Hockey Edmonton Magazine Fall 2012

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Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS 11 14

25

33

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33 5.

President’s Message

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Publisher’s Message

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Respect in Sport

By Maurice Tougas

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14.

Joey Moss, the Heart & Soul of The Oilers By edmontonoilers.com

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Power Edge Pro

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Rhett Rachinski: From Hungry Oil King to Golden Bear with a Thirst for Knowledge 25.

By Jon Hagan

Stand Up for Excercise

By Terry Skidnuk 40 Years Ago The ‘72 Summit Series

By Rob Suggitt

Spotlight on a Referee Jonathan Kukuchi

By Rob Suggitt Cover Photo (Provided by Epic Photography): 30.

For this issue of the magazine, we are featuring 9-year-old Brendan Lee on our cover.

Brendan (and his team) won a gold medal at the 2012 Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week. Brendan is currently in grade 4 at Dr. Donald Massey School.

His class was chosen to go to an Edmonton Oilers ice shoot for one week in March.

Cover Player Profile: Brendan Lee: Current team: Edmonton Eagles Atom 1 Playing position: Defense Favourite hockey team: Edmonton Oilers Favourite hockey player: Sydney Crosby Role model: My dad because he plays hockey too, and he taught me how to play hockey, and he is my dad.

Favourite memory from minor hockey week: Winning the gold medal and holding the cup after our game. I was so happy.

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At Tim Hortons, if we can’t serve our premium blend coffee within twenty minutes of brewing it, we won’t serve it at all. That’s why we write the time on the pot, whenever we brew a fresh one. It’s how you know that you’ll always get a great-tasting cup of coffee. Always.

© Tim Hortons, 2010

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MESSAGE FROM HOCKEY EDMONTON Welcome back to another year of hockey. As this edition of our Hockey Edmonton Magazine hits the newsstands evaluations and team selections are behind us and we await first practices, league games, tournaments, and events that make our sport so special.

Just as our athletes and coaches are in year-round development, members of our executive and standing committees have been busy since the end of last season getting ready for the start of the 2012-13 hockey season as have our counterparts in the districts, operating areas and athletic clubs. Thanks to each of the volunteers for your contribution to sport and community.

A key function of hockey Edmonton is to position the association to be successful over the next 10 years and in fact in future decades. We will be innovative, adaptable, flexible, as we continue to make hockey visible (for the right reasons) and the game of choice in our community. We will overcome barriers to participation, making hockey more accessible to all.

We have and will continue to focus on strategic planning, structure, and governance making our organization more efficient and effective. We want to have strong operational resources, people that are thinkers and doers. We have set some key priorities and with the many changes that will be occurring across Canada and Alberta in the upcoming years, we will continue to bring Hockey Canada, Hockey Alberta and Hockey Edmonton closer together.

New to the Edmonton hockey scene this season is Grant Glowinski, Coordinator of the Hockey Alberta Regional Development Centre that is based in our office. He brings a wealth of knowledge, passion for the game of hockey and ready access to a multitude of resources. Hockey Edmonton will collaborate with the regional centre on a number of initiatives and each of us will operate our own programs – ensuring members’ needs are best served.

Implementation of the Respect in Sport Parent program has been very successful thanks to the tremendous leadership of our registrars and the cooperation of parents.

Thank you. We anticipate that the RiS Activity Leader/Coach implementation will be just as successful and that all coaches and bench staff will have the appropriate certification by November 15, 2012.

How many of you have an “I Was There” moment that you treasure from the recent IIHF World Juniors? In January 2013 we’ll celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary edition of Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week. We’re looking forward to another great event and an opportunity to reminisce with all past participants about their many treasured Minor Hockey Week moments as they watch our current participants engage in passionate competition.

Hockey Canada has officially endorsed the Long Term Player Development plan that many of us have been working with in its draft stage. Branches and LMHAs are in various stages of review, development and implementation of their own versions.

LTPDs are rapidly becoming benchmark requirements of programs not only from a player development perspective but also with governing bodies, funding agencies, as well as cornerstones of ice allocation policy development. Hockey Edmonton is committed to developing and implementing a program that takes advantage of all of our unique resources and meets the needs of all of our members. If you have an interest, a skill set and a passion for sport/program development we have a place for you on our team – contact the staff in the Hockey Edmonton office.

There is no doubt that Edmonton is home to some of the very best – athletes, coaches, instructors, volunteers. Working collectively as leaders in society we can continue to make hockey better for Edmontonians. Hockey Edmonton looks forward to celebrating another great season of hockey.

Respectfully, Betty Chmilar President, Hockey Edmonton

2012-2013 Executive and League Directors 10618 - 124 St., Edmonton, AB T5N 1S3 Ph: (780) 413-3498 • Fax: (780) 440-6475

www.hockeyedmonton.ca To contact any of the Executive or Standing Committees please visit our website

President: Betty Chmilar Past President: Chris Hurley VP Admin: Mark Doram VP Operations: Vacant VP Development: Chris Hurley Treasurer: Barry Bentz Junior Chairman: George Metez Federation Chairman: Kasey Kozicky AA Chairman: Jerry Rossiter General Manager: Dean Hengel Administrator: Loree Dawson Finance: Sharon Fleming

Standing Committees Hockey Alberta Director(s): Paul Schmidt | Lorne MacDonald Hockey Alberta Manager of Operations: Betty Chmilar Hockey Edmonton Alumni President: Orest Zaozirny Registrar: Nadine Shimizu Ice: Bernie Coderre Discipline Chair: Marg Brownoff Minor Hockey Week Chair: Terry Brown School Hockey: Jason Stewart Referee Representatives: Herman Costa (AA) | Duncan MacDougall (Federation)

League Directors

Federation Hockey Council League Directors Midget: Terry Fulmer Bantam: Art Wilson Pee Wee: Crystal Feader Atom: Judy/Kevin Nitz Novice: Kasey Kozicky Initiation: Steve Sweeney

Hockey Edmonton Recreational League Directors: Greg Goss | Brett Finch

AA Council League Directors Bantam AA: Russ Lukawesky Bantam AAA: Debbie Blais Midget AA: Earl Reid Major Midget AAA: Bob Olynyk Minor Midget AAA: Greg Blais Rem 15 Minor Midget AA: Brian Backstrom

Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week Committee Chairperson: Terry Brown Past Chairpersons: Joan Kirillo and Rod McMahon Vice Chairperson: Bill Renshaw Committee: Treasurer: Deb Bykowski Secretary: Ana Bennett Marketing: Dean Heuman Central: Bill Ross Schedules: Ron Sollanych, Darryl Davis Discipline: Marg Brownoff Sponsorship: Marvin Babiuk

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Place holder for RR Donnelley

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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Welcome back to another hockey season!

Credits

In this issue of the magazine, we have a special feature on former Oil King Rhett Rachinski, who despite having some great offers to play hockey elsewhere, decided to stay home and play for the U of A Golden Bears.

President and Publisher Rob Suggitt

For some reason, there is not a lot of fan support for C.I.S. (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) hockey, but as Rachinski can attest, the level of play is right up there with the major junior hockey leagues. (Some would argue that it’s a notch higher.)

Art Director Christine Kucher

With the NHL lockout continuing (as it is at press time), it’s a great opportunity for hockey fans to get out and support (and see) some very good hockey, and the U of A Bears and Pandas are worthy of our support. There’s also the Oil Kings, a team coming off a great season, where they won the WHL crown, and look poised to challenge for the Ed Chynoweth Cup for another season!

And if you’re still “suffering” the absence of pro hockey, why not check out some of the AJHL action. A number of former Junior “A” players graduated to the NHL, including Mark Messier, Troy Murray, Mike Comrie, Scott Hartnell, and all six Sutter Brothers!

There’s also college hockey worth checking out, with men’s and women’s divisions in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.

To help fill the void (no pro hockey), we have included a retro piece on the 1972 Summit Series, which took place 40 years ago. For those old enough to remember, it was the most significant hockey event of the 20th century.

And wrapping up this edition of the magazine is an article on Joey Moss. Joey is the longest serving member of the Edmonton Oilers organization, and his passion and enthusiasm is unparalleled.

And passion and enthusiasm are the very traits we want to see exhibited by all people in the game, starting at the minor hockey level, and through to wherever the pathway of hockey leads us!

To all in hockey, we wish you the best this 2012-2013 hockey season!

Vice President Stephen Kathnelson

Graphic Designers Terah Jans & Cole McKelvie Contributing Writers Jon Hagan | Maurice Tougas | Terry Skidnuk Rob Suggitt | EdmontonOilers.com Cover Photo Provided by Epic Photography Copy Editing Shari Narine Photography Credits Jon Hagan Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club: Andy Devlin Administration Amber Grmek Playhouse Publications Ltd. also publishes the Citadel Theatre Playbill, Edmonton Opera Playbill, Arden Theatre Playbill, Fringe Theatre Adventures Arts at the Barns Magazine. #950, Bell Tower, 10104 - 103 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 0H8 Ph: 780-423-5834 • Fax: 780-413-6185 The Hockey Edmonton Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd., an affiliate of Suggitt Group Ltd.

President & CEO Tom Suggitt President & CFO Rob Suggitt

Sincerely, Rob Suggitt Publisher, Edmonton Hockey Magazine

All rights reserved. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher or Hockey Edmonton. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. www.Suggitt.com Printed by: R.R. Donnelley

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By Maurice Tougas

According to Hockey Alberta, the number one reason for coaches, managers and officials for leaving the sport isn’t the time commitment or cost or any of the obvious reasons.

No, the number one reason might be sitting right next to you in this arena, or maybe exactly where you’re sitting — it is unacceptable parent behaviour.

The offshoot of problem parents is the Respect in Sport program, which this year is mandatory for at least one parent in every hockeyplaying family. If you’re sitting in the stands waiting for the game to start and reading this article, chances are you’ve taken the Respect in Sport program — and not necessarily willingly.

Dean Hengel, the general manager of Hockey Edmonton, recognizes that the Respect in Sport online course isn’t universally popular with parents, but he’s confident the course will pay dividends in time.

Hengel says the Respect in Sport program is an outgrowth of the Speak Out program for coaches that Hockey Canada developed some years ago. While Respect in Sport has been available since 2010, it is only this year that Hockey Alberta has decreed that all parents, coaches and activity leaders must take the Respect in Sport online program by November.

One parent or guardian of each of the approximately 8,700 young athletes must take the one-hour, $12 program, or their child’s registration will not be accepted. Not surprisingly, there has been some pushback from parents who take exception to either having to take a course, the $12 fee, or both.

“There has been a little bit of resistance, as you would expect with a legislated activity,” said Hengel. While there have been complaints about adding another $12 to an already expensive sport, Hengel says it’s not a bad “sticker price” for a program that runs nationally and in both official languages. Respect in Sport is operated by the Respect Group Inc., a Canadian company that operates a number of programs that combat bullying, abuse and harassment in sports, schools and the workplace.

While Hengel says most parents understand the reasons for the program and respect the goals, many are in the “show me mode; now that we’ve taken the course, show me how this is going to improve things in the arena.”

confrontations, abuse of officials, bullying, harassment and racial incidents — are reported in writing.

Hockey Calgary has made the course compulsory for two years.

Hockey Calgary has asked Mount Royal University to study the course and the response from the parents and public. Hengel says the “anecdotal evidence is that it was a resounding success.”

Now that all parents have taken the Respect in Sport program, Hengel hopes that parents will feel that they are not alone in taking action to diffuse a threatening situation.

One of the key messages of the Respect in Sport program is that it empowers people in the game to take action and deal with troublesome situations. The program gives participants the tools to “put a bit of a damper on it (poor behaviour) before it accelerates, or even snuff it right out at the source.”

“With luck, sober second thought will kick in immediately before some people fly off the handle at something.”

There has been pushback from parents who resent having to take a course in hockey fan etiquette because a handful of hyper-aggressive parents have ruined it for everyone. But just like everyone believes that they’re a good driver, and it’s the other guy who drives like an idiot, some parents just don’t recognize that their own behaviour is over the line.

“It’s ironic,” Hengel pointed out with a chuckle, “that some people who have a bit of a reputation are claiming to be the model of discipline.”

And if you’ve been in hockey for any length of time, you’ve seen one or more of the situations depicted in the course, he says.

“We’ve all seen abuse and screaming and shouting at referees; it’s just whether or not we’ve been the culprit. It’s tough when you have to legislate something like that, but people who have been naysayers have seen value.”

Hengel doesn’t expect the program to change hockey culture overnight, but you have to take “baby steps in addressing change in culture and management. It takes time, but we think this is a pretty good step.”

Hengel admits that proving it works will be a bit of a challenge.

Much of the evidence of the efficacy of the program will have to be anecdotal, since not all off-ice incidents — such as parent

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After five years and 244 regular season games of junior hockey— all with the Edmonton Oil Kings—Rhett Rachinski capped off his last season in the WHL with a career high in points, a championship, and a trip to the Memorial Cup. In what he describes as “pretty much the ideal 20-year-old year,” the multipurpose forward is now about to enter a new phase of his career as a University of Alberta Golden Bear.

“I think the team here at U of A is a national title contender, and I want to win a national championship,” Rachinski said. “They’ve got some great coaching coming in this year with Ian Herbers, and I’m familiar with a lot of the guys.”

Among the familiar faces will be fellow Edmontonians, and former WHLers, Burke Gallimore and Brennan Yadlowski. Herbers, himself a former Golden Bear who went on to play 65 games in the NHL, brings a stacked resume from a number of years coaching in the OHL, AHL, and the ECHL. He knows the game, and he knows how and when to use players.

“Rhett brings energy, work ethic, and some versatility. I can put him on the wing or centre. He’s very responsible defensively,” said Herbers.

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“I’m not worried about putting him out when we’re on the road against certain lines. I can put him out in any kind of situation. He can help out on the power play—that’s not his strong suit, but he still has some skill that he can be a second unit guy. He’ll be a good penalty killer for us, blocking shots, sacrificing his body and playing with a lot of heart and energy.”

Prior to his decision to attend the U of A, Rachinski seriously considered going out east to McGill University in Montreal. Staying in his hometown, however, was far too appealing.

“It seems like I’ve got a lot of momentum here in Edmonton going for me right now, so I didn’t really want to walk away from that,” said Rachinski when asked about the opportunities that the WHL’s scholarship program presented him with. The program, set up to provide all WHL players with a year of paid tuition to attend any post-secondary institution in North America for every year played, certainly presented an appealing proposition, but in the end it wasn’t enough to lure him away.

“Well there’s definitely something inside me that wants to have the experience of playing somewhere else other than Edmonton,” Rachinski said. “But I didn’t really feel like this was the time. I feel like this team is going to give me the best opportunity to go and play elsewhere afterwards whether it’s in the American league or in Europe somewhere. I was thinking big picture when I took those things into account.”

Rachinski didn’t base his decision to attend the U of A solely on what the Golden Bear hockey program would offer him.

There’s a bit of family history there as well. “Obviously, the U of A is an outstanding school, but it’s also where my family, including my grandparents, went.”

So what does a hockey player whose mother is a school teacher and whose grandfather is a renowned theatre critic

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study? “I loosely put down economics as my major,” said Rachinski. “I’m definitely going into business, but I’m not really sure what direction that’s going to head into. I just never really figured myself to be a guy wearing a lab coat.”

The Golden Bears are looking to build on the success they had last year when they finished only one point out of first place. With the addition of Rachinski, they’re getting a player fresh off a trip to the big prize in the CHL, the Memorial Cup. That sort of experience will be a definite asset for the Bears as they enter their centennial season.

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Over the last 28 years, a lot has changed for the Edmonton Oilers.

There have been many faces that have come and gone through the flagship doors flanking the Oilers locker room, but even as hockey and life provide constant modifications to the team, one face has remained the same. It’s a face covered with a contagious smile. It’s a face that provides the team with a constant source of strength and joy. It’s a face that belongs to the Oilers faithful locker room attendant since 1984.

It’s Joey Moss.

Born with Down syndrome, Joey, who will be turning 49 this upcoming September 25, was first befriended by Wayne Gretzky in 1984 after The Great One met him through Joey’s sister, Vicky. Gretzky introduced Joey to the Oilers organization, providing him with a job that saw him help out around the dressing room. Since this initial tryout, his role has quickly evolved into an important and consistent routine.

For almost three decades he has been maintaining the locker room, doing laundry, filling water bottles and assisting other members of the training staff whenever needed. In 2003, he received the NHL Alumni Association’s “Seventh Man Award,” recognizing his exceptional contribution to the league and team behind-the-scenes.

He not only has become a significant fixture in the dressing room, but also a teammate for the Oilers.

He’s one of the most important parts of the team. He’s been here forever and we all love him. If you’re not in a good mood and you come to the locker room and see Mosser, he’s always smiling. He makes my day, every day.”

Fans that aren’t too familiar with Joey might recognize him from his exuberant singing of O’Canada before every Oilers home game, often just as loud as the official anthem singer. This has become a tradition for Joey ever since he got his own seat at ice level, right behind the players’ bench. Hockey players are known to be superstitious, and it’s a trait Joey picked up,

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citing that his singing is his way of contributing to the Oilers good fortunes.

“He’s one of the most important parts of the team,” said Oilers defenceman Ladislav Smid.

“He’s been here forever and we all love him. If you’re not in a good mood and you come to the locker room and see Mosser, he’s always smiling. He makes my day, every day.”

This sentiment echoed during the 2006 Stanley Cup Final versus the Carolina Hurricanes; although Joey’s role does not typically call for him to travel with the team, this occasion was different. The players and coaching staff came together and decided that Joey’s infectious attitude and support were far too valuable to not take with them. Despite the heartbreaking loss in Game 7, Joey vows that those special trips are some of the fondest memories of his career.

Recognizing his popularity among the players Joey says that he likes to have fun with the guys by “joking around and acting goofy, but not too goofy.” However, when it comes closer to game time, Joey knows that he has a specific job to do, and like the players, is all business.

Oilers forward Ryan Jones describes him noting: “He brings a lot of charisma. Mosser is always doing something or saying something to make you laugh. He’ll bring a smile to anybody’s face.”

Over the years, Joey’s greatest contribution to the team has turned out to be his outstanding attitude toward life, a reputation that quickly spread through Oil Country and across the NHL. Stopping by to see Joey has become a common scene as past players come through town. Players that are no longer Oilers consider it obligatory and exciting to come back and see that familiar face. Joey notes Bill Guerin, Doug Weight and Dustin Penner as some of his former teammates that he was closest with, but says that Gretzky will always be the closest to his heart.

For all of the players on the Oilers roster or those who now play elsewhere, Joey is not just a teammate, but a cherished friend.

“Guys have fun with him all day, from morning to night,” said Jeff Lang, head equipment manager and one of Joey’s supervisors.

“They’ll take Joey for dinner, take him to a movie, take him bowling, basically just take him out as much as they can. Everybody lives a pretty busy lifestyle around here, but we always enjoy doing as much as we can with Joey.”

Joey’s ties to the Oilers organization stretch beyond simply a job; it’s his life. Even on off-days or during road games when he’s not officially working, he dedicates most of his spare time to the team.

“When the team goes away on road trips, I’ll watch them on TV,” said Joey. “I also do my own homework on them, keeping track of all their stats.”

Despite the 28 years Joey has been with the team, his love and passion for his role has not waned. He still has the exact same smile and attitude that he’s had since day one. Oilers Assistant Coach Steve Smith played with the team from 1984 to 1991 and has experienced it all with Joey close by.

“I remember him saying the same things today that he said 20 years ago and he’s still doing it with the same energy,” said Smith. “He’s a common element around here that everyone that’s come through this organization has found to be part of this locker room and part of the nature of what happens when you step inside the building.”

“I remember him saying the same things today that he said twenty years ago and he’s still doing it with the same energy” As time goes on, faces will come and go just as they have in the past, but for Joey and the Oilers, his beloved presence won’t be leaving any time soon. Joey’s one-of-a-kind nature reflects this according to Smid, who remarks: “There can only be one Joey Moss in the NHL.”

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If you want to get a groan of complaint out of young hockey players, simply pull the pylons out of the equipment bag.

They’ve been around since the days when Eaton’s catalogues substituted for shin pads. They serve a purpose, of course. But skating and passing drills are tedious, with or without pylons.

Inventor, hockey coach and parent Joe Quinn knows as well as anyone that hockey practice can be a bore. Kids, after all, want to play, not work on the fundamentals. Knowing that were had to be a better way to do elite level training that didn’t involve pylons and tires and sticks lying on the ice , Quinn invested 10 years of on-ice trial and innovative sessions to come up with something entirely different — the Power Edge Pro System. (PEP).

opponents that create resistance to challenge players to elevate puck control and edge control over, under and around the PEP devices in quick succession.

“You can forever change the apparatus,” says Quinn. “It’s never the same thing twice. Every kid challenges themselves against that piece of equipment.”

The key to the PEP program is that the kids progressively challenge themselves, just as they would if they were playing a video game where they complete one level, and go onto the next.

“Using on-ice apparatus that only PEP has, PEP is a progressive training system with unique skating patterns that produce results in such skills as speed, acceleration, balance, agility and quickness. “

With the assistance of Don MacAdam, who has coached in Europe, Asia, the NHL with a Stanley Cup winner — and who has co-authored six books on hockey conditioning — PEP has grown steadily and has gained thousands of fans on the ice and in the stands. MacAdam and Quinn knew that kids want to have fun and be challenged, that coaches want to train at an elite level, and parents want maximum value for their hard-earned hockey dollars. The Power Edge Pro System accomplishes all those goals.

The skating patterns and training methods are exclusive to Power Edge Pro, using a patent-pending training system that can be found only through Power Edge Pro. Key to the success of PEP is the fact that the players have the puck on their sticks through the entire training session, which helps develop elite skating and superior stick and puck control.

Using on-ice apparatus that only PEP has, PEP is a progressive training system with unique skating patterns that produce results in such skills as speed, acceleration, balance, agility and quickness.

Scott Smith is the Edmonton-area trainer of the Power Edge Pro system. He says most coaches don’t have the time or the ability to teach the skills, as so much of precious practice time is taken up on practicing game skills. This is where PEP comes in, with its unique equipment.

In the PEP system, multiple PEP training apparatus are placed on the ice in a variety of different positions, depending on the skill being taught. Players work on challenging skills patterns to stimulate decision-making and creativity. The PEP tools are like imaginary

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“You can just see it in their eyes,” he says. “If they make a mistake, they say ‘no, just one more’.”

While Smith says most kids hate power skating lessons, the PEP system incorporates elements of power skating, but in a fun way.

“There are some drills where kids have to jump and if they don’t land on their proper edges, they fall. In time, they subliminally learn the correct way to land. It’s more fun for them, and more challenging.”

Stick handling, puck control, edge control and conditioning are all part and parcel of the PEP sessions. And it’s a workout — kids are exhausted, but happy, by the end o a session, Smith says.

Over the years of coaching, he’s heard countless times from kids complaining about practice and asking when it’s going to end — after 10 minutes! But with Power Edge Pro, Smith says the kids just want to keep going.

There’s the element of challenge and progression in every drill that keeps the kids interested.

“It’s kind of like a video game, where they’re trying to get to the next level.”

How much do kids love the Power Edge Pro System? Smith offers up a letter from a parent who attended one of his camps in August: “He absolutely loved it!!! He asked me last night if you are running camps in the fall, he even offered to pay for it himself from his savings. He said it was challenging, but fun and encouraging, because he noticed improvements with each session.

As parents and spectators, we noticed his improvements in his skating, puck handling and confidence in the game.”

Players who hope to take their game to the next level should also be aware that the International Scouting Service is using Power Edge Pro techniques for its on-ice development.

“The program will play a huge roll as kids approaching their bantam draft years will find this development beneficial,” says Smith. “PEP will be used in future combines coming to Edmonton and throughout Canada as the on-ice technical portion of the combines for the evaluations of the prospects.”

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780-458-9611 780-459-9690

Sherwood Park 15. 150, 410 Baseline Rd.780-417-6600 16. 198 Ordze Ave. 780-467-3924

Spruce Grove 17. 120 St. Matthews Ave.780-962-4757

Leduc 18. 6211 - 50 St.

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780-986-6887

ARENA LOCATOR 1. Knights of Columbus Arena 13160 - 137 Ave. 2. Bill Hunter Arena 9200 - 163 St. 3. Callingwood Rec. Centre 17740 - 69 Ave. 4. Castledowns Rec. Centre 11520 - 153 Ave. 5. Clareview Rec. Centre 3804 - 139 Ave. 6. Confederation Arena 11204 - 43 Ave. 7. Coronation Arena 13500 - 112 Ave. 8. Crestwood Arena 9940 - 147 St. 9. Donnan Arena 9105 - 80 Ave. 10. Glengarry Arena 13340 - 85 St. 11. Grand Trunk Arena 13025 - 112 St. 12. Kenilworth Arena 8313 - 68A St. 13. Kinsmen Arena 1979 - 111 St. 14. Londonderry Arena 14520 - 66 St.

15. Michael Cameron Arena 10404 - 56 St. 16. MillWoods Rec. Centre 7207 - 28 Ave. 17. Oliver Arena 10335 - 119 St. 18. Russ Barnes Arena 6725 - 121 Ave. 19. George S. Hughes South Side Arena 10525 - 72 Ave. 20. Tipton Arena 10828 - 80 Ave. 21. Westwood Arena 12040 - 97 St. 22. Canadian Athletic Hockey Arena 14640 - 142 St. 23. Terwillegar Community Rec. Centre 20151 Leger Rd.

EMHA / HOCKEY EDMONTON HEADQUARTERS 10618 - 124 Street 780-413-3498

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In the macho world of hockey, being knocked silly used to be called ‘having your bell rung’, and was just considered a part of the game. Players were expected to shake off the cobwebs, and get back on the ice on the next shift.

While that attitude still has some followers — perhaps mostly among the players, who don’t want to miss any ice time — the days of treating concussions as a minor injury are over.

There may still be some confusion among players and parents of players about what constitutes a concussion. After all, it is an invisible injury that doesn’t show up up on x-rays or MRIs. Here is an FAQ about concussions, with information coming from the ThinkFirst Foundation, a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing head and spinal cord injuries.

All right, here’s the tough one: how can you tell if you’ve had a concussion?

There are multiple symptoms of concussions. First, it’s important to know that you don’t have to experience a loss of consciousness to have suffered a concussion. Second, symptoms may appear right away, or they may appear later. Not every concussion has the same symptoms, but certain combinations of symptoms typically occur.

Here are typical symptoms of a concussion:

Signs of a concussion include inappropriate behavior, decrease work/play ability, inability to perform daily activities, memory disfunction, sleep disturbance, vacant stare and poor balance.

Proper diagnosis of a concussion is the job of a medical professional, which is why if you suspect a concussion, see a doctor.

What is a concussion?

When can I get back to playing?

A concussion is a brain injury, most often caused by a direct or indirect hit to the head or body. This causes a change in brain function, which results in a variety of symptoms.

A concussed person should be removed from activity immediately and should be assessed by a medical doctor. Given that symptoms may worsen later that night and the next day, you should not return to play or practice until you have been a doctor. Once the concussion has been diagnosed, it is important to let the injury heal. Don’t rush your return to the ice. Most concussions heal uneventfully, but if you get back to the game before you are fully healed, it could set back your recovery (just ask Sidney Crosby). Concussions can result in permanent damage and seriously affect your quality of life. Brains, just like tendons and muscles, take time to heal. Let it do its job.

What happens in a concussion?

Simply put, the brain gets rattled. It might move inside the skull, and bump up against the bony surface of the skull. Brains weren’t made to be moved.

Is someone who has had a concussion more vulnerable to having another?

Yes, at least in the minutes or days after a concussion, when brain cells are vulnerable. This is why it is so important not to return to normal activity until your concussion has healed.

If I suspect my son or daughter may have suffered a concussion, should I just let them rest?

This is no time to play doctor. Seek medical advice immediately upon receiving a blow to the head or body that results in signs or symptoms of a concussion. Concussion symptoms may worsen during the day, so it’s vital to seek medical attention.

What should I do it I think I’ve had a concussion?

Tell someone — parents, friends, fellow players — if you think you might have been concussed. Do not return to the ice until you get medical attention.

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By Rob Suggitt

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Summit Series, a series between Canada and the Soviet Union, which took place in September 1972.

For those old enough to remember, it was a monumental and memorable series, and most people still recall exactly where they were when the deciding game took place on September 28, 1972.

The series was more than just a hockey tournament. For many people, it was our system against theirs. The Soviets were considered the “evil empire,” and the Cold War was at its peak.

Canada, and other democratic nations around the world, viewed the Soviets as a threat to world peace, a communist country who was building up an arsenal of nuclear weapons, which was leading the world closer and closer to global warfare.

At the same time, the Soviet Union was considered by hockey fans outside of North America as the best in the world at ice hockey.

Leading up to the 1972 series, the Soviets won the World Ice Hockey Championships nine of the previous 10 years, and with the exception of U.S.’s gold medal in 1960, they captured the gold medal in each of the Winter Olympic Games from 1956 – 1972.

No matter that Canada’s best players were not allowed to play in these “amateur” events, there was uncertainty about which nation was the best in the world at ice hockey. It was time to put “our” best against their best to prove which hockey nation was supreme – Canada or the Soviet Union.

It was decided that an 8-game series would take place, four games held in Canada, and four games held in the Soviet Union.

Most media sources and pundits predicted an 8-game sweep for Canada. It was pros vs. amateurs after all, or so they thought.

The first game was held in Montreal, and Canada jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the game. The rout was on! Or was it? The Soviets rebounded to win the first game by a score of 7-3. Canadian fans were shocked, as surely the players were, with this result.

Canada redeemed itself, winning game two (in Toronto) by a score of 4-1. Game three (held in Winnipeg) ended in a 4-4 tie.

Canada lost game four by a score of 5-3, but the most memorable part of this game was the booing the Vancouver fans gave to the Canadian side. After the game, Phil Esposito delivered a passionate speech (he was interviewed by CBC’s Johnny Essaw), and delivered these famous words, “For the people across Canada, we tried. We

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gave it our best. For the people who booed us, jeez, all of us guys are really disheartened and we’re disillusioned and we’re disappointed in some of the people. We cannot believe the bad press we’ve got, the booing we’ve gotten in our own buildings.”

Esposito went on to say more, but his message was clearly sent, and fans were moved by his passion.

With a 15 day break between games four and five, the Canadians had lots of time to prepare themselves (and acclimatize) for the next four games held on Soviet soil, all in Moscow.

Three thousand Canadian fans made the trek (some who made the decision after hearing Phil Esposito’s inspiring speech), turning Moscow’s Luzhniki’s Palace of Sports into a bit of a home team barn for the Canadian team. The Canadian fans were definitely louder than the roughly 12,000 Soviet fans who attended all four games.

Early in game five, the series seemed to be turning towards the Canadians’ favour.

Canada led 3-0 heading into the third, but the Soviets scored five times in the third period, beating the Canadian side 5-4.

Canada now needed to win the next three games (no ties) to win the series.

Canada won games six and seven by one goal (4-3 and 3-2), so it came down to Game 8.

Heading into Game 8, Canada was abuzz. While some fans watched the earlier games live (noon eastern time starts), most people watched the Moscow games on tape-delay when they got home from work or school that day.

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For Game 8, Canadians only wanted to watch the game live. With the time zone difference, they either took time off work to watch the game, or for kids in school, they watched the game on a black-and-white t.v. set brought into the classroom.

And what a game! The Soviet team scored first, but the Canadian team responded.

The Soviets scored again, and once again, Canada tied it up. It was 2-2 after one period.

The Soviets jumped out to another lead, but Canada tied the game 3-3. The Soviets then scored twice, and led 5-3 at the end of the second period.

The Canadian team knew they needed to score early in the third period, and they did exactly that. Phil Esposito scored around the two minute mark to make it a 5-4 deficit, and Yvan Cournoyer scored with seven minutes left in the third period to tie the game 5-5.

The action was intense. And things intensified further when Soviet officials announced that if the game ended in a tie, the Soviets would be considered the victors because they scored more goals than the Canadians in the tournament.

Canada needed to win! A tie was not an option. For the next six minutes, Canada pushed hard for the victory. With a minute left in the game, Paul Henderson did something he had never done before

“Phil Esposito was the heart and soul of the Canadian team.”

TSN replayed the deciding game recently (Game 8), and left the tape intact, just as one would have watched the game 40 years ago, Including all of the technical difficulties and fluttering screens, etc. It was very interesting to see the speed of the game, (not bad really, but not like today obviously), the style of play, players time on ice, etc.

Most people remember that Canada won the series, and that Paul Henderson scored “the goal of the century,” but Phil Esposito was the heart and soul of the Canadian team. Esposito led the tournament with 13 points (seven goals and six assists), and in the deciding game, he played over 28 minutes, tallying two goals and two assists (including an assist on the game winner) in the deciding game.

Phil Esposito nearly missed out in being on the ice for 10 key minutes of the game. Early in the first period, J.P. Parise was given a game misconduct (for threatening an official with his stick), and he was also given a 10-minute misconduct. A player on the ice was supposed to serve the 10-minute misconduct and the referee selected Esposito to serve the penalty. Esposito actually refused to go to the penalty box and the referee let it go. (For those too young too remember, J.P. Parise is Zach Parise’s dad.)

In watching the game again, a lot of things stood out as interesting.

All the Russian players wore helmets. Only one Canadian player (Paul Henderson) wore a helmet.

There was only one offside face-off dot, which was just outside the blue-line in the middle of the ice.

There was advertising on the boards (there wasn’t in the NHL in 1972), and the ads featured North American companies such as Ford, CCM, etc.

Most people remember that Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe were not in Canada’s lineup, and while Howe was getting up in age, Orr and Hull were definitely in their prime. Orr missed due to injury, and Hull and Howe were deemed ineligible to play because they joined the upstart WHA.

(or ever since). He called a teammate off the ice. Henderson coaxed Peter Mahovlich to make the switch, and Henderson went on to score the most famous goal in Canadian hockey history.

Here’s how Hockey Hall of Fame announcer Foster Hewitt called the goal. “Here’s a shot. Henderson makes a wild stab for it and falls.

Here’s another shot. Right in front. They score! Henderson scores for Canada!”

In addition to Orr and Hull, there were a few other key players missing from Canada’s lineup, star defenseman J.C. Tremblay and Gerry Cheevers were also not allowed to play, because they signed to play in the WHA. Tremblay was a great puck-moving defenseman – his style would have been great for playing the Russians. And Cheevers was one of the top three goalies in the NHL. He just came off a Stanley Cup victory with the Bruins, and earlier in the 1971-72 season, he went 33 consecutive games without a loss, a record which still stands today.

Cheevers’ style of play was more suited to playing against a puckmoving team like the Soviets. Ken Dryden was more of a stand-up goalie and the Russians exploited this weakness. Canada’s other

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goalie, Tony Esposito, was a very good stand-up goaltender, but not as good as Cheevers.

While Tretiak was great in net for the Russians, it was not a goaltender’s series. Tretiak’s save percentage was .882, which is the same as Tony Esposito’s. Esposito and Dryden each played four games. While Dryden played the all-important Game Eight, his save percentage was a dismal .838 over the four games he played for Team Canada.

And what can you say about Henderson! Everyone knows that he scored the game winner in Game 8. But he also had the game winners in games 6 & 7. He almost had the game winner in game 5, but the Russians came back to win game 5 (they were down 3-0 after two periods) with four goals in the third period.

What a series!

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Look no further than the Hockey Edmonton Magazine • distributed in all Edmonton arenas • 10,000 copies printed per issue • targeted to hockey parents, fans, coaches, etc. (an ideal target market) Our next issue comes out in January (Minor Hockey Week Edition).

The booking deadline is November 30th, 2012 Please contact us at publisher@hockeymagazine.net for further details.

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HOCKEY AUDIENCE?

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By Rob Suggitt Photos provided by Jon Hagan

For this edition of the magazine, we selected Jonathan Kikuchi for our “Spotlight on an Official” feature. Jonathan is 17 years old, and is in his final year of high school at Ross Sheppard.

Jonathan starting officiating minor hockey four years ago, and In addition to being a hockey official, Jonathan also plays hockey, and is playing for the NWZ Thunder at the Tier one level. When not playing or officiating hockey, Jonathan’s other pastime is playing the piano.

What made you want to become a hockey official?

I wanted to become a hockey official to gain another perspective of the game. Growing up, I had a lot of respect for officials (even if it didn’t show at times), and I thought it would be interesting to see things their way.

How many games did you officiate last season?

Over one hundred games. (190 games if you count 3-on-3 Canwest Spring League.)

Approximately how many games do you plan on officiating this season?

Hopefully the same as last year, or maybe even a few more.

What level of hockey are you currently officiating?

I have been a linesman for midget-aged hockey, and have done twoman peewee games. This season, I am now doing up to Midget REM AA and Bantam AA as a linesman, and Bantam tier 6 or so for the two-man system. (Calling lines and penalties.)

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Recognizing that officials do not get paid for officiating during Minor Hockey Week, what makes you volunteer your time in this manner?

Growing up, I remember playing in Minor Hockey Week myself, so in a way, it’s like giving back to a tournament and sport that I have enjoyed for many years. Minor Hockey Week also presents a challenge to many officials, including myself, as games can get quite competitive. Having experienced officiating in such high pressure situations is invaluable.

What do you enjoy most about officiating hockey games?

Every game is different, and as an official, I have to adapt to the game. No two games are exactly the same, and I am constantly learning. Officiating always challenges me to be at my best, and I enjoy that aspect of it.

What kind of training were you provided?

At the beginning of a season, officials must attend a course to learn and review the rules. The courses are taught by higher level, experienced officials. We go through different scenarios, and how we should react in certain situations. The course is followed by an exam, where a certain percentage is required to obtain a certain level for officiating.

Do you have a role model or mentor who has helped you along the way?

There are countless individuals who have helped me along the way, but if I had to name one, Duncan MacDougall has, without a doubt, assisted me greatly. He is the Referee in Chief for Northwest Zone, and a great mentor to his officials. He commits a huge amount of his time and effort to help officials such as myself, and it is greatly

appreciated. I’m sure many people will agree with me when I say that he has made great contributions to the refereeing program, to the game of hockey, and to the lives of many officials.

How have you improved your skills as an official?

Observing other officials always helps, as you pick up on things that are harder to learn in a classroom setting. Doing so also allows you to understand how you should react in certain situations. Supervisions from senior officials also help, as it allows you to recognize details in your officiating that you look over. Finally, I learn from my mistakes. I do make mistakes while officiating, and while it’s often impossible to take back what is done, mistakes allow me to learn for the next time the same situation arises.

What is the toughest part about being a referee?

Hockey is a fast game, and as an official, there is often only fractions of a second to make the right decision, or the right call. Being under pressure and having to make game-changing split-second decisions challenges me as an official.

How do you handle criticism on the ice?

I try to take it as an assessment, and figure out why I am being criticized. Many people have a reason for criticizing officials, whether their reasons are valid or not.

Do you have comments you wish to share with parents, coaches or anyone watching minor hockey?

As officials, we try our best to make the right calls. However, we are not perfect, and we do make mistakes. As we gain experience, we learn from our mistakes, and your patience and understanding is appreciated.

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CHECKING FROM BEHIND

If a player pushes, body-checks or cross-checks an opponent from behind, a checking from behind penalty may be called. It’s a game misconduct (ejection), coupled with a two-minute or fiveminute penalty, depending on the severity of the offense. The referee’s signal is a forward motion of both arms, with the palms of the hands opened and facing away from the body, fully extending from the chest at shoulder level.

BOARDING If a player is checked into the boards in a violent manner, then the ref may call a boarding pen pen-alty. A two-minute penalty will be assessed for boarding, and in situations where the offense is more serious (when a player is vulnerable, etc.), a five-minute major penalty and game ejection may be called.

BODY-CHECKING Body-checking is not allowed until the peewee level in Hockey Edmonton. Delivering a body-check in the lower divisions will result in a twominute penalty being assessed.

BUTT-ENDING If a player jabs (or attempts to jab) another player with the shaft of the stick above the upper hand, a butt-ending penalty may be called.

The referee holds one forearm over the other; the lower is moved back and forth, across the body.

CHARGING If a player takes more than two steps or strides, or jumps into an opponent when body-checking, a charging infraction may be called. The referee signals by rotating clenched fists around each other in front of the chest. Since body-checking isn’t allowed until the pee wee level, you will rarely see this called in the first few years.

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CHECKING TO THE HEAD

A minor and misconduct penalty, or a major and game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the referee, based on the degree of violence of impact, shall be assessed to any player who checks an opponent to the head area in any manner. A match penalty could also be assessed under this rule. If a player is injured, a major and game misconduct penalty, or a match penalty must be assessed.

CROSS-CHECKING When a player uses the shaft of his stick, held between the hands, to check an opponent at any height. The referee signals with a forward and backward motion of the arms with both fists clenched and about a foot apart. (This signal imitates the action of a cross-check.)

ELBOWING This is when a player is checking an opponent with his elbow. The referee signals by tapping either elbow with the opposite hand.

HIGH-STICKING This occurs when checking an opponent with the stick above the normal height of the shoulders, either purposely or accidentally. A more severe penalty may be called for flagrant high-sticking fouls, including ejection from the game. The referee signals this call by clenching both fists and mimicking a player holding a stick above their shoulders.

HOLDING This is called when a player grabs an opponent’s body or stick with the hands. The referee mo mo-tions this call by grabbing either wrist with the opposite hand in front of his body.

HOOKING This is called when a player slows down an op opponent by hooking his stick on any part of the opponent’s body or stick. The referee signals this call with a tugging motion with both arms.

INTERFERENCE This penalty is called when a player impedes the progress of an opponent who doesn’t have the puck. The referee signals this call by crossing his arms in front of the chest.

KNEEING If a player uses his knee (or sticks his knee out) to take down or check an opponent, the referee may call a kneeing penalty. If the infraction is of a more serious nature, the referee may consider this a major penalty (and a game misconduct) instead of a minor penalty (two minutes).

MISCONDUCT

This penalty may be called when a player exhibits extreme and inappropriate behaviour toward another player or a game official. Depending on the severity of the offense, the player may be given a 10-minute misconduct or game misconduct penalty. It is also a game misconduct when a player checks another player from behind. With the exception of checking from behind, the penalized team does not play shorthanded.

ROUGHING This penalty may be called when a player uses his arms or fists to hit or punch another player. The signal for this call is a clenched fist and arm extended out to the front or side of the body.

SLASHING This penalty is called when a player deliberately hits an opponent with his stick. The signal for this call is a chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm.

SPEARING Spearing occurs when a player thrusts or jabs the blade of his stick at an opponent. Players are usually ejected from the game for spearing. The signal for this call is a jabbing motion with both hands thrusting out in front of the body.

TRIPPING This penalty may be called when a player uses his stick or any body part to trip the puck carrier. If the player touches the puck prior to contact with the player, there is usually no penalty called. The referee signals this call by striking their leg with either hand below the knee (usually bending down to do so), keeping both skates on the ice.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT This penalty may be called when a player exhibits poor sportsmanship or inappropri inappropriate behaviour on the ice.

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