact: tournaments.rmmha@gmail.com or rmmh.pointstreaksites.com
MARCH 2017 MONTREAL, PQ | Mar. 10 - 12 CANADIAN CUP V. Male & Female. Divisions: Novice - Major Midget. Levels: AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com RICHMOND, ON | Mar. 10 - 12 RMMHA Atom A & B House League Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Atom. Levels: A, B. Contact: tournaments.rmmha@gmail.com or rmmh.pointstreaksites.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON | Mar. 10 - 12 Niagara Falls Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com RICHMOND, ON | Mar. 16 - 18 RMMHA Peewee A, B & C House League Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Peewee. Levels: A, B, House. Contact: tournaments.rmmha@gmail.com or rmmh.pointstreaksites.com HALIFAX, NS | Mar. 17 - 19 CHE ST. PATTY’S DAY CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com SALMON ARM, BC | Mar. 17 - 19 Salmon Arm Mens Rec Shaw Centre 1. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Contact: gord@habs1.ca or salmonarmhockeyschool.com BRADFORD, ON | Mar. 24 - 26 Bradford Blue & Gold Classic. Male. Divisions: Initiation - Bantam. Levels: B, House, Selects. Contact: weekendhockey.email@gmail.com or weekendhockey.com PITTSBURGH, PA | Mar. 24 - 26 Pittsburgh Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com NASHVILLE, TN | Mar. 24 - 26 Nashville Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com PITTSBURGH, PA | Mar. 31 - Apr. 2 Pittsburgh Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com TAMPA, FL | Mar. 31 - Apr. 2 Tampa Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com December 3, 2016 HockeyNow
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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
BANFF, AB | Mar. 31 - Apr. 2 BANFF CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com PHOENIX, AZ | Mar. 31 - Apr. 2 PHOENIX CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON | Mar. 31 - Apr. 2 NIAGARA FALLS CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com VANCOUVER, BC | Mar. 31 - Apr. 2 VANCOUVER CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com SALMON ARM, BC | Mar. 31 - APR. 2 Salmon Arm Mens Rec Shaw Centre ll. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Contact: gord@habs1.ca or salmonarmhockeyschool.com
APRIL 2017 LAS VEGAS, NV | Apr. 6 - 9 GAMBLER CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com BOSTON, MA | Apr. 7 - 9 Boston Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com NASHVILLE, TN | Apr. 7 - 9 Nashville Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com BANFF, AB | Apr. 7 - 9 BANFF CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON | Apr. 7 - 9 NIAGARA FALLS CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com
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KELOWNA, BC | Apr. 7 - 9 OKANAGAN GOLF AND PUCK CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com OTTAWA, ON | Apr. 7 - 9 OTTAWA CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com BRADFORD, ON | Apr. 14 - 16 46th Annual Shamrock House League Select Tournament. Male. Divisions: Initiation - Bantam. Levels: B, House, Selects. Contact: weekendhockey.email@gmail.com or weekendhockey.com FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | Apr. 19 - 23 FLORIDA CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com LAS VEGAS, NV | Apr. 20 - 23 GAMBLER CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com MONTREAL, PQ | Apr. 21 - 23 Montreal Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com CLEARWATER BEACH, FL | Apr. 21 - 23 Clearwater Beach Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com BANFF, AB | Apr. 21 - 23 BANFF CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com KELOWNA, BC | Apr. 21 - 23 OKANAGAN GOLF AND PUCK CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com LAKE PLACID, NY | Apr. 21 - 23 AMERICAN CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com
MONTREAL, PQ | Apr. 21 - 23 CANADIAN CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com LAS VEGAS, NV | Apr. 27 - 30 GAMBLER CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON | Apr. 28 - 30 Niagara Falls Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com BANFF, AB | Apr. 28 - 30 BANFF CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com KELOWNA, BC | Apr. 28 - 30 OKANAGAN GOLF AND PUCK CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com LAKE PLACID, NY | Apr. 28 - 30 AMERICAN CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com MONTREAL, PQ | Apr. 28 - 30 CANADIAN CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com QUEBEC CITY, PQ | Apr. 28 - 30 QUEBEC CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com
MAY 2017 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | May 5 - 7 Atlantic City Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON | May 5 - 7 Niagara Falls Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com
TORONTO, ON | May 5 - 7 Toronto Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com MONTREAL, PQ | May 5 - 7 CANADIAN CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com NASHVILLE, TN | May 5 - 7 NASHVILLE CUP. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com ROCHESTER, NY | May 5 - 7 ROCHESTER CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | May 19 - 21 ATLANTIC CIY CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com LAS VEGAS, NV | May 26 - 29 GAMBLER CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com
JUNE 2017 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | June 2 - 4 Atlantic City Weekend Hockey Tournamentt. Male & Female. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com BOSTON, MA | June 2 - 4 BOSTON CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com ANCHORAGE, AK | June 16 - 18 ALASKA CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com NASHVILLE, TN | June 23 - 25 Nashville Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | June 23 - 25 ATLANTIC CITY CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com
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