Hockey Edmonton Magazine Winter Edition 2018 by Suggitt Publishers

WINTER 2018

QUIKCARD EDMONTON

MINOR HOCKEY

WEEK 2018

VolVo OF EDMONTON

Ellerslie Road & 101 Street

780-486-5100 volvoedmonton.com

5 7 9

Message from Hockey Edmonton

Memories Montage from Minor Hockey Week

Message from the Publisher

Arena Locator Map

Messages from the Mayor & Premier

Off-Ice Strategies Push Athletes to the Next Level

Alberta’s Contribution to the 2018 World Junior Championships

Minor Hockey Officials

Maple Leaf Athletic Club

Referee Penalty Signals

Messages from the Chairperson & Honourable Chairperson

Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week

Sport Central

Oilers Hockey Institute

RULES & REGULATIONS FINALS SCHEDULE

EQUIPMENT FOR KIDS IN NEED

PROVIDING EDMONTON’S YOUTH WITH A UNIQUE HOCKEY EXPERIENCE

WHY THEY LOVE VOLUNTEERING FOR MINOR HOCKEY WEEK WOMEN PROUD TO SUPPORT THEIR CLUB

Advice from the Pros

NHL REFEREES OFFER ADVICE TO MINOR HOCKEY OFFICIALS

Featured on the Cover: Easton Hans Age: 7

School Grade: 3

Current Team: Millwoods Bruins Number of Years Played: 4 Favourite NHL Team: Edmonton Oilers Favourite Hockey Player: Connor McDavid & Mark “The Moose” Messier. Role Model: My Dad Other Hobbies & Interests: Playing soccer & backyard baseball & learning the ukulele. Awards or Achievements: I won the Team Conn Smythe Trophy last year, I learned how to do backwards crossovers & I did really good on my report card last year! Favourite Minor Hockey Week Memory: Celebrating on the ice with my teammates, scoring garbage goals and winning as a team. Other Special Memories: My teammate Ethan scoring with his pair of new blue “magic gloves” in the final game!

HOCKEY EDMONTON MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Contents

Thank You! Without the support of coaches, parents, players, volunteers and sponsors, Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a shot!

Thank you to everyone whose time, effort and dedication helped make this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week such a success. Quikcard Minor Hockey Week is proud to be supported by community leaders committed to the development of our youth. Thank you for your ongoing support of sportsmanship and minor hockey in the Edmonton Region.

4 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Message From Hockey Edmonton 10618- 124 Street 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

Hockey Edmonton | Executives President: Mark Doram First VP: Darcy Wiltse Second VP: Joe Spatafora Director of Elite Hockey: Will Jang Director of Community Hockey: Kevin Humphrys Director at Large: Ed Croken Director at Large: Bruce Howlett Treasurer: Berry Bentz Past President: Betty Chmilar

Board of Directors Knights of Columbus EFHC: Marc Aubee NE District: Darlene Hein NW District: Myles Diamond SE District: Gerald Kruhlak SW District: Larry Shaben EGHA: Bryan Toles | CAC: Richard McAdie MLAC: Neil Brown | SSAC: Ted Boomer Knights of Columbus AA: Bruce Fitzpatrick Junior B: Larry Lepine | Junior C: George Metez

Standing Committees Ice Allocation: Bernie Coderre Ice Management: Pat Elliott Minor Hockey Week Chair: Joan Kirillo EOCF 50-50: Sam Gaekle Referee Representatives: Herman Costa (AA) & Duncan MacDougall (Federation)

League Governors Edmonton Federation Hockey League Midget: Kim Turner (Acting) Bantam: Kim Turner Pee Wee: Crystal Feader Atom: David Onyschuk Novice: Amy & Pat London Bantam Female: Justin Kidd Midget Female: James Wilson

I truly can’t believe we are already at this point of the season: Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week 2018. This week showcases everything good about hockey. From volunteerism to good sportsmanship, it’s all on display this week. Remember, you could be featured in the media across the Capital Region at any time. The executive, the board of directors and the staff would like to thank all our volunteers for the hard work that not only makes Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week a success but also the regular season. If one was to ask what volunteerism looks like in Edmonton and the Capital Region, it would be this week. Our officials donate countless hours to make this week happen. They are often the recipients of negative feedback, but this year let’s give them a round of applause and a thank you. We couldn’t run this week without them volunteering their time.

Our ice management committee and schedulers spend weeks setting up the schedules for this event. If you were to look at any of their computers, it would look like they’re planning a huge military exercise or building a display of dominos. One miscalculation can cause major consternation. Many coaches have been prepping their teams for this week and for the city finals, thank you for all your hard work and working with the future leaders of our city. Hockey is more than just a game, it’s full of life lessons and prepares them for real life. To our Minor Hockey Week Committee, this group is made up of some very dedicated people. Many of these folks no longer have players in the system, but contribute to the life long memories of many of our players. Thank you, Joan and your committee, for once again showcasing hockey in such a positive light. On behalf of the executive, board and staff, good luck to all our teams and let’s play hockey.

Elite Hockey Bantam AAA: Steve Lekochinsky Bantam AA: Russ Lukawesky Major Midget AAA: Bob Olynyk Minor Midget AAA: Carrie Aldridge Midget AA: Tracy Orbel Rem 15 Midget AA: Mike Hennessey

Staff Executive Assistance: Sharlene Cook Development Coordinator: Joel Lenius Ice Coordinator: Ray Vigneau Minor Administration Coordinator: Glenn Sommerville Operations Coordinator: Chris March Resource Development Coordinator: Sarah Kennedy Manager of Ice Operations: Dave Linman Executive Director: Dean Hengel

Yours in Hockey,

Mark Doram

President, Hockey Edmonton Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 5

easy, affordable, flexible Put Quikcard on your team!

Quikcard knows small business owners want to attract and retain great employees. And, one of the things that employees look for is a benefits program that helps the employee and their family maintain great health. Quikcard provides companies with the innovative benefits solutions that employees want, at a price employers can afford. A Health Spending Account* teamed with group insurance products** provide great coverage and value! Call us today to find out how Quikcard can work for your business. *Health Spending Accounts are not insurance products. They are fully funded by the employee/employer and administered by Quikcard Solutions Inc. **Insurance products are provided by selected Canadian Insurers and are arranged for by Quikcard Benefits Consulting Inc.

1.800.232.1997

quikcard.com

Message From

The Publisher This year marks the 55th anniversary of Edmonton Minor Hockey Week, for which Quikcard has been the title sponsor for the past 19 years! This tournament has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest minor hockey tournament in the world. An event this large could not happen without the tireless work of volunteers, which is true of its very beginning, and just as true today. This includes the organizers, schedulemakers, scorekeepers, coaches and team managers, who donate their time and effort for the benefit of the kids who participate in this tournament. Officials also participate in Minor Hockey Week, and they donate their time in doing so. The value of their donated time works out to over $40,000, which is a huge commitment, something we should remember when we see them on the ice. This is an important reminder for all those who participate, whether you are a player, coach or a fan watching the game. In this edition of the magazine, we have included feedback from various minor hockey officials weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve interviewed over the years, who report on why they donate their time for this very special hockey tournament. The common theme is to make this tournament special for the players, one they will remember for years to come.

CREDITS President and Publisher | Rob Suggitt Art Director | Christine Kucher Graphic Designers Cailey Buxton | Katelyn Suggitt Contributing Writers Chris Wescott | D.T. Baker | Jeremy Freeborn | Rob Suggitt Sarah Kennedy | Shari Narine | Simon Bennett Cover Photo Provided by EPIC Photography Copy Editing Shari Narine Photography Credits Andy Devlin - Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club Avonlea Photography Epic Photography Marko Ditkun - Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club Matthew Murnaghan - Hockey Canada Images SC Parker Photography Ciera Whittaker-Harder Sales Associate Lynn Schuster Administration Amber Grmek

To the players, we extend our best wishes! Memories of a lifetime will come to many who play hockey during Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week.

The Hockey Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd. - an affiliate of Suggitt Ltd.

As parents, family members and friends who cheer on the action, give it your best, and above all, have fun!

President & CEO | Tom Suggitt President & CFO | Rob Suggitt 10177 - 105 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 1E2 Ph: 780.423.5834 | Fax: 780.413.6185 Playhouse Publications Ltd. also publishes the Citadel Theatre Playbill, Edmonton Opera Playbill and the Arden Theatre Playbill.

Sincerely, Rob Suggitt

All Rights Reserved. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expresses 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, ie. electronic, mechanical, photocopied or otherwise recorded without the prior written permission of the publisher - www.suggitt.com Printed By R.R. Donnelley

Publisher of the

Hockey Edmonton Magazine Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 7

As part of the National Hockey League’s 2017 Centennial Celebrations, over 3.6 million ballots were cast by NHL fans in a vote to determine the “Greatest NHL Team of All Time.” The NHL announced in June the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers team were the recipient of that historic honour.

In recognition of this significant distinction, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and their 1984-85 teammates will host an intimate and interactive evening of storytelling and unique multi-media vignettes that will recount their journey to legendary status atop the list of greatest teams in NHL history.

EdmontonOilers.com

ROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, now entering its 55th year, Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week is one of the largest minor hockey tournaments in the world; AND WHEREAS, more than 500 teams, hundreds of volunteers and legions of fans will visit arenas throughout the city to take in the action; AND WHEREAS, this tournament helps players develop their skills and build teamwork while competing against the best in their league; AND WHEREAS, as a proud winter city, Edmonton is thrilled to once again play host to this prestigious tournament; THEREFORE I, MAYOR DON IVESON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 12th - 21st, 2018, “QUIKCARD EDMONTON MINOR HOCKEY WEEK” IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA’S CAPITOL CITY.

Message from Honourable Rachel Notley Premier of Alberta On behalf of the government of Alberta, it is my pleasure to send greetings as you celebrate Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week. As families and teams gather at rinks across our province, there’s no doubt that hockey season is in full swing - bringing with it many early mornings, warm hot chocolates, thrilling wins, and challenging losses - all for the love of the game. Throughout this week, I know all of the players will be playing not for the name printed on the back of their shirts, but for the crest in front, for their team and everyone on it. The pride with which the players embrace the values of teamwork, co-operation, healthy competition, and hard work is what makes hockey season the best part of the year for many Albertans. The lessons learned and lived by playing this game stay with players for a lifetime, both on and off the ice. While offering hours of entertainment, this week highlights the hours of dedication on the part of all players , coaches and parents. Special thanks go to the organizing committee, officials, and volunteers of the tournament. An event of this calibre would not be possible without your efforts. Good luck to all the teams involved, and best wishes to every player!

Dated this 24th day of November 2017

Don Iveson MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDMONTON

Rachel Notley January 12th - 21st, 2018

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 9

Message from the

I am very honoured to be the chairperson for the 55th annual Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week.

It is indeed an honour to be chosen as the honourary chairperson for the 2018 Quikcard Hockey Edmonton Minor Hockey Week. I was involved in minor hockey for 25 years starting with the Confederation hockey club, then as a director at the South West Zone. as well as a director at the South Side Athletic Club finishing with serving for 13 years as chair of the AA Council. In that time I worked with some great volunteers who built the minor hockey program to the success level Hockey Edmonton is today. Without the foresight and organizational skills of the founders of minor hockey week going back over 50 years this tournament would not be the success that it is today.

MHW Chairperson This tournament was started so that Edmonton minor hockey players would play against players from other areas of the city and would also give them a chance to play hockey in Edmonton’s indoor ice arenas. The indoor arenas used when the tournament first started were Coronation and South Side (now known as George Hughes) arenas. The finals were held at the Edmonton Gardens. This year the tournament will be held in 25 different arenas, on 34 sheets of ice, with the final games being held at Terwillegar Arenas. Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week’s main objective is to support and encourage fair play and participation. This tournament is a success because of the people involved. I cannot say enough about the committee volunteers. I have had the privilege of working with Terry Brown, Darrell Davies, Bill Ross, Rod McMahon, Marvin Babiuk, Jeff Suess, Bill Renshaw, Dan Osborn, Sarah Madore, Doug Kirillo and Ray Vigneau. These people are who make this the world’s best tournament and this tournament could not run without them. Then we have our fantastic arena managers. In the 10 days of the tournament, the arena managers set up the arenas, get the teams in dressing rooms, get the teams sheets ready, set up the scorekeepers, timekeepers, make sure the refs are there and have all the rules of the tournament, provide pucks, sell buttons, phone in the scores and keep central updated. They are our front line volunteers that deal with everything that is happening with Minor Hockey Week and I thank you so much for your dedication to this tournament. Another group of people that we tend to overlook when we talk about a hockey tournament is the referees. If there was a category in the Guinness Book of World Records for most donated hours of service, our referees would be a shoe-in. For the last 55 years, the referees have donated their entire time for this tournament. We could not operate this event without the dedication of our officials. Whenever you get a chance, please show your appreciation to our referees during this tournament. Thank you to our corporate sponsors for their continued support. This year’s sponsors are: Quikcard Solutions Inc., the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club, Edmonton Oilkings Hockey Club, Elite Promotional Marketing, McDonalds, The Hockey Program, St. Thomas More Hockey Academy, Serdachny Powerskating and Hockey and Donnon/ Vimy Hockey. On behalf of the Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Committee, I take great pleasure in inviting you to come out and enjoy some very exciting hockey.

Sincerely, Joan Kirillo Chairperson, Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week

Honourary Chairperson

One thing the tournament does is give everyone involved memories that will last a life time as I hear from past particpants who relive their time in the program. My thanks go out to the scores of volunteers, coaches, sponsors, referees who give their time and expertise during minor hockey week. To everyone, enjoy the week and don’t forget this is for the players and their love for the game.

Respectfully, Jerry Rossiter Honourary Chairperson, Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week

Hockey is more than just a game, It’s a passion. It draws you in & never lets go.

Hockey is love. Hockey is life. Hockey lives in our hearts. Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 11

2018 RULES

& REGULATIONS

GENERAL RULES

1.1

Every player dressed must play at least twice in every period during regulation play, with the exception of goalkeepers. If the team has two goalkeepers, each one must play at least one period in each game. No warm ups for incoming goalkeepers. Coaches and managers failing to comply with the above rule will be dealt with by the Discipline Chairperson.

1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6

The Tournament Arena Manager is in charge of the arena and his or her decision is final. Scrapes and floods shall be determined between Arena Manager and Caretakers. Time clocks shall start at the listed game time. Any team not on the ice and ready to play within five (5) minutes of the listed time may be disqualified. The Arena Manager shall be the judge of this action. If, in the Arena Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion, a uniform change is required, the home team shall make the change. Note: It would be advisable that the Team Managers confer before the game to ensure that no game time will be lost during the necessary sweater change. All EMHA Rules and Regulations are in effect during Minor Hockey Week. They count as regular league games for the purpose of determining the number of games a player/coach/manager or trainer will sit out. Suspensions incurred in Minor Hockey Week will carry over into league play if not fully served in Minor Hockey Week.

Rule Example: Rule 41-K, Page 74, Canadian Hockey Association Official Rule Book If for whatever reason, the ref or linesman appointed are prevented from appearing, the Managers or Coaches of the two (2) competing clubs shall agree on a referee and one (1) or two (2) linesmen. If you are unable to agree, they shall appoint a player from each team who shall act as officials.

1.7

In case of dispute, the decision of the Minor Hockey Week Chairperson or his/her designate is final. THERE ARE NO APPEALS DURING MINOR HOCKEY WEEK.

12 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

TEAM REGISTRATION

2.1

Coaches must present their team registration to the Arena Manager at all games and all players registered on the team registration and not dressed shall be noted on the game sheet, with an explanation of why they are not dressed.

2.2

If a team arrives at the arena without the ORIGINAL Team Registration, the Arena Manager must call Central for verification. The ORIGINAL Team Registration must be produced prior to the end of regulation time of said game or said team coach will be subject to disciplinary action.

2.3

NO AFFILIATED PLAYERS ALLOWED, exception being GOALIES, due to medical problems, which have been submitted and approved by the City Registrar.

2.4

Players names must be legibly printed (or have a sticker affixed) to the game sheet by the designated team official. Players are NOT required to sign the game sheet during Minor Hockey Week.

2.5

The Coach, Manager and/or Trainer will Print their names (or have their name on a sticker affixed to) on the Game sheet.

2.6

In the event a team does not show for their game, the Coach and Manager will be subject to disciplinary action unless there are extenuating circumstances. The other team will be given the choice of a win or loss.

REGULATION TIME

3.1

Duration of games will be posted on draw sheets at each arena. The Arena Manager will be responsible to advise game officials of game duration. Games will be straight time. Stop time in the last two (2) minutes unless there is a goal spread of five (5) goals or more then it will be straight time.

3.2

FINALS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; last five (5) minutes will be STOP TIME unless there is a five (5) goal spread or more, then it will be straight time.

3.3

The referees may assess a two (2) minute bench minor penalty for delay of game; if they feel the coaching staff is using up time by deliberately slowing down the line changes. This rule applies to both straight and stop time. The clock will not stop for any reason (injury or otherwise) once the opening faceoff has taken place (exception being rules 3.1 & 3.2).

3.4

All minor penalties are two (2) minutes of straight time. Any portion of a penalty not served during straight time will be completed as a stop time penalty.

3.5

In case of a tie at the end of regulation play, overtime will be played. Play will continue until the first goal is scored, which will terminate the game, and the team scoring the goal will be the winner.

3.6

No timeouts may be called by a Coach or player during regulation time.

OVERTIME

4.1

Overtime is played to sudden victory. Teams may remove goalkeepers at any time. Teams may change â&#x20AC;&#x153;on the flyâ&#x20AC;? at any time. To commence overtime, each team will place six (6) players (one may be a goaltender) on the ice. The teams will not change ends for the overtime period and the time clock will be set for one (1) minute.

4.2 4.3

4.4

OVERTIME SHALL BE STOP TIME. Overtime will be played in one (1) minute increments. At the end of one (1) minute, the horn will sound and each team will remove one (1) player from the ice. Play will be resumed immediately at the nearest face-off spot to the place where play ended. The timekeeper will stop the clock and sound the horn after each minute until the teams are reduced to two (2) players (one may be a goaltender) on the ice. Once each team has been reduced to two (2) players, the clock will be set to six (6) minutes. To commence play, the face-off will be held at the center ice spot. There will be no further reductions to the number of players and the one minute periods will end. Time will continue until the six (6) minute period has expired. If still tied at the end of the six (6) minute period, ten (10) minute periods will be played with two (2) players (one may be a goaltender) until a winner is determined. To commence play in the ten (10) minute period, the face-off will be held at the center ice spot.

4.5

No timeouts may be called by a Coach or player in overtime.

PENALTIES

5.1

All minor penalties are two (2) minutes of straight time starting at the drop of the puck.

5.2

Penalties incurred in regulation time and not completely served in regulation time, shall carry over into the overtime period (as a stop time penalty) and will be completed in overtime unless the game is ended.

5.3

Time penalties incurred and unexpired which may leave a team short or shorthanded during the overtime when teams are reduced to two (2) players will result in a penalty shot(s) to the non-offending team for each unexpired time penalty. If due to penalties, a team is reduced to two (2) players and another time penalty is incurred, the offending team will serve the most recent penalty and a penalty shot(s) will be awarded the non-offending team for each unexpired time penalty. At no time will a team be required to have less than two (2) players on the ice. Should each team have an unexpired time penalty when teams are reduced to two (2) players, a penalty shot will be awarded each team. The team with the least time to serve will shoot first (if this cannot be determined, then the home team will shoot first). Each team must shoot. If the teams are still tied, overtime will continue. If multiple time penalties remain, a penalty shot will be awarded for each unexpired time penalty until all penalty shots have been taken. All time penalties incurred with two (2) players on the ice shall result in the awarding of penalty shots in lieu of penalty times.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 13

w w w. s t m h o c k e y a c a d e m y. c o m

West Edmontonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier

Hockey Academy Only 10 minutes away!

St Thomas More HOckey Academy 14 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

BE THE D IFFEREN CE

STCKM EY HO

TERWILLEGAR A

8:00 a.m 9:30 a.m 11:00 a.m 12:30 p.m 2:00 p.m 3:30 p.m 5:00 p.m 6:30 p.m 8:00 p.m

NOVICE DAMER NOVICE ELIASON NOVICE MACDOUGALL ATOM CANUCKS ATOM JETS ATOM SENATORS PEEWEE HAMILTON PEEWEE SHAVE BANTAM LEE

TIME

TERWILLEGAR B

8:15 a.m 9:45 a.m 11:15 a.m 12:45 p.m 2:15 p.m 3:45 p.m 5:15 p.m 6:45 p.m 8:15 p.m

NOVICE PHILLIPS NOVICE MANDEVILLE NOVICE WILLIAMS ATOM AVALANCHE ATOM BLUES ATOM RED WINGS PEEWEE DALY PEEWEE NITZ BANTOM ATKINSON

[ Saturday January. 20 ]

TIME

TERWILLEGAR C

8:00 a.m 9:30 a.m 11:00 a.m 12:30 p.m 2:00 p.m 3:30 p.m 5:00 p.m 6:30 p.m 8:00 p.m

ATOM BLACKHAWKS ATOM FLYERS ATOM CAPITALS ATOM BRUINS ATOM DEVILS PEEWEE ZAOZIRNY PEEWEE JEX PEEWEE SOLLANYCH BANTAM FYSH

TIME

TERWILLEGAR D

8:15 a.m 9:45 a.m 11:15 a.m 12:45 p.m 2:15 p.m 3:45 p.m 5:15 p.m 6:45 p.m 8:15 p.m

NOVICE BOYCHUK NOVICE GRETZKY NOVICE HEIN ATOM DUCKS ATOM KINGS PEEWEE RAINS PEEWEE CAMERON BANTAM BARNES BANTAM PRUDEN

TIME

TERWILLEGAR A

8:00 a.m 9:30 a.m 11:00 a.m 12:30 p.m 2:00 p.m 3:30 p.m 5:00 p.m 6:30 p.m

NOVICE BOUCHARD ATOM MAPLE LEAFS ATOM CANADIANS PEEWEE DUTCHAK PEEWEE CLAGGET BANTAM FREDERICK BANTAM BUTLER MIDGET BONNER

TIME

TERWILLEGAR B

8:15 a.m 9:45 a.m 11:15 a.m 12:45 p.m 2:15 p.m 3:45 p.m 5:15 p.m 6:45 p.m

NOVICE KIRILLO NOVICE FERGUSON PEEWEE FEADER BANTAM ROSS BANTAM DERMOTT MIDGET HOLT MIDGET RUPTASH MIDGET DAVIS

[ Sunday January. 21 ]

2018 FINALS SCHEDULE TIME

TERWILLEGAR C

8:00 a.m 9:30 a.m 11:00 a.m 12:30 p.m 2:00 p.m 3:30 p.m 5:00 p.m 6:30 p.m 8:00 p.m

NOVICE LIBER NOVICE VIRGIL ATOM FLAMES ATOM OILERS PEEWEE TYMKO FEMALE BANTAM B FEMALE BANTAM A FEMALE MIDGET B FEMALE MIDGET A

TIME

TERWILLEGAR D

8:15 a.m 9:45 a.m 11:15 a.m 12:45 p.m 2:15 p.m 3:45 p.m 5:15 p.m 6:45 p.m

NOVICE KORBUTT NOVICE BAHNSEN NOVICE MCLEAN PEEWEE MCKINLEY PEEWEE SANREGRET MIDGET BIDEWELL MIDGET HETCHLER MIDGET TURNER

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 15

JAN. 12–21

ENJOY a free

small McCafé Brewed Coffee or Tea when you show your tournament admission button at McDonald’s ®

* Not valid with any other McCafé beverage, Extra Value Meal, Value Picks or any other offer. Limit one per customer, per visit. Valid only from January 12 to 21, 2018 at participating McDonald’s restaurants in Edmonton, Alberta. ®

16 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

45,000

The number of goals scored in the 2017 Minor Hockey Week

837

The dollar value of time

donated by officials this year

5,000

8,500

Games to be played

Pucks used

4,419

Groups who Participate in the QEMHW [Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantom, Midget]

3 Dollar

admission fee for one game

($5.00 for a tournament pass)

$$$

69 Facts & Figures r o n i M n o t n o m Quikcard Ed 8 1 0 2 k e e W y Hocke Approximate number of

players who participate

Championship

games to be played

for

3,200 587 VOLUNTEERS

Arenas will be used for games

TEAMS will participate

Sheets of ice being used

1,588 GOLD MEDALS

AWARDED

TEN

The number of days the tournament takes place

YEARS the Minor Hockey Week

tournament has been played (since 1963)

178

Shutouts that occured in the 2017 tournament

10,000

Programs Printed

Years that Quikcard has been the Minor Hockey Week title sponsor

138

Overtime games played in the 2017 tournament Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 17

To those who

believe in pre-game rituals,

YOU ARE

ÂŠTim Hortons, 2016.

18 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

SPORTCENTRAL Equipment for kids in need since 1991

BY D.T. BAKER Anyone who has put a child through hockey around these parts has probably dropped at least an outgrown set of elbow pads in one of the donation boxes for Sport Central. As the non-profit organization marks 26 years of passing that gear on to others, it’s worth checking out the well-oiled, and mostly volunteer, machine that makes it work. In fact, Sheldon Oleksyn is proud to say that Sport Central serves as a template, and advisor, to similar programs springing up elsewhere. “The Maskwacis First Nations started up their own place like this – two gentlemen from Maskwacis have a room in the recreation centre set up,” said Oleksyn, executive director of Sport Central, and one of its few paid employees. “We sent over 10 palettes of stuff for them, and they outfit people right on site, and within a hundred-mile radius. So that lets us help more kids, but it also means that they don’t have to come all the way here.” In 2014, former Edmontonian and founder of The Brick, Bill Comrie, helped fund a Calgary-based operation. “We helped and coached another version of ourselves in Calgary, Comrie’s Sport Equipment Bank,” said Oleksyn. Sport Central’s driving “mantra,” Oleksyn says, is that every Canadian kid should have a bike and a pair of skates. And a major part of what they do is provide that to children in the Edmonton area. On the ice alone, Oleksyn says that last year, Sport Central provided 1,101 kids with skates and a helmet (for non-hockey-playing purposes), while actual registrants in Edmonton Minor Hockey meant another 421 children in full hockey gear, plus 53 goalies outfitted head to toe.

“These black ones,” he said, pointing to a large box crammed with sticks coated shaft to blade in pure black paint, “we got a phone call from Quebec – a company ordered a whole bunch of sticks, and then backed out of the deal. So the manufacturer said we’ll sell you all these sticks for five bucks a stick. But, we’re going to dip them in black paint. We said, ‘Well, why?’ ‘Well, ‘cause we’re not going to give (them) free advertising if they’re not going to pay us’.” Some of Edmonton’s hockey heroes have also stepped up to help out. In fact, Oleksyn says it was Ken Hitchcock, back in 1991 when he worked for United Cycle, who came up with the name Sport Central. And recent NHL additions Nick Holden (New York Rangers) and Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues), both from St. Albert, have donated their Warrior sponsorship money to Sport Central, enabling them to purchase brand new gear from the manufacturer at wholesale. “(Holden) said, ‘Well, I’m not using my $5,000 Warrior sponsorship, what if I just donate that to you?’ And we said, ‘That sounds awesome.’ So we gave him a list of the things we needed, he passed that on to the Warrior rep, and Purolator backs up about two weeks later, and it’s all brand new Warrior stuff.” The only way in through the front door at Sport Central is by referral, Oleksyn said. “We occasionally get walk-ins. We’ll ask if they’ve been referred. If they say no, we say can you produce one of three pieces of I.D.: the Alberta Works Health Benefit Card, AISH, or the Edmonton Access Leisure Pass.”

Sport Central’s two buildings (there’s one just for bicycles and bike repair) are crammed much of the time. When one season ends, equipment gets turned in, swelling the shelves until the next season. Donations come from anywhere and everywhere, Oleksyn says. But while generous Edmontonians are a big part of it, Sport Central has the art of the deal down pat, too. An example is a fresh shipment of junior sticks – always in short supply.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 19

The life cycle of your sport central donation Used but useful items are dropped off at one of over 50 dropoff locations throughout the Edmonton area. Locations listed on the Sport Central website: www.sportcentral.org

J Item delivered to Sport Central location on Wayne Gretzky Drive

J Item is â&#x20AC;&#x153;triagedâ&#x20AC;? to determine if, a) it can be added to inventory, b) it needs some repair by volunteer staff or, c) it needs to be discarded in an environmentally responsible way

J Usable item is sized, labeled, and made ready for a deserving athlete

J Clients are referred to Sport Central through one of about 200 agencies that identify families in need, and an appointment with Sport Central is made

J Children from ages 4 to 17 who qualify are measured and outfitted with what they need for the sport in which they participate

20 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

While Oleksyn figures that hockey makes up 50 to 55 percent of their requests, and bikes another 30 percent, recent years have seen a significant increase in requests for other sports, everything from soccer to martial arts, and recently even to cricket. That’s because a lot of their clientele are first-generation Canadians, he says. But even they are eager to get their kids into hockey. “They’re coming here, they love the country, they love the freedoms and privileges – and they kind of instinctively know that if they want to integrate with the community, and maybe that’s being driven by their kids, they’ve gotta get involved in some sports that are local. They meet other kids, and then when they go out and play sports, they usually drag their parents along. Parents get to meet other parents. So sport becomes the catalyst for integrating new Canadians into the community.” While Sport Central focuses on the Edmonton area, the generosity of the community has forced them to look outside. “The only way we can keep up with the inventory is if we start to partner with communities outside of Edmonton,” Oleksyn said. “So we send out equipment to groups from Red Deer north, and even outside of the province.” Hockey gear has gone as far away as Nunavut and Tuktoyaktuk while bike donations have reached even further. “The old-style five-speed bikes with the chrome fenders, built like a tank – we can’t give those bikes out to kids unless they’re really committed hipsters,” Oleksyn laughed. “But what we do is ship them overseas. We work with the Emmanuel Foundation, and they ship several 40-foot seacans of medical supplies and bikes and stuff like that around the world – India and Africa. We ship probably five to seven hundred of those bikes out a year.” No donation-reliant process is perfect, Oleksyn says, which is why cash donations are always key as well. That fills in the blanks. Most kids’ hockey equipment is used only for a year or two before it’s outgrown, so a lot of it is still in great shape. But helmets have CSA “expiry dates,” and can’t be used for organized hockey past a certain point. Goalie equipment can also be hard to come by. But every donation is used if it can be, disposed of responsibly if it can’t – and always appreciated.

Athletic Club Your home for hockey in Northeast Edmonton!

For all kids from novice to peewee!

CHECK US OUT @ braveshockey.ca Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 21

OILERS HOCKEY

INSTITUTE

Providing Edmonton’s Youth with a Unique Hockey Experience BY CHRIS WESCOTT “I don’t think any other school can offer something like that.” Oilers Entertainment Group Senior Manager of Fan Development Brad Ellard is right in his assessment. Oilers Hockey Institute provides an unparalleled competitive hockey program in Edmonton. When the Edmonton Oilers moved into Rogers Place, the shiny new arena in the heart of downtown, they decided to use their state-of-the-art facilities to help grow the game. “We tried to find a program that could utilize some of the facilities here, but then adding more value to it with higher level instructors and a tie to the Oilers dressing room spaces,” said Ellard. The result? Oilers Hockey Institute was born. While Oilers Hockey School provides a recreational day-camp style escape for local youth skaters, OHI is targeted more toward those who already possess a strong technical skill base. The structured sessions have tailored themes to help the young players progress their game, all under the watchful eyes of former U Sports, WHL and NHL players.

22 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANDY DEVLIN EDMONTON OILERS HOCKEY CLUB

“It’s a joint project between Hockey Alberta and Hockey Edmonton,” said Ellard. “Those are our lead instructors, and then the support instructors are all former NHL guys or WHL or CIS players.” Some of the instructors include Oilers alumni Fernando Pisani, Shawn Belle, Mark Fistric, Colin Fraser, and Chris Joseph. But the program also gives the kids access to current Oilers resources, like Oilers Senior Director of Player Development Rick Carriere. “It’s the access to Rogers Place and the world-class facilities we’ve got here (that sets Oilers Hockey Institute apart),” said Ellard. “There’s nothing like it. We can also dive into our Player Development department. Rick Carriere helps with some of the program.” All on-ice sessions take place at the Rogers Place Downtown Community Arena, but the participants also take part in off-ice programs in the Edmonton Oilers team gym and video sessions in the state-of-the-art theatre room. “The videos the kids are seeing are the videos we show our prospects and we show our players when they’re playing. Some of those things are not public viewing,” said Ellard.

“These kids get to sit in the seat that Connor McDavid gets to sit in when they’re watching the videos and they get to watch the same video and the same tactics we use with our prospects.” Ellard says the goal of OHI is not so much to create a fan experience, but more of an intense educational session designed to help each individual athlete grow their games. But the fan experience is there, with the kids being able to see things other athletes in their age group would not. “They get to go see the cool spaces the Oilers have and what they use to be a pro and play at the NHL level, so hopefully that inspires the kids to keep pushing toward that goal or push toward a college career or something else in the sport.”

PROGRAM CURRICULUM Exclusive Roger’s Place Access: Rogers Place Downtown Community Arena Edmonton Oilers video room and gym

On Ice: 1 hour ice sessions Sessions focus on, but are not limited to: Technical Skills - shooting / passing in stride, agility and transitional skating, passing and moving Body Positioning - puck protection, net drives, down-low play, initiating contact and shoulder checks Vision & Awareness - passing lanes, puck support, shooting lanes, defensive positions Small Areas Games - 1v1 | 2v1 | 3v2 Goaltending - 1 on 1 instruction that covers the fundamentals and several advanced techniques

Video Sessions: The video review component will be utilized as a “pre-ice” session to outline drills and concepts to the athletes before entering the ice surface. This pre-ice setup will ensure that the athletes understand all details beforehand, which will increase the on-ice tempo and each athlete’s ability to perform new skills and concepts. The video review component will also incorporate relevant NHL/WHL video clips, to ensure that the athletes understand how all sessional drills and concepts apply to in-game situations.

Video Sessions: Off-ice sessions will take place either prior to the ice session or post-ice, with specific focus on essential movement foundations and abilities that are vital to skill acquisition. This includes proper preparation for pre-game warm up and post-game recovery, cool down, regeneration and nutrition. As the player moves along through the weeks there will be stability training and assessments to determine what areas need more focus. To finish off the program, there will be exercises shown to help with quickness, reaction and overall hockey conditioning for your personal at home training program. To learn more about Oilers Hockey Institute please visit: EdmontonOilers.com & click the Youth Hockey tab in the menu bar

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 23

Memories from

2017 QUIKCARD EDMONTON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY

minor Hockey week

24 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 25

ARENA ADDRESSES 1.

Akinsdale & Kinex Arenas (St. Albert) 66 Hebert Road, St Albert

17.

Kinsmen Twin Arena 1979 - 111th Street

Bill Hunter Arena 9200 - 163rd Street

18.

Knights of Columbus Sport Complex 13160 - 137th Avenue

Broadmoor Arena (Sherwood Park) 2100 Oak Street, Sherwood Park

19.

Londonderry Arena 14520 - 66th Street

Callingwood Arena 17650 - 69th Avenue

20.

Michael Cameron Arena 10404 - 56th Street

Canadian Athletic Club Arena 14645 - 142nd Street

21.

Millennium Place (Sherwood Park) 2000 Premier Way, Sherwood Park

Castle Downs Arena 6A3, 11520 - 153 Avenue

22.

Mill Woods Rec. Centre 7207 - 28th Avenue

Clare Drake Arena 87th Avenue & 115th Street

23.

Nait Arena 11762 - 106th Street

Clareview Arena 3804 - 139th Avenue

24.

Oliver Arena 10335 - 119th Street

Confederation Arena 11204 - 43rd Avenue

25.

Russ Barnes Arena 6725 - 121st Avenue

10.

Coronation Arena 13500 - 112th Avenue

26.

Servus Credit Union Place 400 Campbell Road, St Albert

11.

Crestwood Arena 9940 - 147th Street

27.

Terwillegar Rec. Centre Subway Arena 2051 Leger Road

12.

Donnan Arena 9105 - 80th Avenue

28.

The Meadows Community Rec. Centre 2704 - 17th Street

13.

George S. Hughes Arena 10525 - 72nd Avenue

29.

Tipton Arena 10828 - 80th Avenue

14.

Glengarry Arena 13340 - 85th Street

30.

Westwood Arena 12040 - 97 Street

15.

Grand Trunk Arena 13025 - 112th Street

31.

Downtown Community Arena (Rogers Place)

16.

Kenilworth Arena 8313 - 68A Street

10330 - 105th Avenue

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26 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 27

Join the Great Bear Society and leave a gift in your will to brighten the future for sick kids. stollerykids.com/legacy

780.433.5437 28 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

OFF-ICE STRATEGIES TO PUSH ATHLETES TO THE NEXT LEVEL

BY SIMON BENNETT & SARAH KENNEDY

Off-ice preparation and training is a crucial, and often overlooked component to becoming a successful athlete. Simon Bennett; the Edmonton Oilers, Director of Strength and Conditioning and the President and Founder of Body by Bennett visited the Hockey Edmonton offices recently to facilitate a presentation to our coaches. Simon focused on three key areas where athletes can make adjustments to become a more wellrounded athlete.

SLEEP Sleep, for athletes is a crucial pillar for success as it can affect reaction times,

motor function, motivation, focus,

stress regulation, muscle recovery, sprint performance, cognitive function, injury risk, illness rates, and unwanted weight gain. A lack of sleep can therefore have a big impact on practice or game performance and in turn a team’s win/loss ratio. There are three main issues to focus on when determining whether there are issues with sleep patterns. Firstly, disruptions to the circadian rhythm; a 24 hour internal clock running in the background of your brain which cycles between alertness and sleepiness. Disruptions to that rhythm can result from travel or a change in your regular daily pattern. Secondly, cumulative sleep debt which is the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep. This results in mental or physical fatigue. Finally, acute sleep interruptions (simply waking up periodically during the night) can also lead to less than optimal sleep patterns. It is important to be able to cycle through the 5 stages of sleep to ensure the body can recover from the days activities. There are five stages of sleep; Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage ¾, and REM sleep. Stage 1 of sleep is the first 1-10 minutes and consists of very light sleep. Stage 2 is where you are still easily able to be woken up but you are beginning to fall asleep. Stage 3 and 4 are slow wave sleep where you repair body tissue, produce hormones, and immune system replenishment. The final stage of sleep is REM or the rapid eye movement stage. In this final stage, you experience dreaming as the brain is very active. This stage is important to learning and memory/brain processing. It is important for athletes to be able to cycle through the 5 stages of sleep to ensure both the body and mind can recover from the physical and mental toll of elite athletics. There are many strategies that can be employed when having issues reaching your recommended amount of sleep per night. ---> Use a wearable sleep monitoring technology. These types of devices allow you to learn more about your regular sleep patterns, such as how long you spend in the REM stage, and therefore enable you to work to make positive adjustments should you require them.

---> Napping can be used to add to recuperating time. Pregame napping is a useful and popular strategy to ensure extra time for the resting process. Naps of 30 minutes (a power nap) are beneficial for alertness while 60-90 minute naps will allow for entering the REM sleep stage and will ensure more benefits. ---> Reset your body’s biological clock. Establishing a consistent routine for when you go to sleep and when you rise helps to establish the body’s natural “circadian rhythm” ex. Getting to sleep by 10:00pm and rising by 7;00 or 8:00m enables us to take full advantage of the body hormone production for physiological and psychological repair. ---> An important part of getting yourself to sleep is creating a hospitable environment for sleep. To create the right conditions, you will want to minimize blue light; eliminate screen time just before bed (no phones or laptops while settling down). You will also want to sleep in a dark room; ensure you are hydrated before

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 29

going to bed; and limit alcohol, sugar, caffeine, and nicotine after 6:00pm. When possible, you will also want to avoid strenuous exercise after 6:00pm. Hockey games and practices may often run later than that but employing this rule when possible will assist in ensuring you achieve the recommended duration of sleep. Additionally, following allied recovery strategies while preparing for bed (applying heat/cold etc.) and listening to meditational or binaural sounds while falling asleep can improve your chances of falling asleep in a timely manner should you have issues doing so.

NUTRITION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Nutrition is often seen as having a clear link to performance, but you must ensure you are fueling your body properly for performance. While sports supplements can be a popular way to ensure your body has what it needs to perform at an optimal level, many athletes don’t need supplements. The base of any good nutritional plan should always be a balanced diet moving in to sports-focused nutrition and subsequently adding supplements where needed. There are a few priorities to keep in mind when meal planning. Firstly, the age-old saying of breakfast being the most important meal of the day isn’t that far off. It is certainly the start of your day and you should always start your day off on a positive note by pairing protein with carbohydrates, never eating just one or the other. The second priority is hydration. Performance is impaired when an athlete is dehydrated so fluid replacement is a key to optimum performance. A balanced diet will mean your plate will look like the example above.

WEIGHT LOST

FLUID REPLACEMENT (L)

SODIUM (MG) 230-345 mg sodium / 500 ml (=460 - 690 mg/L) (Average = 575 mg/L)

1-2 lbs

0.7 - 1.4 L

403 - 805 mg

2-3 lbs

1.4 - 2.0 L

805 - 1150 mg

3-4 lbs

2.0 - 2.7 L

1150 - 1550 mg

4-5 lbs

2.7 - 3.4 L

1550 - 1955 mg

5-6 lbs

3.4 - 4.0 L

1955 - 2300 mg

6-7 lbs

4.0 - 4.7 L

2300 - 2700 mg

30 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

The third priority is the pre-game/exercise snack. There are a few rules to follow for the pre-game snack; 2-3 hours before the game, it should contain 30-40 grams of carbs and be easily digestible, contain minimal fibre, low protein, be lower in fat, and be paired with 500 ml of water. Priority four is stage 1 recovery, eating within 30 minutes of playing or exercising. This post game snack should include protein and a carbohydrate. The fifth and final priority is stage 2 recovery; carb loading, which should be done on hard training days.

Step 4: “Get moving” This is typically what we describe as a “standard dynamic pre-game warm up”. This can be anything that consists of full body, multi planar movements that have elements of control bursts of acceleration, deceleration and speed. Ex. traditional track drills, playing soccer with team mates before a game, soccer ball or even a “good old” on ice warm up skate. While, the “Preparations” is incredibly important so is post game recovery. Ensure you are performing a proper “exercise recovery” process. This all starts with step 1: “reducing tension”.

References:

To determine where you stand nutritionally a food journal can be a great tool to use. Include what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, your hunger level, and what exercises you are performing. Record everything you eat for three days including one weekend day and two weekdays. Along with food, include all fluid intake. Based on what you find, you can make adjustments to your diet should they be needed.

•

http://www.feelguide.com/2014/11/19/harvardunveils-mri-study-proving-meditation-literally-rebuildsthe-brains-gray-matter-in-8-weeks/

•

https://www.revivewellness.ca/

•

http://www.sleephealthjournal.org/article/S23527218(15)00015-7/pdf

PHYSICAL PREPERATION & PHYSICAL RECOVERY A good warm up and cool down routine is just as important to conditioning as your exercise routine. Step 1: Reduce the build up of tension in the body. Aka “take your body’s parking break off”. Stiffness or resistance throughout the body’s connection between muscle and facial system affects speed, timing, coordination and efficiency. Equipment and tools like foam roller, lacrosse balls and correct pressure massage can help restore the natural function, resting length of the tissue and ultimately performance. Step 2: “Stretch” or as we like to say Move “the big three” (shoulders, hips, and ankles) by doing stretches such as the popular “Bretzol stretch” (seen below in a supine position). The primary objective is to ensure that you can efficiently take all three segments ankles, hips, and shoulders through as full range of motion as your body will permit. Step 3: “Get stiff” or more simply put create stability so that we have good control over our movement when we are at the outer edges of or range. Performing simple exercises such as the side plank with abduction, a 1 leg Romanian deadlift, balance drills using a tennis ball, and weighted exercises can help accomplish this objective.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 31

ALBERTA’S CONTRIBUTION

TO THE 2018 WORLD JUNIOR

HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP BY JEREMY FREEBORN

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MATTHEW MURNAGHAN | HOCKEY CANADA IMAGES [ *Editor’s Note: This article was completed before the conclusion of the 2018 WJC championships. Final results not known ]

When Team Canada took to the ice in early January for the

2018 World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, there was a strong Calgary and Edmonton connection. Three players on the team were from Calgary (center Dillon Dube and defensemen Jake Bean and Cale Makar) and two players were from Edmonton (goaltender Carter Hart and center Sam Steel). All five Albertans have either been profiled in Hockey Magazine Calgary or Hockey Magazine Edmonton in the past. It came as no surprise that all five players were chosen to represent Team Canada at the most significant junior hockey tournament on the globe.

Bean, Hart and Dube won a silver medal with Canada at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship in Montreal and Toronto. Dube had three assists, was a +6 and had eight shots on goal. Bean had two assists, was a +1 and had 14 shots on goal. Hart had a record of three wins and one loss, with a goals against average of 2.38. Bean was drafted in the first round, 13th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. So far this season, he has provided the Calgary Hitmen with plenty of offense as he has five goals and 22 assists for 27 points in 25 games. It is the first time in his four seasons with the Hitmen that he has averaged more than a point per game. “To make Team Canada once is a great accomplishment,” said Calgary Hitmen General Manager Jeff Chynoweth in a press release on December 16. “To make it twice, showcases how elite of a player he is.” Bean became the third Hitmen player to represent Team Canada twice at the World Junior Hockey Championship. He followed in the footsteps of Ryan Getzlaf and Karl Alzner. Bean is also one of two Hitmen players who participated at the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship. The other was Vladislav Yeryomenko who represented Belarus for the second straight year.

32 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

JAKE BEAN

Hart, who was raised in Sherwood Park, was drafted in the second round, 48th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He was also the highest ranked goaltender selected as well.

CARTER HART

“Stick to the process. It is a long process. You don’t want to get too ahead of yourself. You have to worry about getting better every day. If you come to the rink and are wanting to get better, then you’re going to get better. You always have to have that mindset for whatever you’re doing. That goes for your stretching, workouts and skating. You have to be 100 per cent dialed in to what you are doing and worrying about getting better every day.” Staying in the moment has helped Hart reach his hockey goals. The Flyers management should be very pleased with the high level of maturity of their young goaltending prospect.

Dube was drafted in the second round, 56th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Raised in Cochrane, Dube continues to provide the Kelowna Rockets with significant scoring from the center position. In 27 games this season, he has 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points. Over the last three seasons with the Rockets, Dube has 64 goals and 96 assists for 160 points in 132 games. However he has also been reliable defensively throughout his WHL career. Since joining the Rockets for the regular season in 2014-15, Dube has been a +50 in 177 games.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 33

SAM STEEL

What Team Canada Head Coach Dominique Ducharme liked the most about Dube was his quickness on the ice.

“Speed. Lots of speed,” he told John Chidley-Hill of the Canadian Press. “He’s a versatile player. He can do the penalty kill, has lots of skills and can be put on the power play.” Steel, who like Hart is also from Sherwood Park, has the potential to be a National Hockey League superstar. He was drafted in the first round, 30th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. In 27 games this season with the Regina Pats, Steel has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points and is a +7. However, it is Steel’s 2016-17 Western Hockey League regular season, which remains very notable. He led the Western Hockey League in scoring with 131 points. Steel registered 50 goals and 81 assists and was a +49 in only 66 games. With those type of numbers, one must ask why wasn’t Steel selected for Team Canada at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship in Montreal and Toronto? He was a final cut despite leading the WHL in scoring at the time. When Steel was not selected, Team Canada received a significant amount of criticism from not only hockey fans on Twitter, but Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada.

DILLON DUBE

34 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

“How do you miss a guy like that?” asked Cherry at the time. “There is no doubt that Team Canada missed a sniper like Steel on their 2017 roster to accommodate Dylan Strome and Matt Barzal.”

Even though Canada led the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship with 35 goals, the absence of Steel was extremely evident. There is no doubt Team Canada could have Steel in their 3-1 loss to the United States on New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve 2016, in the pool portion of the tournament, and in the gold medal game which was won by the United States 5-4 in a shootout. During the shootout, all five Canadian players were unable to score on American goaltender Tyler Parsons, who was the Calgary Flamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second round draft pick, 54th overall, in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

CALE MAKAR

Makar was notable for two reasons. First, he is the only one of the five who had an outstanding career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. (Steel also played in the AJHL, but only one game with the Sherwood Park Crusaders). Makar, who was the first round pick, fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 National Hockey League Entry Draft, was the RBC Cup Most Valuable Player in back-toback seasons with the Brooks Bandits. Makar was also one of two defensemen on Team Canada who decided to play in the National Collegiate Athletics Association in the United States rather than the Canadian Hockey League. Makar currently plays for the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He was joined by Dante Fabbro, a native of Coquitlam, British Columbia, who currently plays for Boston University. So far this season for the University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen, Makar has one goal and eight assists for nine points. However do not expect Makar to be with the Minutemen for more than two years. Minutemen head coach Greg Carvel believes Makar has the potential to be the next Erik Karlsson. That is high praise, indeed.

Best sign of the 2018 WJC!

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 35

TEDDY BEAR TOSS

a Great Success

This year marked the 11th consecutive Edmonton Oil Kings’ Teddy Bear Toss. Over 14,000 stuffed toys (not just teddy bears) were thrown on the ice after the Oil Kings scored their first (and only) goal in their game against the Prince Albert Raiders on December 2nd. There were 18,102 fans in attendance, and the 14,122 stuffed toys tossed on the ice was a record for this annual event. The plush toys sometimes need an extra toss or two to make it to the ice, some starting from the higher rows, and after a soft landing in the lower rows, fans get the toys onto the ice. After being gathered up by the players on the ice, the toys are shipped to Santa’s Anonymous. “It’s phenomenal to see, no matter how many come down, because they come in all shapes and sizes,” said Lana Nordlund, executive director of Santas Anonymous. “We gift from newborns up to age 12, and most plush animals are good for ages three and up, so we ask people to considering purchasing one that is good for a baby or a one- or two-year old.”

Calling All

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS If your child won a gold medal at the 2018 Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week, we want to hear from you! Please complete the following questionnaire and send it in by Monday February 28th, 2018, and your child could be featured in the yearbook edition the Official Hockey Edmonton Magazine! Send in completed entries, along with a photo (preferably in a hockey uniform) to: publisher@hockeymagazine.net

Name:

Current Team: Number of Years Played: Usual Position: Favourite Hockey Team: Favourite Hockey Player: Who is your Role Model: Other Hobbies / Interests:

Or you can mail in submissions to: Hockey Edmonton Magazine 10177 - 105 Street Edmonton, Ab, T5J 1E2

36 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Age:

Favourite Hockey Memory:

School Grade:

Gold Medal Winners

FROM 2017 QUIKCARD EDMONTON MINOR HOCKEY WEEK

BRAYDEN GIN Age: 9 Current Team: SWAT Bombers 667 Years Played: 5 Position: Defence Favourite Hockey Team: Edmonton Oilers Favourite Hockey Player: Connor McDavid Role Model: My Dad Other Hobbies & Interests: Taekwondo & Cub Scouts Favourite Hockey Memory: Winning gold at Minor Hockey Week

ALEXANDER GRANT Age: 9 Current Team: 2A Confed Kings Years Played: 4 Position: Goaltender Favourite Hockey Team: Edmonton Oilers Favourite Hockey Player: Cam Talbot Role Model: My Dad Other Hobbies & Interests: Soccer & Trick Scootering Favourite Hockey Memory: Winning gold at Minor Hockey Week in overtime 3-2

St. Benedict

Catholic Elementary School

HOCKEY ACADEMY

Edmonton's West and Southwest Grades 4-6 Hockey Academy

OPEN HOUSE: FEBRUARY 21, 2018 at 7:15PM 780.487.2733 18015 - 93 AVE www.bulldoghockeyacademy.com

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 37

MINOR HOCKEY OFFICIALS DISCUSS WHY THEY ENJOY VOLUNTEERING THEIR

TIME DURING QUIKCARD EDMONTON MINOR HOCKEY WEEK

CASSANDRAGREGORY PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AVONLEA PHOTOGRAPHY

“

When I played, Minor Hockey Week was the most fun tournament of the year. It was more exciting to win MHW than it was to win playoffs. A lot of officials get into the mindset that they are “above” the level of hockey they are working. They forget that the game doesn’t owe us anything but we owe the game everything. If you aren’t officiating/playing/coaching because you love the game, you’re in it for the wrong reasons.

“

BRyANNGUYEN PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SC PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY

“

It’s the wonderful people who make these tournaments happen. Not only do we need the assistance from onice officials, but also off-ice officials. I’m just doing my part to allow players, like I once was, to be able to have a safe and competitive playing environment where they can show their abilities and better themselves.

“

“Passion for Service and Quality”

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38 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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DYLANLEANEY

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SC PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY “The atmosphere is just so fantastic, it’s difficult to not want to do it! Players play harder, more fans are in the stands and the games just seem so much more intense. It’s incredible to be a part of!”

ANDREWHUTTON

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SC PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY

“It’s such a fun tournament to work. Especially the games where I’m working with my friends that I’ve met through officiating. We get to go out and have fun doing a job we enjoy doing.”

MARKGRUNDY

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AVONLEA PHOTOGRAPHY “The games are far more exciting than during the regular season. The crowd and parents are far more engaged, overtime is even more tense, and if you get the chance to officiate a final, all of this is heightened.”

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 39

WOMEn PROUD TO SUPPORT THEIR CLUB

By Shari Narine

While hockey, for the most part, is a fraternity on the ice, behind the bench and in the dressing room, The Maple Leaf Athletic Club has been saying for over 45 years that it’s also a sorority. Since 1971, the MLAC Ladies Auxiliary (or LAX) has been gathering “to support the boys,” as past president and now member of the LAX alumni Judy Jacobs is fond of saying.

Ladies Auxiliary Past President Judy Jacobs (R) with President Deja Wachowicz. Photo by Shari Narine

Jacobs has been there from the beginning – and she wasn’t even a mom of a hockey-playing boy. Her late husband, Lawrence Jacobs, coached and she supported him and the club. “We truly believed in the Maple Leaf Athletic Club and the fact that we were doing a service to the community,” she said. “We lived and died Maple Leafs.” MLAC drew its players – bantam- and midget-aged, AA- and AAAskilled - from northeast Edmonton, which in those days was a poorer part of the city, says Jacobs.

“They were some good hockey players, but they needed encouragement to be able to come and play the AA program because they never thought they were good enough,” she said. The club was also hard-pressed for money so LAX provided invaluable services. Jacobs recalls 15 or so women gathering once a week to mend hockey sweaters and darn hockey socks! They also assisted in raising funds, working bingos at the old Trocadero ballroom on Jasper Avenue, cooking and selling hamburgers and hotdogs at Pinky’s Concession stand during Klondike Days, knitting and selling Maple Leaf toque lapel pins, and hosting a variety of raffles.

Almost 80 women gathered early December for the Maple Leaf Athletic Club Ladies Auxiliary Christmas party. Photo by Ciera Whittaker-Harder

40 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Jacobs, who served as president from 1981-84, recalls working to establish ladies auxiliaries with the Canadian Athletic Club and the Knights of Columbus, but after a few years, those ladies auxiliaries folded.

“

Fundraising these days may be a little more sophisticated – working casinos and selling 50/50 tickets at Edmonton Oilers’ games ...

but LAX remains committed to the same cause: a better club that focuses on its players.

For Wachowicz, being with LAX was an opportunity for her son to see the impact of volunteerism. It was also an opportunity for him to help out, as he would run his mom’s errands in the dressing room.

Fundraising these days may be a little more sophisticated – working casinos and selling 50/50 tickets at Edmonton Oilers’ games – but LAX remains committed to the same cause: a better club that focuses on its players. Money raised is used for a variety of projects including buying new hockey sweaters, paying for coaches’ clinics and covering costs for First Aid training. But the boys are still front and centre, says present Ladies Auxiliary president Deja Wachowicz.

Now, being a volunteer is joined by camaraderie and pride, Wachowicz says. And it’s camaraderie and pride that the women of the club also feel, making it easy for Wachowicz to sign up “team moms” to sit on LAX’s executive. And, she says proudly, moms who come to MLAC when their boys are cut from other clubs, are impressed with the work undertaken by LAX. “They see that we do something real and we do something good for the boys. And so they want to sign up to be part of it,” said Wachowicz. “There’s a history that goes with it, and the pride that their boys are playing for the Maple Leaf Athletic Club,” said Jacobs.

MLAC skates anywhere from six to eight AA and AAA bantam and midget teams. At the beginning of the season, every player gets a gift and every month each team has a player of the month. Every sick or injured player, who misses three games, is presented with a t-shirt and a card. Heart and Soul awards, voted on by players for their teams, are handed out at the annual banquet and every boy graduating from midgets is recognized, either with an engraved watch for playing five years with the club or an engraved glass mug for four or less years with MLAC. Players also receive $50 for meals for overnight trips for away games. And a new program this season sees bagged lunches for every team that travels the farthest on bus trips for away games (the leagues includes teams as far north as Fort McMurray and as far south as Lethbridge). Two spaghetti dinners are hosted, one celebrating the Al Osmak Memorial Game, in which the two MLAC bantam teams play each other, and the other during a camp to introduce peewee players to MLAC. All of these perks are financed by LAX. All the fundraising that LAX takes on, points out Wachowicz, means lower registration fees and less costs to families for their boys to play club hockey. Interestingly, Wachowicz is now in the same category as Jacobs. Her son finished playing with MLAC in 2011, the same year Wachowicz became the 18th president of the ladies auxiliary. Wachowicz has been a member of LAX for nine years. Her son, Jacob, played his entire bantam and midget careers with MLAC.

The Christmas tree was decked out in MLAC colours and trappings by Pauline Legare, whose son plays for the Bantam AA United Cycle team. (Photo: Ciera Whittaker-Harder)

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 41

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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 is a game misconduct (ejection from the game), coupled with a two or five minute penalty, depending on the severity of the offense.

BOARDING If a player is checked into the boards in a violent manner, then the referee may call a boarding penalty. A two minute penalty will be given 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 bantam level. Delivering a body-check in the lower divisions will result in a two minute penalty being given. The refereeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signal is an arm across the chest with a flat hand.

BUTT ENDING If a player jabs (or attempts to jab) another player with the shaft of his or her stick above the upper hand, a butt-ending penalty may be called. The referee holds one forearm over the other, the upper hand flat and the lower hand makes a fist.

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 this call by rotating clenched fists around each other in front of the chest.

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

CROSS CHECKING When a player uses the shaft of his stick, held between the hands, to check an opponent. The referee signals with a pushing motion of the arms, fists clenched and shoulder-width apart. (This signal imitates the action of a cross check.)

ELBOWING The referee may call an elbowing penalty when a player hits or checks an opponent using his elbow. The referee signals by grabbing either elbow with the opposite hand.

HIGH STICKING This occurs when an an opponent is checked by another playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stick held above the normal height of the shoulders. A more severe penalty may be called for flagrant high-sticking fouls, including ejection from the game. The referee signals this call by clenching their fists and mimicking a player holding a stick above their shoulders.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 43

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HOLDING This is called when a player grabs the opponents body or stick and holds them back from play. The referee motions this call by grabbing either wrist with the opposite hand.

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

INTERFERENCE This penalty is called when a player impedes the progress of an opponent who does not have the puck. The referee signals this call by crossing his or her arms across the chest.

KNEEING

If a player uses his knee (this includes sticking 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 a major and a game misconduct instead of a minor penalty. The referee signals this by bending down and grabbing his knee.

MISCONDUCT

This penalty may be called when a player demonstrates extreme and inappropriate behaviour toward another player or a game official. Depending on the severity of the offense, the player may be given a ten minute misconduct penalty. The penalized team, in this case, does not play shorthanded, unless there is contact involved.

ROUGHING This player may be called when a player uses his arms or fists to hit another player. The referee’s signal for this is a clenched fist 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 flat hand chopping down on the opposite forearm.

SPEARING

Spearing occurs when a player thrusts or jabs the blade of his stick toward an opponent. Players are usually ejected from the game for spearing. The signal for this call is similar to hooking, however instead of a pulling motion with both arms toward the body, it is an outward jabbing motion.

TRIPPING

This penalty may be called when a player uses his or her stick or any body part to trip the opponent with the puck. However, if the player touches the puck prior to contact with the other player, there is usually no penalty called. The referee signals this call by bending down and striking their leg with their hand, below the knee.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT This penalty may be called when a player exhibits poor sportsmanlike or inappropriate behaviour on the ice. A “T” is made with the hands to signal this call.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 45

46 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

ADVICE from the PROS

Over the past ten years, Hockey Edmonton Magazine has had the opportunity and privilege to chat with some of the top referees in the NHL. These referees have offered up their advice to minor hockey officials, from how to deal with players and coaches, handling criticism, and learning from your mistakes. COMPILED BY ROB SUGGITT

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANDY DEVLIN & MARKO DITKUN | EDMONTON OILERS HOCKEY CLUB

BILLMCCREARY Career: 1984~2011 First of all, you have to be able to skate. But if you’ve played the game of hockey as a player to a fairly high level, I really believe that helps you a lot in making the transition to refereeing. It gives you a better understanding of the game which others may not have. You know how players will react. How coaches react. Tough situations where things have happened in a hockey game. Playing the game is quite an asset to have in your toolbox. You also have to be able to communicate, to admit to any mistakes made on the ice. Being honest at all times is the number one priority. You’re a human being, just like the players, so you will make mistakes, and let them be a teaching tool to you as well. And last but not least, treat people the way you like to be treated. I think they should be very restrictive on how they (fans) express themselves in arenas. I’ve been to many minor hockey games, and moms and dads, and even myself, have let their emotions get the best of them. I think it’s imperative today to keep your emotions in check, go to support your son or daughter first, their team second, and the game of hockey third of all. I think it’s vital as a parent to do that, and show nothing but positive encouragement, because there are too many variables kids have to deal with today. They don’t need extra pressure from mom or dad hollering how they’re playing. Just give them positive encouragement and stay in the background.

DANMAROUELLI Career: 1984~2010 You either have that ability to handle criticism or you don’t. It’s got a lot to do with your upbringing. Being able to remain calm under some very hectic times, especially with minor hockey nowadays. It’s the biggest thing I see in the rinks. It’s been like this forever. The officials have to deal with not just players and coaches, but quite often, the parents. There isn’t alot of training on how to deal with criticism. You learn how to deal with it at a young age, and you either have it or you don’t. It’s also the ability to gain the acceptance of the coaches, the players, and the managers. That’s the tough part about our business. You’ve got to work hard at it every night. I talk as much as I can with the players and coaches. I believe you get what you give, so you have to give them the respect, and hopefully, you get it back in return. That’s been the rule of thumb with my career. Whether your aspiration is to go to the National Hockey League or not, or to be the best in the amateur program, the best advice I can give is that you get out of it what you put into it. It’s all about maintaining a positive attitude, and strive to get better, whether it’s the certification programs or through clinics that are offered. I was fortunate to go to the Olympics and work with the top officials from some other countries, including Canada. Every night you step out onto the ice, be the best that you can be, whether you’re working novice, peewee or up to the higher levels of junior hockey.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 47

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BRADWATSON Career: 1996~Present I can really appreciate what the younger guys do, especially when I’m back watching minor hockey and see how some of the parents act. You have to enjoy it, but you also have to give effort and be prepared. When I was a young kid working in Regina and worked a bantam or a midget game, that was like the highest level I worked. That used to be my Stanley Cup. I worked hard and I believed in showing effort, and when you give effort, people will usually work with you (rather than complain) because they see you working hard. Hey, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and that’s the nature of this business. You get further ahead by respecting the game, and working your hardest. And kids need to be open-minded and learn from their mistakes. That’s the best thing I got out of the job when I was working the juniors. I learned so much when I was doing junior hockey. By being around good coaches and mentors in the officiating business, I became a student of the game. And I love it. I go into work and I look forward to it. I love seeing some of these kids play, because they’re so good. It’s a great sport.

DONHENDERSON

1994~2016

LINESMAN “If you’re a 13-year-old kid and you have a 40-year-old dad hollering at you, it’s very intimidating. And it’s very very wrong. I have a huge problem with it. I was lucky enough that when I did it, I was 21-years-old. I played major junior hockey. I was a young man, so if a 40-something guy was yapping at me, I could deal with it. It’s a lot different than dealing with it as a kid. I think the fans have to understand that everybody’s learning, and they have to realize that the boy or girl who’s officiating that game, they’re just a kid, too. None of us are perfect, and they learn from their mistakes. There’s only one way to learn, and that’s to make a mistake, especially in our game. I was told a long, long time ago when I started working in the NHL, when you make a mistake, say to them ‘I made a mistake,’ because there’s nothing else they can say to you. All they can say is ‘keep working hard – you gotta get better.’ It’s all they can say. They can’t berate you any more. I think some of the coaches and some of the parents take it out of context. They forget they were 13 once, and they made mistakes when they were kids, too. I strongly disagree with parents or coaches screaming at kids. It’s a real problem in our game, especially in minor hockey. I get paid to take abuse – I have no problem with it – I’ll take abuse. But for a kid that’s making 10 bucks a game or 12 bucks a game, that’s bull.

DANO’ROURKE

Career: 1999~Present

It’s a tough job to do if it isn’t part of your makeup. One of the things I can remember, I was 12 or 13, and I was doing a novice or atom game in Summerland, and I had three dads who were able to get down to ice level. There was no glass separating them from the ice, and they were yelling and screaming at the kids. It had nothing to do with them yelling at the officials, but I finally heard enough of them yelling at the kids that I stopped the game, and kicked them out. They said, ‘You can’t kick us out,’ and I said, ‘Well, you tell everyone else why we’re not playing anymore, because we’re not starting until you guys leave.’ I think it’s that sort of make-up that you need to be able to survive officiating. One of the things I’ve always asked when I go to the camps or seminars is who plays hockey. One piece of advice I always offer officials is to play hockey as long as you can, so that when you do officiate, you’re going to be one, a better skater, which is paramount to officiating, because if you can’t move and be in the right spots, you can’t make the appropriate call, and two, by playing hockey, you have an appreciation for what the players are going through. It doesn’t mean you have to play it at a high level, just play the game. It will give you a good foundation for how the game works. Understanding the rules gives you a lot of tools and lot of options. And just enjoy it. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine | 49

KERRYFRASER

Career: 1980~2010

Everybody copies what’s successful. Intimidation was the rule of the day, and of course taking my little man’s syndrome mentality into it, I wasn’t going to be intimidated. I had to learn that my best ally, aside from my knowledge of the game as a player, and my skating ability, was the ability to get players to play on my terms. And to develop respect and rapport. And it wasn’t by being a nice guy necessarily, it was by being fair and consistent. It was my first year in the NHL, and I wanted to let on that I was a veteran, that I belonged. It was a one-goal game with Toronto winning late in the third period. I missed a call or decided not to call something that Guy Lapointe thought was a penalty. Guy came over to me complaining about what he thought was a missed call. Wanting to let on Iike I knew who he was, I said, ‘Relax Serge,’ (probably thinking about Serge Savard who was on the ice at the same time). He looked at me and said, ‘My name is Guy, you rookie.’ And he stormed off. A couple of nights later I had to go to Montreal. I sent my skates in to get sharpened, and I’m waiting, when finally the attendant delivers my skates just as the anthem is about to be sung. I jam my foot in, and shaving cream oozes out. I go on to the ice, just before the national anthem, and there’s Guy Lapointe standing on the blue line with a big smile on his face. When my feet hit the ice, my left skate went one way, and my right skate went the other way. (The attendant also doctored up my skates.) I’m holding onto the boards during the national anthem, and afterwards, Lapointe comes over to me and says, ‘Hey rookie, how’re your skates tonight?’ And I said, ‘Guy, they’re perfect, just the way I like them.’ He laughed and I laughed, and it was a reminder to also not take yourself too seriously.

KYLEREHMAN

Career: 2008~Present

It’s the greatest game in the world. We’re just a small cog in the game, but we’re the necessary evil if you want to say it that way. Just to be out there with those players, and see what they can do, and watch their skill, it’s truly an honour and privilege to be out there. Work on your skating. For me, skating’s always been one of my bigger strengths. I’ve been lucky that way. That goes back to when I was a little kid. My dad always said if you want to play hockey, you have to go to power skating. I didn’t like it at the time, but I thank him now. You also need good communication skills. You can’t just go out there and referee and not have the ability to talk to anyone. I went to watch the Rebels play, and afterward, I went down to talk to the officials. I said to one of them that some of your best calls are your non-calls, but they’re also a verbal penalty, a warning. I said I’m not seeing enough verbal penalties with young officials. It’s either just a penalty or it’s not. But sometimes you can say to a player, ‘You know what, it’s close, but the game doesn’t need it right now.’ It’s not going to hurt us if we don’t call it. But you make sure that player knows that he’s right there on the edge, and if he goes any further, you’re going to have to make the call. And you’re not giving them a break, the game just doesn’t need that call at that particular time, in that particular moment. That’s managing the game. I’m not seeing that enough from younger officials. They need to do this more, and at the right time in the game.

WESMCCAULEY

Career: 2003~Present

Obviously you have to know the rules, how to skate, positioning, your mannerisms. The biggest thing is take care of the things you can control. Officiating sometimes requires a bit of a split personality, too. Sometimes you need to be tough, and sometimes you need to be a bit of a hugger. At the youth level, the hardest thing is the parents. A youth hockey player has a coach and gets to practice, but there’s really no practice for being an official, it’s just game experience. It’s hard, but you have to have a lot of self-evaluation. You have to be able to ask your peers how they would handle or call certain situations. Part of it is that you might not know you even made a mistake. You may not have a mentor or supervisor at every one of your games to give you guidance. The best advice I got early on, and because there was no video replay, was to get the goals (or non-goals) called right. Everyone wants to see goals. Get yourself in position behind the goal line to make the right call. If I’m waiving it off at the top of the circle, I’m probably catching the wrath of the players or coaches. I was always told early in my career, ‘Get to the line, get to the net, and make the right call.’

50 | Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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