SportsXpress KW & Stratford Nov/Dec 2016

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Sports Connection

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Kitchener Minor Hockey A program on the rise

Bring on the 2021 Summer Games!

Schedule P. 11

to Join Grand River Soccer Club!

If you love soccer and want to be part of the game, become a referee today!

Referees have the opportunity to get right in the game, earn some extra money and become a positive impact on our players!

To become a referee, contact Derrick Farwell 2

derrick@grandriversoccer.com

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KW & Stratford

Ten reasons we love speed skating — and you will too!

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Woolwich • Wilmot • Wellesley

NOV/DEC 2016 KW & Stratford Edition

Submitted by Kelly Schmidtke, Marketing and Communication Director at KW Sertoma Speed Skating Club

thelineup

20 | Kitchener Minor Hockey: A program on the rise

sportsfiles People love speed skating for different reasons. Here are just a few reasons to try it out with us.

1.Family members can join the club and spend time together.

2. It’s a great workout.

3. Speed skating is a sport that people of all ages can enjoy.

4. It provides the best of an individual sport within a team atmosphere.

5. The KW club enjoys highlevel coaching in a supportive environment.

6. There’s always something more to learn and improve on.

7. The social atmosphere on and around the rink is hard to beat.

8. The KW club supports athletes at every stage, from beginner to highly competitive to those who just want an active lifestyle. Not many sports provide such a wide range of participation.

9. It’s fun and it’s fast!

10. Where else can you skate with your friends at 30 kilometres per hour?

Entertaining, informative and engaging articles on local athletes, sports and teams.

Interested in trying out this fantastic sport?

Great news! Our popular Learn to Speed Skate program will run again for four consecutive Saturdays starting January 21 and running until February 11. Speed skate rental is included in the program fee. No experience is necessary — what a great deal to try out a sport we know you will love as much as we do!

For more information and forms, visit www.kwspeedskating.com and select “Learn to Speed Skate” from our Registrations menu. Make sure to follow us on Twitter (@kwspeedskates) and Instagram (@kwspeedskates) to keep up to date on our winter session and much more.

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Ten reasons we loved speed skating - and you will too!

Bring on the Summer Games!

Dhane Smith and Leah Robinson 2015 Athlete of the Year nominees KW athletes enjoyed the Children’s International Games in Taiwan Meet the Wilmot Aquatic ACES Province recognizes four KW Synchro swimmers Rangers and fans support Children’s Wish Skills Plus Hockey KSA: We thank the local community Hockey Helps the Homeless

health&fitness

Informative articles on sports health & fitness.

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Adults are staying active and healthy well into their senior years Meet Dr. Burton from Glasgow Orthodontics

teamprofiles

Profiling community sports in words and photographs.

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News from KW Youth Basketball The KW Gymnastics Club ROW celebrating 40 years of great swimming Introducing the 2016/17 Minor Bantam AA/A Waterloo Wolves

Contact Erin Kummer • info@inlinek9s.com • 519-212-7994 • www.inlinek9s.com

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sportsnews

KW & Stratford

Bring on the Summer Games!

Submitted by Paul Lalonde, a member of the Waterloo Region Bid Committee Local committee aims to bring the 2021 Canada Summer Games to Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. Sherry Doiron is the Manager for the Regional Sport Tourism Office for Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph.

What do boxer Lennox Lewis, distance runner Reid Coolsaet and swimmer Alexander Elliott have in common?

Yes, they’re all local heroes in the Waterloo Region and Guelph areas for rising to the top of their sports and competing for Canada at the Olympics and Paralympic Games.

But they share something else in common — along the way each competed in the Canada Summer Games, our own Canadian version of the Olympics.

The Canada Games take place every four years with the summer and winter events alternating at two-year intervals.

The 2017 summer games will be held in Winnipeg, while in 2019 the winter games will be held in Red Deer, Alberta.

The next rotation is Ontario’s turn, and a local committee is leading a bid involving a four-city partnership between Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph to bring the 2021 summer games to our region. If the bid is successful, young athletes from every province and territory will come here for 15 days of sport and celebration.

The bid process is already well underway. The organization running the games, the Canada Games Council, sent a technical review committee here in late August to inspect our sports venues and recreation complexes for competition and practice. During its one-day tour, the committee also assessed our non-sport venues for an athletes’ village, games pavilions, and

the opening and closing ceremonies.

How did we do?

“We passed the technical review,” explained Sherry Doiron, the bidcommittee manager. “The committee was really impressed by the depth of sport and non-sport venues we offer in this area.”

The 2015 Pan Am Games put a lot of communities near Toronto on the games map, but the committee was surprised when it travelled a little further down Highway 401 and discovered a strong culture of sport in this region.

If our local bid is accepted, our community will be on display for the entire country in 2021 as participants and supporters from every province and territory, along with the national media, will be focused on our part of the world.

Bring on the Summer Games!

Other communities bidding for the 2021 games are Ottawa, Niagara Region and Sudbury.

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Sports Connection

Woolwich • Wilmot • Wellesley

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Nov/Dec 2016 OWNERS Brad Eason

Brad@SportsXpress.ca 519-208-9302 ext. 837 Erin Kummer ErinK@SportsXpress.ca 519-208-9302 ext. 838

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sportsfiles

Dhane Smith and Leah Robinson 2015 Athlete of the Year nominees

Celebrating Excellence Since 1999

The Athlete of the Year Award The Athlete of the Year Award was launched in 1999 to recognize the tremendous accomplishments of local athletes from Kitchener, Waterloo and the Townships of Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. Some of the previous recipients of this prestigious award include Lennox Lewis, Scott Stevens, Sarah Pavan, Andrew Poje & Kaitlyn Weaver and Kelly Vanderbeek.

Dhane Smith Submitted by Ken Brooks This is the second publication in a series that profiles the 2015 Athlete of the Year nominees.

Dhane Smith Dhane Smith is a professional lacrosse player with the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League and also played on the Six Nations team. In 2015, Dhane had 39 goals and 68 assists in 18 games (107 points) with the Bandits

and 58 goals and 76 assists in 29 games (134 points) for Six Nations. His highlight of the year was playing in the World Championships for Team Canada and bringing home the gold medal! He was the youngest player on the team.

Leah Robinson

Track competitor Leah Robinson, at the age of 14, was the youngest member of Team Canada at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing where she finished tenth in the 400-metre and

Leah Robinson eleventh in the 100-metre. She notched another top-10 finish at the 2012 London Paralympics. In 2015, Leah had a sixth-place finish at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Qatar and won a bronze medal in the T37 200-metre and silver in the T38 400-metre at the Para Pan Am Games in Toronto. Leah finished 2015 with an IPC World ranking of eleventh place.

Congratulations to these nominees on an outstanding 2015. We look forward to following your continued success.

For a full history of this community event, please visit athleteoftheyear.ca

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sportsfiles

KW athletes enjoyed the Children’s International Games in Taiwan

The International Children’s Games (ICG) were founded in 1968

by Metod Klemenc, a Slovenian sports instructor, better known as the father of the games. His aim was to promote peace and friendship through sports, to the world’s youth.

In the past 50 years, the Summer Games have attracted over 45,000 participants, representing 450 cities in over 80 countries on five continents.The ICG events, (summer and winter), are considered to be the world’s largest gatherings of young

Submitted by Robbie Mulder

people taking part in sport.

In July 2016, the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo sent two delegations to the ICG Summer Games held in New Taipei City, Taiwan. KW’s participants included four Kitchener TopSpin able tennis athletes and their coach, KW Vipers basketball players (10 boys and 8 girls and their coaches) and four ROW swimmers and their coach.

Robbie Mulder and Kathy Stilwell served as the delegation heads.

We would like to thank our sponsor, JP Engineering Solutions Inc. for their support in our adventure to New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Kitchener/Waterloo delegation to New Taipei City, Taiwan 2016 Front row: Noran Hassan, Sam Orend, Patrick Ibrahim, Robbie Mulder, Matthew Berton, Mannat Sukhija and Carmen Read.

Middle row: Atilla Mosonyi, Michael Lu, John Tulipano, Carson Reid, Kyle Saunders, Marcus Umana, Marina Ilyas, Sarah Hopkins, Jordan Ham, Aliya Misheal, Devanshi Singh, Andrew Kuiper and Kathy Stilwell.

Back row: Marshall Barrick, Ryan Beach, Landon Atkinson, Joel Izere, Leonard Pataca, Matthew Buckley, Alexander Johnson, Savannah Meadus, Malak Dahawy, Kennedy Robinson, Susan Robinson and Laura Barroso.

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sportsfiles

Meet the Wilmot Aquatic ACES

Sponsored by GoldenEyes Optometry

Submitted by Joni Sanders The Wilmot Aquatic Aces Swim Club (WAAC) started as an independent team 24 years ago. The team prides itself on being a family inclusive group with swimmers of all ages and abilities. We have a Masters program for swimmers aged 18 and over who want to stay in shape, work on their swimming skills, continue training for Masters Swim meets or train for triathlons. Our Agegroup program has swimmers aged four and up.

In 2012, Michael Heath became our first Paralympian to represent Canada and Wilmot at the Paralympian Games (held in London).

Our Head Coach Joni Maerten – Sanders, has been with our team for 16 years but has been coaching for almost 30 years. Her son Kristopher, who swam for the ACES for ten years while also playing Junior B lacrosse and dancing competitively, is now also coaching with the team. Jackie Buehlow, Heather Bree Davies, Alex Buehlow, Jacob Isaac and Katie Cameron round out our staff.

The ACES (an acronym for A Competitive Edge in Swimming) have had several swimmers attempt to swim one of the Great Lakes. Samantha Whiteside had a

successful crossing of Lake Ontario in 2006 missing the world record by 71 seconds. In 2007 she attempted the crossing again and, although unsuccessful, both swims raised a large sum of money for the fight against Juvenile Arthritis. In 2009, a successful relay crossing by Jaime Doucet and Sarah Sine raised money and awareness for the MS Society of Canada. In 2013, after winning a gold medal at the Special Olympic Worlds, Alex Buehlow raised money for the charity Three to Be (for children with neurological disorders). His attempt ended less than five kilometres from

the finish when he was pulled from the water for hypothermia.

The ACES have had many medalists at the provincial level as well as national qualifiers. To give back to the community, we run pre-teen dances and a popular triathlon for children.

Check out our web pages for more information, www.acesswim.ca.

Dr. Alison Laidlaw and Associates, Optometrists We are a Sports Injury Prevention Centre Our Frames and Lenses are certified for safety 90% of serious eye injuries are preventable through the use of appropriate protective eyewear

1187 Fischer-Hallman Rd, Kitchener • www.goldeneyes.ca • 519.585.0777 • office@goldeneyes.ca Contact Erin Kummer • info@inlinek9s.com • 519-212-7994 • www.inlinek9s.com

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health&fitness

Adults are staying active and healthy well into their senior years Submitted by Jillian Fleming

Gone are the days when the newly retired stay home to bake cookies and take a nap in the La-Z-Boy. Adults, 55 and older, now compose the largest growth market for health and fitness activities.

Being active has a multitude of both physical and mental health benefits as well as social benefits. Meeting new people, making friends, and feeling good is important once the previous network of career and work colleagues is no longer there. Keeping active allows older adults to be independent longer and enjoy a higher quality of life. An active lifestyle also reduces the chance of dementia and depression.

Staying active allows older adults to enjoy all the activities of life such as playing with grandchildren, walking to

shops, meeting up with friends, and so on. Activity also prevents injuries. Falls, one of the leading causes of injuries and immobility in older adults, are less likely to occur if muscles stay strong through daily use.

Fortunately, for older adults today, there is wide selection of activities to choose from. The City of Waterloo offers numerous activities for all ages of adults, including those over 55. Some of the classes offered include Dance, Ballet Boot Camp, Low-impact Cardio Fitness, Mediation, Qi Gong, Yoga, and Zumba — all of which offer a wide range of intensity. For those adults who enjoy all the benefits of being in the water,

perhaps a water fitness or Aqua Cycle class fits the bill. Moreover, you’re never too old to learn to swim with Senior Learn to Swim or Senior Strokes & Skills.

Visit waterloo.ca/programguide to learn about all the classes the City of Waterloo offers — and get active today!

WE HAVE A FIT FOR EVERY BODY

WINTER REGISTRATION STARTS DECEMBER 7

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For schedules and information visit

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health&fitness

Meet Dr. Burton from Glasgow Orthodontics Submitted by Dr. Rano Burton

It is my goal to foster a strong doctorpatient relationship with each person who comes to Glasgow Orthodontics.

I feel it is a privilege to be able to enrich someone’s life by helping to create a beautiful smile and ensure the person has a proper, functional bite. Orthodontics is the perfect mix of art and science, and I enjoy creating a balance between the teeth and the face, all while helping to craft a person’s unique signature smile. I pride myself on providing individualized personal care in which I see every patient at every appointment. It is both challenging and rewarding to be a part of this process.

Educated and continuing education I received my dental degree from the University of Liverpool in 1991 and my Master of Science and diploma in orthodontics from the University of Manitoba in 1997.

My staff and I are committed to offering our patients the latest

technologies and advancements in orthodontic treatment. We attend continuing education courses, both locally and nationally, on topics ranging from cosmetic services and treatment modalities to CPR, infection control, and computer imaging, which allows us to provide the most efficient and effective care.

In addition to my private practice, I am also currently a professor at the University of Western Ontario, Department of Graduate Orthodontics in the Faculty of Dentistry. Being in this educational environment has allowed me not only to be exposed to current research in orthodontics, but to interact with other orthodontists to discuss treatment options and trends in dentistry and orthodontics as well.

This year I was asked to host a co-op student from Elmira District Secondary School. As education is a passion of mine I welcomed her into the practice and hope she suceeds in her goal to become a dental hygienist.

Professional affiliations • •

Canadian Association of Orthodontists Ontario Association of Orthodontists

• • • • • •

American Association of Orthodontists Toronto Orthodontic Study Club World Federation of Orthodontists Wellington Waterloo Dental Society Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, fellow Royal College of Dentists of Canada

Outside the office I was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, and now reside in Waterloo, where I am enjoying getting to know the community and all that it has to offer. Originating from the north, I enjoy many outdoor pursuits, such as skiing, snowshoeing, and skating.

Volunteer work is close to my heart and I am dedicated to raising funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Princess Margaret Foundation. In fact, this summer I will be participating in my second 200km Ride for the Cure!

Glasgow Orthodontics is now a proud sponsor forThe Kitchener Junior Rangers Minor Atom MD Red Hockey Team, The Kitchener Spirit U14/U15 Girls Soccer Team and the Kitchener Elite Academy U12/U13 Boys Soccer Team and the AAA Waterloo Wolves Minor Atom Team. We are also proud supporters of the ParentChild Guide Book.

Glasgow Orthodontics is your trusted and experienced orthodontic practice, serving the Waterloo Region. Dr. Rano Burton and her team care about your health and happiness, and want you to have a wonderful orthodontic experience.

Smile with CONFIDENCE! We’re commited to giving you the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve!

65 Glasgow Street, Kitchener, ON N2G 2G8 • (519) 749 9713 • info@glasgoworthodontics.ca Contact Erin Kummer • info@inlinek9s.com • 519-212-7994 • www.inlinek9s.com

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teamprofiles

News from KW Youth Basketball Submitted by Mike Quigley, Executive Administrator of Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Basketball Association a strong fourth place D1 finish in 2015. Sam is now studying business at the University of Ottawa.

KW YBA’s connections to the KW Titans

grant of $3,000 on top of Waterloo’s regular grant to the association as an accredited minor sports club.

The KW Youth Basketball Association would like to send out thanks to two big donors as this 2016/17 season gets underway.

KW YBA scholarship goes to Sam Sutherland

Tepperman’s new store in Kitchener graciously donated $5,000 as part of the company’s “giving back to the community” program. This award, accepted by the YBA President, John Illingworth, helped to defray the costs of starting up the Viper Girls program.

The City of Waterloo also helped those costs by donating a one-time

KW YBA is proud to award its 2015/16 scholarship to Sam Sutherland. Sam led his Viper team for the past six years from his point guard position and helped the team develop from Division 5 to Division 1. Along the way, Sam had a big hand in bringing home a U16 Major Midget D1 silver medal in 2011/12 and

Group Training Personalized In-Home Training

The KW Youth Basketball Association has very close links to the area’s new professional basketball team, the KW Titans. Not only will there be a link through the community outreach program, but two of the team’s coaching staff also have ties with the YBA and its programs.

Mike Quigley, the YBA’s Executive Administrator, has accepted the position of lead assistant coach with the team. As such, he will have a hand in the on court development of this brand new franchise in the National Basketball League of Canada.

Kyle Deep, a member of the YBA Executive Board in the role of Director of Coaching Development, has also accepted a position as one of the other assistant coaches of the team.

Check our website, www.kwyba.com, for all upcoming events. If you are interested in volunteering at any level, please email us with your interest.

It’s easy to love a good dog!

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New sessions starting in September, January and May.

Free assessment for new players joining our club.

YEAR ROUND TENNIS SERVING THE KITCHENER, CAMBRIDGE, WATERLOO COMMUNITY 401 New Dundee Road, Kitchener

A D U LT PROGRAMS BEGINNER I N T E R M E D I AT E A D VA N C E D LADDERS TO U R N A M E N T S CARDIO TENNIS

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519-896-7070

Meet our Tennis Director

The GSM Tennis Club is excited and proud to welcome Eduard (Eddie) Miron to the family.

Eddie brings with him a very extensive career in tennis both playing and teaching.

Eddie was a full time student and player at the prestigious Bollettieri Sports Academy from 1991 to 1994 and later moved to Italy where he started coaching. He worked with several ITF, WTA and national selection athletes during his 18-year coaching experience. His certifications and education include: Bachelor Degree in Physical Education & Sports ITF Certified Level 3 by the Italian Federation Tennis Canada Coach 3

JUNIOR PROGRAMS MINI TENNIS PROGRESSIVE R E C R E AT I O N A L COMPETITIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE ELITE TENNIS CONDITIONING

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ITF Tennis Conditioning Coach P.T.R Professional in Adult Development P.T.R. Professional in Performance Cardio Tennis Certified Coach I.F.S.W.A. Master Personal Trainer Eddie is supported on the court by Sandra Dynka, a certified Tennis Canada Coach 2 with a BSc in Exercise Sports Science with a major in Nutrition. Sandra currently plays on the WTA Tour dividing her time between training at GSM and transferring her valuable knowledge to our kids and adults that she coaches.

GSM Tennis Is situated inside the C.O.R.E. Lifestyle and Recreation Complex a state-ofthe-art 65,000 square feet indoor facility and 3 acres of outdoor program space. The C.O.R.E. programs include: soccer, volleyball, wrestling, football, lacrosse, rugby, disc sports, obstacle course, beach volleyball and more programs under development.

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teamprofiles

The KW Gymnastics Club Submitted by Kellie Hinnells, KWGC Executive Director at Kitchener Waterloo Gymnastics Club

Who we are From its humble beginnings in a school gymnasium over five decades ago to its current facility, KW Gymnastics has been a leader in the Kitchener-Waterloo community.

Located in the Victoria Hills area, KW Gymnastics is a not-for-profit organization, offering a variety of quality classes for extremely competitive prices.

Established in 1965, KW Gymnastics has been servicing the community for 50 years. Under the guidance of knowledgeable coaching and administrative staff, the gymnastics club has successfully produced quality athletes, promoting the success of all individuals both inside and outside of the gym.

Our mission is to provide enhanced opportunities for all gymnasts to reach their maximum potential through innovative and quality programs.

From parent and tot classes to adult sessions, and recreational opportunities to competitive programs, KW Gymnastics is a gym like no other.

Under the leadership of our staff and with the support of our members, KW

Gymnastics continues to grow.

The club is managed by a volunteer board of directors and experienced gymnastics professionals. It is affilated with Gymnastics Ontario, Gymnastics Canada and locally with the City of Kitchener’s Department of Community Services and the City of Waterloo’s Recreation and Leisure Services.

Our programs help children achieve the physical fitness goals set in the Canadian Physical Activities Guidelines.

We offer the vigorous-intensity activities children need to strengthen muscle and bone and improve general health in a safe, fun and friendly environment.

Our mission The reason we exist is to provide enhanced opportunities for all gymnasts to reach their maximum potential through innovative and quality programs.

Our core values We believe in sport, quality, excellence, safety, respect, integrity and community. We strive to include these values in every practice.

Our vision Our vision is to be a leader in the gymnastics community as well as in our society. We want to achieve this through excellence and innovation in the policies we follow.

Our goals 1. Provide safe, innovative programs promoting excellence at all levels 2. Promote a healthy and active lifestyle through gymnastics 3. Strengthen and grow our membership base 4. Continually increase community interaction 5. Recruit, develop and retain excellent coaches 6. Maximize technique and technology to enhance programs 7. Optimize facilities and operations for effective program delivery 8. Maintain ongoing and effective communication with our community 9. Position KW Gymnastics Club as a premier gymnastics organization 10. Develop a recognized brand for KW Gymnastics Club

For more information about KW Gymnastics, please visit www.kwgymnastics.ca

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KWMBSA WOULD LIKE TO THANK HALLMAN CONSTRUCTION JIM HALLMAN AND FAMILY FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO OUR REP TRAVEL TEAMS AND FASTBALL IN THE KW AREA

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teamprofiles

ROW celebrating 40 years of great swimming Submitted by Dave Reibel

Since its inception in 1976, the Region of Waterloo Swim Club (ROW) has had an impressive roster of exceptional swimmers — those who stand out making national swim teams, setting Canadian records and, of course, hitting the highest mark in all sport, the Olympics and Paralympics.

Here at ROW, we have had 12 swimmers participate in the Olympics and Paralympics swimming events. They all have spent countless hours in our pool at Wilfrid Laurier University and trained

with some of the best coaches this sport has to offer including Cliff Barry, Bud McAllister, and Dean Boles. As an organization, we are very proud of our swimmers and coaches for all of their dedication and accomplishments.

To celebrate, the club held the “ROW 40th Anniversary Gala – Honouring Greatness” at the Tannery in Kitchener on Saturday November 5, 2016. A highlight of the evening was the induction of swimmers Laura Nicholls and Jennifer Button along with Coach Dean Boles into the ROW Hall of Fame.

Laura Nicholls competed at two Olympics, in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000, where she competed with ROW teammate Jennifer Button.

ROW coach Dean Boles was with Laura and Jennifer in Sydney and since

that time he has moved on to other coaching opportunities with Swim Ontario and, in 2015, became the national coach for Denmark. The trio joined previous Hall of Fame inductees Victor Davis, Mike West and Coach Clifford Barry in this very elite and prestigious honour within our club.

ROW not only produces great swimmers — we develop great people!

If you have a swimmer, age 5 or older, looking to get into competitive swimming please check out our website at www.rowswimming.ca.

If you are not sure if competitive swimming is right for your child, we offer free skills assessments and a variety training groups to meet the needs of young beginners up to the elite Olympic level swimmer.

ROW has developed swimmers from age five through to adult since 1976. From stroke development and fitness to world competition, ROW swimmers have represented Canada with medal performances at the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and World Cups, as well as representing the community at the International Children’s Games, provincial and regional championships, and local meets. If you, or your kids, are interested in competitive swimming and would like to join ROW, please visit www.rowswimming.ca for more information.

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Show Ur Love Tournament • Feb 25 at Brantford SportsXcelerator • Register your team at www.playpuresports.com

sportsfiles

Province recognizes four KW Synchro swimmers Submitted by John Ortiz, Head Coach KW Synchro

Four KW Synchronized Swim Club athletes have been identified in Ontario’s Learn to Train program. The program is designed using the Long Term Athlete Development model, a scientific approach to training. KW Synchro has had a history of producing strong skilled athletes representing our community in local, national and international competition.

Nadia Crits, Danica Penner, Taylor Murphy and Brin Aston’s participation allows the program to target their training over the next year with a group of experts in fields of dance, swimming, strength and conditioning, flexibility, goal setting and synchro specifics.

Their goal is to have stellar results by the end of their season showing progress from September through June. These are four of the next generation of athletes that will represent our KW community for Canada at international competitions.

They first have to get through some simple land skills that require mental focus and proper form. An example for parents to try at home: lie on your back in a hollow body position and rock back and forth 100 times.

Skills that synchronized swimmers require include: • Flexibility of the shoulders, back, legs (splits), wrist and ankles 

• • • •

Speed work, especially of the legs Breath control  Swim a 400-meter IM  Ability to lift their own body weight and those of others out of the water • Ability to count music  • ... And much more!

To learn more about KW Synchro, join their recreational program that runs January through April (2017). You can also see them at their annual Winter Showcase held on December 11, 2016 at the Waterloo Swimplex at 4:30 p.m.

For more information, visit their website at www.kwsynchro.on.ca.

sportsfiles

Rangers and fans support Children’s Wish Submitted by Anne Boehm

Each year, the Kitchener Rangers hold their annual “Fan Fest & Barbecue” and donate the proceeds to the local chapter of Children’s Wish. (The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada grants wishes to children between the ages of three to seventeen, suffering from life threatening illnesses.)

This year’s event, held Sunday September 4 at the Kitchener Auditorium, combined with a generous

top-up from the Rangers Organization, raised $11,141. The cheque was presented at a pre-game centre-ice ceremony on Friday Nov 3 by Shawn McKelvie, First Vice President of the Kitchener Rangers. Accepting the cheque were Anne Boehm (Children’s Wish), Amalia (age 6, whose wish to meet Mickey Mouse at Disneyworld in Florida was made possible through donations from the local community) and Isabela (age 11, Amalia’s Sister).

Contact Erin Kummer • info@inlinek9s.com • 519-212-7994 • www.inlinek9s.com

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teamprofiles

Introducing the 2016/17 Minor Bantam AA/A Waterloo Wolves Written by Trudi O’Malley, Submitted by Mike Nicoll For this group of dedicated 13-yearold boys, the hard work began in August. The Wolves’ season is now in full swing as they’ve already played most of the teams in their loop.

The Wolves practice on the ice twice every week and attend one off-ice, strength and conditioning session per week. Two weekend games, against teams as close as Kitchener and as far away as Sarnia, fill out the schedule. Because the players spend so much time together, it was important for the team to bond and get to know each other right away. They spent a fantastic, full day together in mid-September at the ALTITUDE program at McMaster University. Rope courses, trust exercises, workouts, and the tower climb (to name a few) got the players working together, laughing and sharing. At the end of the day, the players confirmed their commitment to the team and enjoyed a bonfire and, of course, snacks.

There are some new names on the roster this year and new faces behind the bench, too. Head Coach Mike Nicoll brings with him a strong commitment to the values of accountability, sportsman-ship, and teamwork. His focus throughout the season includes celebrating work ethic, developing individual and team skills, and creating a first-class learning environment, both on and off the ice. He has just the right people to help him with these goals, too. Rounding out the staff are assistant coaches Tyler Bracken and Adam DeAbreu, trainer Trish Adams, goalie coaches Craig Lizun and Vinny Merante, and dryland coach Mike Hendricks.

They are all volunteering their time to make the players better.

Each member of this spirited group brings something special and unique to the team. In a league of worthy oppo-

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Sponsored by Eurofit

nents, the Wolves know that they need to work hard, take it one game at a time, and respect the teamfirst mentality. In addition to its regular season games, the team is registered to play in five tournaments. The boys are especially looking forward to the Nations Cup in Detroit, Michigan where they will represent Canada against some strong US teams.

With a solid plan in place and a huge support system behind them, the Wolves are ready to learn, grow, and have the best season ever. Let’s go, Wolves!

The team’s roster The 2016/17 Minor Bantam AA/A Waterloo Wolves include: Connor Adams, Arthur Degutis, Liam Fabri, Ryan Hanson, Dominic Hemphill, Matt Hohendorn, Ethan Hunter, Brendan Labrie, Eric Lacey, Jacob O’Malley, Jasper Peterson, Nathan Quinn, Easton Schnarr, Misha Statsna, Kaden Washkurak, Dylan Baumann and Preston Young.

Show Ur Love Tournament • Feb 25 at Brantford SportsXcelerator • Register your team at www.playpuresports.com

Training your individual skills and tactics – The best way to become a leader on the ice!

Hockey Training Skills Tip

Individual Technical Skills — Executing a Forehand Saucer Pass Improving your forehand saucer pass to generate a consistent and accurate pass will make you more effective at playmaking. The objective is to consistently pass the puck with elevation through traffic (the other players on the ice). The elevation of the saucer pass (lifting the puck off the ice) makes it more difficult for your opponent to intercept the pass.

Efficient use of your arms, hands and hockey stick will optimize your release, accuracy, consistency, and execution.

Players should practice and understand the following fundamentals:

• Load Position: in the hockey position (knees bent, two hands on the stick body-width apart, upper body slightly leaning forward and shoulders broad), wrists and arms are flexed, puck is positioned on the stick near the heel of the blade

• Release Mechanics: the arms and wrists turnover whipping the stick through with a soft fluid movement.

The stick blade will open and close with the forward movement causing the puck to move from the heel to the toe of the stick

Get an Edge on Your Skills

#8

• The follow-through of the stick and arms will saucer the puck through the air and determine the direction of the pass: your arms and stick should be extended out towards the target you are aiming at.

A simple drill to practice these defensive skills with a friend:

Saucer Passing with a Partner • Partner up with another player and stand together in an open area of the ice without a puck (X1 and X2).

• X2 -start stationary about 10 metres from the boards, facing the boards

•

X1 - saucer pass the puck towards the boards over a low lying object (2 x 4 piece of wood or similar) placed halfway between you and the rink boards

Visit our website for more info and/or booking your program: www.skillsplushockey.com/shop/

Openings Still Available for Fall Programs. Check website for availability...

Drop in Options Available!

Book your winter program now!

• Winter Goalscoring/Goaltending • Winter Adult Noon Power Skills and Power Skating • Winter Children’s Power Skills and Power Skating

- the puck should land flat on the ice on the other side of the object

• Winter Poised Defensemen

- follow the pass by skating and jumping over the object, retrieve the puck and stop and face X2

• Winter Stick Handling and Puck Control

- saucer pass the puck back over the object towards X2’s stick, landing it flat on the ice before it gets to your partner

- skate back to your starting position, avoiding X2 who is now ready for his turn • X2 - take your turn performing the same movement Repeat the drill over and over – remember with lots of practice, you will be able to effectively execute this move under pressure in game situations!

Training in Waterloo Region Since 1998 www.skillsplushockey.com skillsplushockey@rogers.com 519-570-3617 • @skillsplushcky

Eric Calder - President BA & Diploma in Business Administration (WLU)

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In the moment video analysis

WaterlooSportsXpress.ca

Eric played professional hockey for 14 years. Among his career highlights is winning the Memorial Cup Championship, playing with the Washington Capitals in the NHL and being the MVP for the Canadian National Junior Team at the World Junior Championships. He is an NCCP High Performance II Certified Coach with over 20 years of professional coaching experience, lectures in the Theory of Coaching at Wilfrid Laurier University, coaches the Waterloo Midget AAA Wolves, leads the “First Shift” (Hockey Canada, Bauer Hockey and Canadian Tire Hockey Initiative Program) and is one of the most sought after instructors in Waterloo Region!

Contact Erin Kummer • info@inlinek9s.com • 519-212-7994 • www.inlinek9s.com

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teamprofiles

Kitchener Minor Hockey — a program on the rise Submitted by Rolland Cyr, KMHA General Manager

The Kitchener Minor Hockey Association (KMHA) has been around since 1932 helping to mold the current shape of hockey in our country.

Recently, KMHA has reinvested energy into the development of modern minor hockey with an approach that examines both the mental and physical aspects of the game.

The process began four years ago with the founding of KMHA’s development committee and a team approach to development. Stewarded

by Tom Graham and David Carr, the committee has implemented many program components that seek improvement and challenge KMHA to lead the hockey community.

These program changes began with the mental aspect. In partnership with Alliance Hockey, Kitchener was the first association to mandate that all of its Minor Peewee (and older) participants take part in an anti-bullying program that explores not only what is involved in bullying but also what is involved in being a great teammate and considerate, but competitive, opponent. This program ties in nicely with Hockey Canada’s Respect in Sport Initiative that requires a parent from every household to take an online

course on appropriate conduct. KMHA has also invested a large amount of resources in its coaches. KMHA is the number-one organization in the Alliance and, we believe, the Ontario Hockey Federation, for certified HP1level coaches and we continue to send coaches to these clinics. The HP1 coaches then come back and work with our house league and MD coaches to improve their coaching abilities. All of this mental preparation for players, parents and coaches is designed to lead to a better experience for the participants.

With respect to the physical changes, KMHA has increased the number of supplementary programs designed to improve the skills of our players. Five years ago, we added power skating and goalie sessions for all players in rep hockey below the Major Peewee age group. These sessions are designed to improve the core skills for the game of hockey. Since implementing these programs, KMHA has risen seven positions in the Alliance Rankings. Two years ago, KMHA identified a continued weakness in goaltender training across the association so initiated a goaltender-training program, free of charge, for all its goalies. On the Lady

Rangers side of the ice pad, KMHA has implemented skill development sessions designed to identify and improve the skills of players that will assist them in enjoying the game for life while helping our teams to achieve greater results. New this year, we are adding PD-day programming designed to target skills for the DS and Select-level players that are looking to make it at the next level. These PDday programs will help with core skills while also teaching players the work ethic it takes to excel.

KMHA would like to take this opportunity to thank David Carr for his hard work over the last five years as KMHA’s technical director. His passion and experience have done a lot to improve the program for our kids. We would also like to welcome the new team that will be taking over. Led by Dean DeSilva this group includes, Corey Dunbar, David Sutherland, and Jamie Dinsmore. Already hard at work, this group will also be introducing the new KMHA shot training room later this season.

We look forward to seeing you around the rink. Skate on — hockey for life!

KITCHENER LOCATION | 70 King St. East (519) 570-4500 STRATFORD LOCATION | 988 Ontario St. (519) 305-1340 Visit us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/CrabbyJoes or on the web @ www.crabbyjoes.com

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Show Ur Love Tournament • Feb 25 at Brantford SportsXcelerator • Register your team at www.playpuresports.com

GOLF & RIDE SPECIALS DAILY AT 11 AM

9 and Dine Friday Nights, Includes Golf-Range-Dinner Golf Course, Driving Range and Restaurant Open to the Public Juniors (Under 16) Play Free Weekends After 3 PM with Paying Adult Discount Green-Fee Tickets Available

(519) 621 5491 • www.cambridgegolfclub.com 1346 Clyde Road, Cambridge, ON N1R 5S7

Contact Erin Kummer • info@inlinek9s.com • 519-212-7994 • www.inlinek9s.com

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sportsfiles

We thank the local community

Submitted by the Kitchener Sports Association

On behalf of local minor athletes, thanks to the Kitchener Rangers, their fans and the local community for your ongoing support. With your help, the Kitchener Sports Association offers grants, financial support and scholarships to local sports groups and athletes. Thank you! Our monthly dinner meetings are open to the public and you are invited. For more on KSA, visit www.kitchenersports.ca.

KSA — Athlete of the Year cheque presentations As part of the Athlete of the Year program, each nominee’s local minor sport club receives a $250 donation from the Kitchener Sports Association.

KSA also makes a $250 donation on behalf of each Award of Excellence recipient and $500 for the Athlete of the Year’s home club. Photo of the cheque recipients: (Front L-R) Tatiana Artunes (Waterloo Regional Boxing Academy for Athlete of the Year, Mandy Bujold), Dave MacNeil (Wildhawks Basketball for Jamal Murray), Rosemary Smith (K&W Community Foundation, KSA Legacy Fund for Civitan Sports Waterloo Region), Jean Howitt (Chair of the Athlete of the Year program), Bruce Glebe (Laurel Creek Track for Leah Robinson) and Stephen Brown (KW Minor Tackle Football for Tyler Varga).

(Back l-r) Bill Pegg (KSA President), Gilles Butcher (KW Minor Boys Softball for Brandon Horn), Randy McCarten (Kitchener Minor Hockey – Donna’s Kids, for Todd Hoffman), Jason Breau

(KW Minor Lacrosse for Ryan Benesch and Dhane Smith), Mike Quigley (KW Youth Basketball for Jamal Murray), Craig Findlay (Stanley Park Optimist Ball for Gord Dearborn) and Paul Pavan (KW Predators Volleyball for Sarah Pavan). Absent from photo: Frank Wolf who received ROW Swim Club’s cheque for nominee Alec Elliott. (The two local basketball associations shared KSA’s donation on behalf of nominee Jamal Murray.) (Sept. 20, 2016 KSA Dinner)

(Pictured above, L-R) Mike Quigley (Executive Director of KW Youth Basketball), Stu Julius (GM of the KW Titans) and Norm Foss (Treasurer of KSA) chat during a break in the proceedings at the KSA September dinner meeting at which Stu was the guest speaker.

His Titans basketball team, this area’s first professional basketball foray, is getting ready for the start of its first season with home games being played at Kitchener Auditorium.

Hockey Helps the Homeless Submitted by Craig Herner

Hockey Helps the Homeless (KW) held its third annual tournament of Friday October 28 at RIM Park. The 221 participants, comprising 8 men’s and 4 women’s teams, raised over $155,000 at this year’s event for the benefit of five local homelessness agencies: YWCA K-W, House of Friendship, Lutherwood, Homelessness and Housing Umbrella Group (HHUG), and oneROOF Youth Services. Over 125 volunteers assist on the day of the event, as well as the head committee

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that plans the event almost year round.

The top fundraiser, for the second year in a row, was Stu Siegel from Hockey Tech, who raised over $22,000 and led HockeyTech to top status with a team total just shy of $30,000. This years’ keynote speaker was Jessica from oneROOF Youth Services who gave a very emotional presentation as she explained how oneROOF helped get her off the streets. Lots of opportunities to get involved with next year’s event — October 27, 2017. Please visit www.hhth.com/kw or Twitter @HHTHKW

Show Ur Love Tournament • Feb 25 at Brantford SportsXcelerator • Register your team at www.playpuresports.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION 905.564.4660 www.cosmossports.com kitchener@COSMOSSPORTS.COM

Contact Erin Kummer • info@inlinek9s.com • 519-212-7994 • www.inlinek9s.com

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Show Ur Love Tournament • Feb 25 at Brantford SportsXcelerator • Register your team at www.playpuresports.com