Calgary Hockey Magazine Fall Edition 2015 by Suggitt Publishers

FALL 2015

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TABLE OF CONTENTS [Fall Issue 2015]

JAKE BEAN: Hitmen Defenseman Proves the Draft is not the Answer to all Hockey Dreams By Jeremy Freeborn

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

16 10

FLAMES HEAD COACH:

DANIELLE GOYETTE:

Olympic Champion & The Dino’s Head Coach

HOCKEY SHOT

Tip of the Month

By Jeremy Freeborn

Bob Hartley

By Jeremy Freeborn

WHAT’S THE POINT WITH HOCKEY POINTS? By Rob Suggitt

ARENA LOCATOR MAP

30 GAMES IN 30 NIGHTS

An Ultimate Fans Journey to see all 30 teams and arenas in 30 days

Dylan Leany

By Bob Gordon

SPOTLIGHT ON AN OFFICIAL

Calling All Gold Medal Winners If your child won a gold medal at the 2015 Esso Calgary Minor Hockey Week, we want to hear from you! Please complete the following information and send it in by December 15th, 2015 and your child could be featured in the 2016 Yearbook edition of the Official Calgary Hockey Magazine. Send in the completed entries along with a photo (preferably in a hockey uniform) to: Calgary Hockey Magazine, c/o Playhouse Publications Ltd., 10177 -105 Street, NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1E2 (If you include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope, we will gladly return your photo.) You can also e-mail your submission to: publisher@hockeymagazine.net

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Publisher’s Message Welcome back to another hockey season! In this issue of the magazine, we have a special article on local player Jake Bean, a player who was passed over at the bantam draft in 2013, who later won a spot on the Calgary Hitmen as a walk-on. Most recently, Bean participated in the national U-18 camp which took place this summer, as he prepared for the upcoming season. He is now projected to be a first round draft pick in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. We also have a feature article on former national player Danielle Goyette, who currently coaches the University of Calgary Dinos. Goyette was one of the top women’s hockey players in the world for over a decade, helping Canada win two Olympic gold medals.

Credits President and Publisher // Rob Suggitt Art Director // Christine Kucher Graphic Designers Cailey Buxton // Katelyn Suggitt Contributing Writers Jeremy Freeborn // Rob Suggitt Bob Gordon

On the professional side of hockey, we’ve included an interview with Flames head coach Bob Hartley. Hartley helped guide the Flames to the playoffs last season, and in recognition of his success, the league awarded him with the Jack Adams Trophy as NHL coach of the year.

Cover Photo Provided by Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club

We also have an interesting article on how points are calculated in hockey. Long considered the critical measurement of a hockey player (with the exception of goaltenders, and to some extent, defensive defensemen), this article questions how points are awarded. This is not about a different hockey metric, like Corsi or Fenwick, but a discussion on the way points are distributed for goals scored in the NHL, or any hockey league for that matter.

Photography Credits Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen Gerry Thomas - Calgary Flames Hockey Club Hockey Canada Images

On page 19 of this issue, we have an article on a crazy hockey fan who caught 30 NHL games in 30 days. That crazy fan was me, and while it seems a bit odd to be featured in the very magazine one publishes, I hope hockey fans enjoy reading about my experience seeing an NHL hockey game in every NHL arena. It was a trip of a lifetime, and to boot, over $45,000.00 was raised for Make-A-Wish. Finishing up, we would like to draw attention to a mainstay in the magazine – our “Spotlight on an Official” feature which graces the last pages of the magazine. We started this feature 14 years ago, and to date, over 40 young officials have been highlighted. We think it’s important to take the helmets off these young participants in the game so that parents, coaches and fans are reminded that officials are similar in age to the kids who play the game. Players make mistakes, and so do officials, but positive encouragement goes a long way to keep our kids involved in this great sport! If you know a young official you think is deserving of recognition, please send your nomination by e-mail to: publisher@ hockeymagazine.net.

Until next time, we wish everyone all the best this hockey season!

Copy Editing Shari Narine

Sales Associates Kerri Anderson // Lynn Schuster Administration Amber Grmek The Hockey Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd. - an affiliate of Suggitt Ltd.

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, Arden Theatre Playbill, The Fringe Theatre Adventures Arts at the Barns Magazine and the Calgary Opera Program. All Rights Reserved. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expresses within do not nessesarily represent the opnions of the publisher or Hockey Edmonton. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher - www.suggitt.com Printed By R.R. Donnelley

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Hitmen defenseman proves the draft is not the answer to all hockey dreams By Jeremy Freeborn Photos by Brad Watson // Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club

In the 2014-15 Western Hockey League season, one of the most interesting success stories took place in Calgary. After not being selected by any WHL franchise in the 2013 bantam draft, Calgary native Jake Bean was given a tryout by the Calgary Hitmen in 2013. He made the most of his opportunity. In 2014-15, Bean saw regular playing time on the Hitmen blue line and notched five goals and 34 assists for 39 points in 51 games.

“

I have a passion for the game. I

always loved the sport growing up. I really worked hard on it around that time. Despite not being drafted, I still just wanted to get better each day

“

and loved being out there. Jake Bean is now a projected first round draft pick in

the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. At 17 years of age, Bean has been fortunate to play in the Calgary region his entire hockey career. Among the organizations he has represented are Shaw Meadows, Springbank, the Northwest Calgary Athletic Association Stamps Bantam AA team and the Edge School. This past July, Bean was part of the national under-18 hockey camp, which was part of Hockey Canada’s Summer Showcase at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park. It is there where I spoke with Bean to look back at his hockey career and gauge his excitement for what is ahead. Bean was playing hockey by the time he was three years old and has played defense regularly since he was 10. Not winning many championships during his minor hockey career hasn’t coloured Bean’s memories. “I had lots of memorable moments just being with the guys. I made lots of great friends.”

Bean also comes from a hockey background. His father John is the chief operating officer of the Calgary Flames, and has been with the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation since 2010. Jake Bean says his father and his family have always been there for him. “My mom, dad and my sister have given me huge support in my life. They support me with any decisions I want to do and whatever passions I want to follow. I know they will be behind me. I am really grateful for them and I love them a lot.” Like many high performance hockey players over the last few years, Bean decided to attend a school that specialized in academics and athletics. From 2012-2014, Bean enrolled in Edge School, and had great success with the bantam and midget programs. “Sanheim is a great role model and a great friend. I learned so much from him this season. He helped me so much. He helps me with every part of my game. In every part of my life he was like a big brother and a mentor to me. I am really grateful for Travis and hopefully he too can have a big year.”

“It was a pretty special experience there. I had lots of great coaches and lots of great teachers. For me to play there was huge for my development. I had lots of extra opportunities to go on the ice and further develop my skills.” It could have been easy for Bean to give up his dream of being a high performance hockey player after not being drafted in the WHL. However, Bean continued to love his chosen sport and persevered. “I have a passion for the game. I always loved the sport growing up. I really worked hard on it around that time. Despite not being drafted, I still just wanted to get better each day and loved being out there.” For those bantam players, who are not selected into the WHL, but still have dreams of being a professional hockey player, Bean has these words of advice. “I think it (the draft) is important, but it is not that (very) important. When the draft happens it does not mean that anyone is that much better than they were the day before. Keep doing your best and as long as you are having fun, keep pursuing it.” Bean was thrilled when he got the chance to showcase his skills in front of the Hitmen organization. “I was excited. I was excited about the opportunity to stay at home and play for my hometown team. Obviously I have been watching them growing up. I am really grateful it all worked out. Just to be part of that program, I feel very lucky and honoured to be there.” This past season, Bean also had an opportunity to develop his skills alongside Hitmen defenseman Travis Sanheim, who was selected in the first round, 17th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. By playing next to Sanheim on a regular basis down the stretch this past year, Bean was able to learn a lot. Interestingly, though, the Sanheim-Bean blue line connection almost did not happen. According to Andrew Schoop, writer for the Calgary Hitmen website, Hitmen associate coach Brent Kisio was unsure of how well Sanheim and Bean would be able to gel because they were both considered offensive-minded defensemen. The two were put together in a game against the Red Deer Rebels on Jan. 14 and the coaching staff liked the results. Sanheim and Bean showed plenty of offense for the Hitmen this past season. They combined for 20 goals and 84 assists for 104 points. Throughout the season, they continued to be responsible defensively, with a combined +47. Sanheim was a +27 and Bean was a +20. Bean believes his strength on the ice is his effectiveness both offensively and defensively. “I think I am a two-way offensive defenseman. I think I see the ice pretty well and that‘s what helps me out the most.” But he knows there is always room for improvement.

“

I try to get better every day. Although it can sometimes get in your head, I know that if I focus on each day, and try to get better each day, I will set myself up for success.

“

In 2012-13, Bean had 19 goals and 34 assists for 53 points in 44 games with the Edge School bantam prep team. Then in 201314, Bean had 35 goals and 58 assists for 93 points in 83 games with the Edge School midget program. The fact that Bean scored 54 goals in a span of two seasons prior to playing for the Hitmen showed many scouts that he could have success being an offensive defenseman. Bean believed his decision to attend Edge School significantly fostered his hockey abilities.

“I am working on all my game to be better. You can never be too good in one area. I just try to work on the two-way game, be strong in the offensive zone and the defensive zone. That will hopefully set me up for success.” Bean had the opportunity to participate for Canada Black at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this past November in Sarnia, Ont. Even though Canada Black struggled, finishing seventh out of eight teams, Bean led Canada Black in scoring with four points and had fond memories of the event. “That was a huge honour to represent Hockey Canada. I felt lucky to be selected for that team. Unfortunately we did not get the results we wanted. It was a huge learning experience for me and I was really excited to go. The tournament showed me all of the other hockey styles played around the world and showed me how difficult it is to win. You see all the Canadian teams winning. It looks easy how they do it. It’s not easy and the tournament was enlightening for me.” Bean was also part of the Canadian team that won a gold medal at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Bratislava, Slovakia. Bean had one assist in five games. Bean isn’t dwelling on the National Hockey League 2016 draft, which is in June. “I am just trying to think about the process and taking it one step at a time. I try to get better every day. Although it can sometimes get in your head, I know that if I focus on each day, and try to get better each day, I will set myself up for success.” Bean’s goal this season is to help the Hitmen. He would like to win a WHL championship in 2015-16 and have the opportunity to participate in the Memorial Cup.

By Jeremy Freeborn

> > > > > > > >

In October of 2013, I was out to dinner with Kevin Smith of Global Sports prior to the start of our annual hockey pool. The Calgary Flames were playing their regular season opener that night in Washington and jumped out to a surprising 3-0 lead on goals by David Jones, Lee Stempniak and Jiri Hudler. Just the day before I read an article by Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun about how former Edmonton Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins was changing the culture in Edmonton and putting a lot more emphasis on physical fitness and pre-season training workouts. I mentioned the article to Kevin. Kevin then looked me in the eye emphatically, and said, “Jeremy, I have never seen a team work harder during training camp than the Flames.”

The person who was in charge of the Flames training camp was

their head coach Bob Hartley, who was hired on May 31, 2012. Success would not come instantly for Hartley in Calgary. In his first two seasons, the Flames finished 13th in the Western Conference, and many in the media had minimal expectations for the Flames heading into the 2014-15 season. The Flames were a huge surprise this past year. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Then they knocked off the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, for their first playoff series win since advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004. A major reason for the Flames success was their outstanding play in the third period of hockey games. The Flames tied the Tampa Bay Lightning for the most third period goals in 2014-15 with 99 (45 more goals than they scored in the first period) and were a +31 in the third period, second only to the Lightning. “Fitness is so valuable to a team,” said Hartley, in an exclusive interview for Hockey Magazine Calgary during the Flames annual development camp at the Markin MacPhail Centre. “We saw it last year. Our fitness, our training camp, the way we started the season, and our practice habits allowed us to generate comebacks in the third period. We had fresh legs and lots of energy which allowed us to overcome deficits and turn them into very important wins. We want to play an up-tempo system with speed and the only way we are going to do this is if we have 23 players, who are committed to conditioning.”

I remember meeting Brad Treliving as soon as he got the job as general manager and I told him, ‘I think we can be a playoff team.’ I really believed it. Another reason for the Flames success was team unity. As a group, the Flames worked together and had strong chemistry on the ice. “I was very pleased with the growth of the group. We had lots of youngsters that stepped up really well. Our veterans did an unbelievable job of leading the way. It was a total team effort. I think the Calgary Flames last season were definitely a big family.” Looking down the Flames lineup this past season, many players exceeded the expectations of those who follow the hockey club. The Flames defense had a breakout season, the strong nucleus of Flames forwards was better than expected, while the Flames goaltenders were statistically better than they were the previous season. But Hartley says the Flames did not exceed his expectations. “I remember meeting Brad Treliving as soon as he got the job as general manager and I told him, ‘I think we can be a playoff team.’ I really believed it. The way we finished the previous season, it was really encouraging and I knew the guys would come into training camp in great shape, which they did, and that allowed us to get going right from the start.”

Hartley has high praise for what Treliving has been able to accomplish since he was named general manager of the Calgary Flames on April 28, 2014. “Brad is a worker. He is relentless. Our team is an image of our general manager. Brad communicates really well. He makes us feel valued. We feel good around Brad. During the season, he asks, ‘What do we need?’ and ‘What can I do for you?’ It is always done in a way that is very positive and constructive.” The Flames’ success this past season did not go unnoticed. Hudler won the Lady Byng Trophy (presented to the most gentlemanly player in the NHL) and Hartley became the first Flames head coach in franchise history to win the Jack Adams Award, which is presented annually to the coach in the National Hockey League that has contributed the most to a team’s success. Hartley was humbled by the award. “Personally, I believe in team. To the credit of management, our scouting staff, our players, my coaching partners and support staff, we surprised lots of people and that’s probably why I was nominated and won the Jack Adams Award. I look at the Jack Adams Award as a team effort. I was the one designated to pick up the award, I guess.” Before joining Calgary, Hartley spent five seasons each with the Colorado Avalanche and Atlanta Thrashers, winning a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2001. In the season prior to coming to Calgary, Hartley won the 2012 Swiss-A championship with Zurich. Hartley was excited for the opportunity to coach the Calgary Flames. “I was so excited to come to Calgary because I wanted to coach in a Canadian market. Now I am in a Canadian market, where hockey is basically a religion. That’s where you create expectations. Fans know exactly what is going on out there. They come to the game to see their favourite team win. There is a real respect factor between our fans and the organization. We are proud to play hard for them. We will do everything to make them proud of us. You want to represent the community with pride.” There are currently 3,700 registered coaches within Calgary minor hockey. Hartley offers his words of wisdom to the many coaches, who are trying to achieve success. “Show your passion to your players. It is important to communicate, to be demanding, but at the same time, be fair. I think the coach-player relationship is a relationship you can build.

I was so excited to come to Calgary because I wanted to coach in a Canadian market. Now I am in a Canadian market, where hockey is basically a religion...

It is also important to treat people the way you like to be treated and be open-minded. The players are the actors. They are the performers. Don’t be stubborn. Ask them for feedback. They are the ones on the ice and they are the ones sometimes with the great ideas. I have a great relationship with my players. Sometimes you have to cut the line somewhere, but every decision I make is to benefit the Calgary Flames. It is not to benefit myself. You need to be the ultimate team guy.” Hartley has high praise for two 2015 off-season acquisitions. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins stands 6’5”. “His style of play will fit in really well with the way that we play. He has so many years to mature and so many years to get better. At 21 years old with the Boston Bruins he was already a stud in the NHL. Obviously, we got bigger, stronger and faster. He is going to be a big part of our hockey club.” Hartley calls second acquisition left winger Michael Frolik from the Winnipeg Jets “probably one of the best two-way hockey players in the NHL. He is very solid defensively. He has great speed, good hands around the net. I would like to try and increase his offensive role with the organization.” As for personal goals for the 2015-16 NHL season, Hartley’s expectations are lofty. “My ultimate goal is always a Stanley Cup. I tell the players all the time, as soon as you become a playoff team, you can really turn your focus to the ultimate goal. We have an 82-game schedule in front of us. We are looking for consistency. We are looking for discipline. I will challenge the players to be even better than last year. Last year we earned more respect from teams in the league. Teams will be approaching us in a different way this year. Early last season we might have surprised a few teams. I think teams will now be ready for us and there will be some games that will be tougher to win. At the same time, the expectations cannot change and expectations need to keep growing. We are a young hockey club. Last year we had nothing to celebrate. We did our job and we have to find a way to do it better next year.” Flames fans have the right to be excited. They have a head coach with an excellent regular season career record of 428-321-113. As Hartley continues to stress the importance of his principles and philosophies in coaching, the Flames have the potential to be a serious contender for years to come.

< < < < < < < < < < < 11

WWhat’s The Point

With Hockey Points? W [By Rob Suggitt]

In this day and age, there are lots of

systems for “advanced stats” in most North American sports leagues. Baseball got things going in the early part of this century, and most sports fans and teams soon learned what “Moneyball” meant. The NHL is no exception. In hockey, the most commonly known (and used) advanced stats are Corsi and Fenwick. While new stats and measurements have delivered some value, there is one statistic (probably the most important statistic) which remains the most valuable measurement of a player’s value to a team, the statistic for how the game is won or lost: goals and assists. Combined, they’re called points! Yes, goaltending and defense matters, but every player (except goalies) is critically measured on how many points they tally in a season. (Indeed, plus/minus stats give players credit just for being on the ice when a goal is scored…for or against, and regardless if their play was a factor or even if they touched the puck.) Points are like a batting average in baseball or baskets made in basketball – the most critical measurement of a player’s value to his team. The scoring leader is often considered the most valuable player on his team or in the league. The scoring leader is awarded one of the most prestigious trophies in hockey – the Art Ross Trophy. Ten out of the last 20 Hart Memorial Trophy winners (MVP) scored the most points in the NHL. And 18 out of 20 Art Ross t rophy winners were finalists for the league MVP award. So I think we can all agree that points matter! But here’s the thing – there is a certain imbalance to how points are awarded. Some goals are unassisted, so only one point is awarded, and some goals are only given one assist, and the vast majority of goals are awarded two assists. And not all assists contribute equally to an ensuing goal. Some assists are awarded for handing over the puck to another teammate, while some assists are glorious creative plays which are the reason a goal was scored. But equal credit is given in both cases.

Corsi: Named after former Buffalo Sabres netminder Jim Corsi, Corsi is the plus/minus amount of shots directed at a net while at even strength. This includes blocked shots, shots high and wide, shots that hit & shots that get tipped. A player who has a positive Corsi has more shots directed towards the opponent’s net while he is on the ice at even strength then shots directed towards his own net under the same criteria. All 10 players on the ice are used when calculating this metric.

Fenwick: Named for Battle of Alberta writer Matt Fenwick, Fenwick is almost the same as Corsi, but it doesn’t count blocked shots. The reason for this is that it is entirely possible that blocking shots is a skill, and not just a random series of events.

So how are assists awarded? It’s a bit arbitrary, but essentially it is deemed to be the last two players to touch the puck immediately before a goal is scored. But what does “touch the puck” mean? A goalie who shuffles the puck to a defenseman is given a point if only one more player touches (or passes) the puck to the goal scorer. In this case, did the goalie actually help create the goal? If a great puck-moving goalie like Martin Brodeur, Ron Hextall or Marty Turco makes an actual pass to a player waiting at centre for example, and a goal is scored, they should absolutely get an assist. But what about a defenseman who simply shuffles the puck to their teammate en route to a goal being scored. How valuable was the defenseman’s “play” in this example?

From NHL Rule Book: Crediting Assists - When a player scores a goal, an “assist” shall be credited to the player or players (maximum two) who touch the puck prior to the goal scorer provided no defender plays or has control of the puck subsequently. Each “assist” shall count one point in the player’s record. Only one point can be credited to any one player on a goal.

From Wikipedia: In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were “assisting” in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal. The assists will be awarded in the order of play, with the last player to pass the puck to the goal scorer getting the primary assist and the player who passed it to the primary assister getting the secondary assist.

A defenseman (or sometimes another forward) may be given a point by merely passing the puck up to a forward, who may with certain creativity dangle around the whole team before putting the puck in the net. Is the defenseman’s play as valuable as the goal scorer’s play? Not even close in the example, but they are each awarded the same value on the scoresheet: one point.

And what about the difference between the first assist given and the second assist given? In most cases, would the pass, which immediately leads up to the goal, be more important than an earlier pass given? And what if there are three equally good (and important) passes which lead up to a goal? So no credit is given to more than two passes which lead up to a goal, even if the first pass (in a three pass segment) was more creative and complex than the second and third passes. What about the player who intercepts the puck in his own zone, and goes coast to coast to score a highlight reel goal? Should this count as only one point, or should some consideration be given to the quality of the goal? If a maximum of three points are awarded for a goal, should an individual effort goal count for three points? A little far-fetched perhaps. And how subjective would this measurement be? And could it be fairly and equally applied? How about screening the goalie? If a player stands in front of the net, and a goal is scored because of his screen, is this not as critical as a first or second pass which led up to the goal? But here’s the challenge. How do you come up with a system (or metric) for calculating points based on merit? One which more accurately measures the actual “value” of a player’s contribution when a goal is scored. It becomes a subjective exercise, but if it’s purpose is for internal use, (not necessarily for public consumption, or awarding trophies) it could be useful information to assist NHL teams on player talent, one which could potentially measure a player’s offensive productivity better than the current model. To compare and test a new system to the current system, you would need to have a “cap” on the number of points awarded for each goal. If, for example, you awarded three points for every goal scored, this would exceed the current average number of points awarded for an NHL goal. Using last year’s stats as an example, the Flames scored 241 goals, and the combined total points scored were 664. So not exactly three points for every goal scored, because some goals were scored unassisted (8) and some goals were only awarded one assist (52), and the vast majority of goals (190) were given two assists. This totals 664 points divided by 241 goals and works out to 2.76 points per goal. Calgary ranked near the league bottom in unassisted (and two assist) goals, so the league average would probably be closer to 2.70 points awarded for every goal scored. So if the league average was 2.7 points awarded for every goal, what would be a better (and more representative way) to award and distribute these points? The current model works okay, but I think there’s a better (and more reflective way) to award points.

Calgary Flames Goals Scored 2014-2015 Season

Unassisted goals One assist goals Two assist goals

Total goals scored: 241 goals One thing for certain – the current way hockey points are awarded and recognized has some flaws. It's rare to see a goal scored, where the goal scorer and one or two playmakers have equal value participation with the end result. It's not usually "good goal," "good pass," and "good and equal pass" when a goal is scored. Sometimes it's "easy tap-in," "amazing pass," and "okay pass" when a goal is scored. Or it could be "amazing goal," "okay pass," and "amazing pass." And for those who say these things balance out – sometimes you get credit for an easy pass, and other times you get credit for an amazing pass – things don't always balance out. So the challenge is to find a system which better reflects the real value provided when a goal is scored.

Stay tuned. In our next issue of the Calgary Hockey Magazine, I will unveil this new system, along with the new stats calculated in actual Flames games played this season, and compare these new stats to the current model.

Arena Locator Map [Calgary and Area]

3 2 14

13 20

6 9 21

11 16

ARENA ADDRESSES 1. Acadia Recreation Centre

9. Flames Community Arenas

17. SAIT Arena

2. Bowness Sportsplex

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[By Jeremy Freeborn]

The woman considered the best hockey player in the world in the 1990s will be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame at a prestigious ceremony in Toronto this October. In the 1990s, Danielle Goyette was the best women’s

hockey player in Canada, and possibly the world. She led Team Canada in scoring at the 1992 and 1994 Women’s World Hockey Championship and the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. In 172 games, she notched 114 goals and had 105 assists for 219 points. At the end of the 2015 women’s hockey season, Goyette ranked fourth all-time in points on the Canadian national team, behind Canadian women’s hockey legends Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette. Goyette was also a two-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time world champion. Since her official retirement from Team Canada on Jan. 20, 2008, Goyette has focused her attention on coaching. She has been the head coach of the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hockey team since May 9, 2007. Goyette brought instant credibility to a struggling Dinos hockey program. In 2005-06, only two seasons before Goyette’s arrival, the Dinos finished with a record of 2-18 in the Alberta Collegiate Athletic Conference—not even the Canadian Interuniversity Sport level. With significant determination, tenacity and pride (the same qualities that helped make her a star on the ice), Danielle Goyette helped revive university women’s hockey in Calgary.

In fact, within five years of being named the Dinos head coach, the University of Calgary Dinos were the 2012 CIS Women’s Hockey Champions. They captured their first national title in school history by beating the University of Montreal Carabins 5-1 at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton. The Dinos have not won the national championship since 2012, but have remained competitive. Goyette is as passionate as ever about women’s hockey. She is now entering her ninth season coaching the Dinos. Calgary has been her home since 1996, when she left her native Quebec in order to learn English. “I couldn’t speak English,” recalled Goyette. “I was on the Canadian national team from 1991-1996. I knew if I wanted to go to the Olympics, I had to learn English.”

Goyette was able to get a job at Calgary’s Olympic Oval. When she was not working, learning English or playing hockey, she would train twice a day. Goyette would represent Canada at the next three Olympic Winter Games. While living in Calgary and before her coaching career flourished, Goyette starred for Calgary’s Oval Xtreme, where she won three Abby Hoffman Cups (National Women’s Hockey Championship in 2001, 2003 and 2007), the National Women’s Hockey League Championship in 2003 and 2004, and the Western Women’s Hockey League in 2005 and 2007. The team was stacked. It included Wickenheiser, Kelly Bechard, Dana Antal, Colleen Sostorics and Cassie Campbell—all Canadian Olympic gold medalists. In the 2004-05 regular season, the Oval X-treme went undefeated (20-0-1) and outscored their opponents 152-18. Playing with so many elite athletes on a regular basis brought back fond memories for Goyette. “I felt we had players that could push me day after day to be the best I can be. I loved my time here when we played together at the Oval.”

“

Following the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Goyette continued to play hockey. She decided to compete at the 2007 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Winnipeg, where she helped Canada win the gold medal. Goyette wanted to win a gold medal for Canada one last time on home soil at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. A week after winning her eighth world championship, she received a life-changing phone call.The University of Calgary Dinos offered her the head coaching duties of their women’s hockey program. Goyette accepted the position, and continued to play hockey. But after a few months of trying double duty, she realized in order for her to be a successful coach, she needed to give up playing the game she loved.

“When I do something, I try to do my best. I knew I could not do both to the best of my ability.” An offensive power while on the ice at the beginning of her career, Goyette needed to learn the defensive side of hockey and learn how to be responsible in her own zone later in her career to stay on the national team. Goyette says only two-way players make the Canadian national team today and stresses the importance of offense and defense when coaching the Dinos. Since becoming the Dinos head coach, Goyette has learned a lot about herself as a person. “I can change. I didn’t think I had the character to be a head coach when I started. I was the kind of person that wanted to be liked by everybody. Now I have to be the person that has to make the hard decisions, such as cutting players. It is something that is difficult. I keep putting myself outside my comfort zone all the time because I want to grow as a person. You cannot be the same person year after year. You need to adapt to your players. It is not up to them to adapt to you. You need to adapt to them. Especially with the new generation, we have to be more open. Communication is important, but you cannot be the same with everybody.”

The players are training full time at a younger age, and when you’re training full-time and specialize so young, you get better faster.

”

Having playing experience herself has helped Goyette in the coaching role, especially when it comes to the psychological aspects of hockey. “To know how the players think, I think it gives me an edge. For example, if you think of the Olympics, when the players get there, everyone is at the same level. They are there because they worked hard. What is going to make the difference is the mental part of the game. I think that I have played, and been in their shoes, helps me a lot.” It has been nearly a decade since Goyette retired from the Canadian national team, and according to her, the landscape of women’s hockey has changed significantly.

Photos Courtesy of Hockey Canada Images

“The speed of the game has changed. Players are better today because we have a national under-18 and under-22 program for women’s hockey players. When I was playing, we did not have the under-18. The players are training full time at a younger age, and when you’re training full-time and specialize so young, you get better faster.” Goyette was responsible for convincing the legendary Hayley Wickenheiser to join the Dinos. She spoke to Wickenheiser after Canada’s 5-0 semi-final win over Finland at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Wickenheiser initially did not take Goyette seriously, but after further conversations in the summer, Wickenheiser thought joining the Dinos would be a good fit. She would be able to go to university to further her dream of entering the medical profession, and would be able to train and play hockey regularly, while remaining close to her family. Goyette says Wickenheiser, who has one year left of eligibility with the Dinos, has been a welcome addition and is a leader by example. “She’s not just a great hockey player, but is a great student. She really affects the team in general. By being a perfect student (has a grade point average of 4.0), when students around her see that, they know they can do the same thing.” In 2015-16, the Dinos will be hosting their second consecutive CIS Women’s National Championship at the Markin McPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. At the 2015 CIS National Women’s Hockey Championship, the Dinos were hammered 8-2 by the University of McGill in the quarterfinals. Even though the Dinos lost by six goals, the team was competitive with McGill for the majority of the game, according to Goyette. “I think the loss was a good learning lesson for our team. My worry when we got the nationals was the possible attitude of the players—‘Oh, we don’t have to work too hard (during the season) because we’re going anyway.’ (Dinos get an automatic berth because they are the host team). Going there and not doing too well, hopefully we learned a lesson.

“ ” I feel this is the best job in the world.

When we go there, we have to make sure we don’t get beat game after game at nationals. We want to represent our league and university properly. I don’t want to be embarrassed like we were last year.” Goyette expects further coaching adjustments will be required this season. She believes that it will be a challenging year as the Dinos will have between seven to 10 new faces. Many coaches do not use the term rebuild. However Goyette used the term without hesitation to describe what she will be facing in 2015-16. In fact, she is looking forward to working with the younger players and stresses the importance of her players working together as a collective team rather than relying on outstanding individual performances to achieve success. For those young Canadian women who have an interest in coaching hockey, Goyette has the following message. “Go and help with programs. Right now we have so many camps for women’s hockey. When you put your foot in the door, that is when you gain experience. Surround yourself with people who have been there before. When you surround yourself with coaches, you can learn pretty fast.” Goyette looks forward to coaching the Dinos in the long term. “I feel this is the best job in the world.”

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Games 30 in 30 Nights [By Bob Gordon]

One Ultimate Hockey Fan’s Journey to see Every NHL Team and Arena in 30 Days

For more than 10 years, Rob Suggitt (who just happens to be the publisher of the Calgary Hockey Magazine) wanted to see an NHL game in every rink, and finally his wish came true. Some would call it a “bucket list” trip, but for Suggitt, it was a “wish list” trip! For many years, Suggitt plotted out the “30games-30nights” trip, but for a variety of reasons, he always found a way to put it off to the next season. When looking at the NHL schedule for the 2014-2015 season year, Suggitt decided to plan the trip to take place the last 30 days of the regular season.

These would be meaningful hockey games, and with the games taking place in March and April, weather conditions (and flight delays) would be less likely. You see, Suggitt’s company has been a big supporter of Make-A-Wish for many years, so he knows how special it is to see a wish granted. As Suggitt put it, “It’s easy for me to take a trip like this and grant my own wish, but for kids who are stricken with a life-threatening medical condition, to have their wish granted is so significant and so special.” Suggitt also determined that he wanted to finish the 30games-30nights trip in Toronto, and the schedule-makers were prescient enough to schedule a Leafs-Habs game on Hockey Night in Canada on the very last day of the season.

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It’s easy for me to take a trip like this and grant my own wish, but for kids who are stricken with a life-threatening medical condition, to have their wish granted is so significant and so special.

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For Flames fans, the last 30 days of the 2014-2015 regular season were stressful and exciting, but for one fan, the last 30 days of the NHL season were all that and much more!

When chatting with Make-A-Wish last fall, he shared the details of his “crazy” trip. After a bit of brainstorming, a plan was formalized to do this trip as a fundraiser. As Suggitt recounted, “First and foremost, I wanted to make sure it was not a net proceeds trip. All costs related to the trip, the airfare, hotel and hockey tickets, would be my own, as they should, so that 100 percent of what people donated would go directly to Make-A-Wish. Suggitt set a goal to raise $30,000 (apropos given the 30games-30nights theme), and he eclipsed his goal significantly, raising over $45,000, which is enough to grant five individual wishes. There were many highlights in his journey. Suggitt started his trip on the east coast with games in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Boston, the Boston Bruins game taking place on St. Patrick’s Day. From there it was off to Florida to see the Panthers and Lightning play. Tampa Bay made him their Social Media Captain, and gave him a tour of the arena, including the dressing room, and he got to see the players warm up with a soccer ball before the game. From Florida, Suggitt headed off to Dallas and Arizona before making his way back to Canada for games in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. In Calgary, Suggitt was presented with a special Flames jersey (#30) by Harvey the Hound, one of five special jerseys he was given during his trip. “Calgary fans are great! The “sea of red” is incredible – to see so many fans decked out in their home team jerseys is awesome.”

morning skate at Air Canada Centre (for both the Leafs and Canadiens), met up with Bob Cole and Brendan Shanahan. From there, he was given a tour of the NHL offices, spent an hour in the “Situation Room” where disputed goals are decided. Thereafter, he was given a tour of the Hockey Hall of Fame, then headed off to CBC for a TV interview, and a tour of the HNIC studio and set. “The icing on the cake were the presentations made by Honda Canada and Molson Canadian. Honda donated $10,000 to Make-A-Wish, and Molson Canadian generously donated $6,500 to help reach my goal,” said Suggitt. Suggitt did not take the trip to amass memorabilia or gain free access to hockey games. He donated all team or player signed jerseys to be auctioned off with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish. For any tickets provided to him by NHL teams, Suggitt donated an amount of equal value to MakeA-Wish. But there were a couple of items (aside from the memories) which Suggitt will treasure. “After my tour of the NHL offices and war room, I was presented with a Tiffany sterling silver game puck, and they insisted that I not auction this off, but to keep it as a keepsake from my trip. Molson Canadian also presented me with an “Anything for Hockey” beer fridge. They didn’t drop it off from a helicopter, but they did present it to me at the Leafs game, with Wendel Clarke there for the presentation. It’s one-of-a-kind, with the name of my trip on the fridge, and a map showing all NHL teams visited. Very, very special.”

Suggitt remembers that the media attention skyrocketed in Canada and continued for the remainder of his trip. All told, Suggitt did about 50 interviews with various media including CBC, Hockey Night in Canada, Global TV, Fox Sports, The Huffington Post, Canadian Press, and a number of local sports stations and newspapers, all which helped promote the charitable aspect of his trip.

As for other special memories, Suggitt will remember the hockey fans – the people he met in every city. “The support was amazing. I wore a very identifiable jersey throughout my trip (and yes, he washed it along the way), and people would come up to me and ask about the trip, and many times offer to buy me a beer. I would tell them to donate to Make-AWish, and I would buy them a beer. But a few people would insist on doing both,” Suggitt said with a chuckle.

“It seemed the more media attention given to my trip, the more money was raised for Make-A-Wish. And social media was a huge factor. I did not have a Facebook page or Twitter account until about a week before I left for my trip.” Suggitt’s website was also a huge hit. He wrote daily blogs about the NHL cities visited, and over 55,000 people visited his “30games-30nights” website. “Things spiked after my interview with NHL.com, which took place in St. Louis for game 16 of my trip. I was averaging about 500-1,000 visits up to that point, but for two solid days, the website visits were 5,000-6000, then 1,000+ for the balance of my trip.”

Favourite rinks? Suggitt named three at the top of his list. “Nashville and Columbus surprised me. Great hockey fans, and a great environment, and their arenas are located in the downtown area, with lots of pubs and restaurants surrounding their arenas. Madison Square Garden – same thing – downtown New York, near Times Square. MSG was completely renovated four-five years ago – they spent about $1 billion, about twice the cost to build most new modern day arenas. Just beautiful, and the fans are great too. A bit coarse sometimes, but that’s New York.”

Suggitt’s last day was the most special day of his trip. He arrived in Toronto early for his 30th stop and attended the

What was a typical day like on his trip? “Every day was different, every city was different, and so were their fans. But a typical day started with a 5 a.m. wake-up call, grab a bite, head to the airport (27 trips were by airplane, 2 were by car, and one by train), getting there early to make sure I made my flight, check in at my hotel, and if I was lucky, take a quick nap. I would always head to the arenas about two hours before game time, so I could talk to the fans, check out the arena, before settling in for the game. Afterwards, I would head back to my hotel, and work on my blog, and probably put head to pillow around 1 a.m. Then do it again the next day. It’s amazing that I made every puckdrop, and in fact, I made every pre-game skate.” Any close calls? “I had a very close call on game #29, flying from Montreal to Columbus, with a stopover in Toronto. I boarded the plane on time, but just after the plane left the gate, it was stopped on the runway for some mechanical issues. We sat on the tarmac for over two hours, but in the end, I still arrived in Columbus at 5 p.m. for their 7 p.m. game.” Best food along the way? “At first, I had this idea to try out the most popularly recommended arena food in each city, but after 4 or 5 games, I decided that I was not going to be a food critic. If I had a hot dog, it was just a few bites, and most of the time, I grabbed a salad or fruit plate, which is a departure from what I would ordinarily treat myself to at a hockey game,” said Suggitt laughing. “I actually lost eight pounds on the trip. I guess it was all the running around, and nervous energy expended along the way.” Does Suggitt have any plans to do this trip again, maybe when the league expands to 32 cities? Or any plans to do a baseball or football trip? Suggitt’s answer came quickly, one he must have considered before. “My cup is full. I feel very fortunate to have been able to take this trip, and I’m proud of the money raised for Make-A-Wish. If the league expands, I will certainly catch a game in the new rinks, but I will leave it to someone else to do a 32 games in 32 nights trip. As for baseball or football trips, I’m not a big enough fan. I grew up loving hockey, and I love the game today. It’s my passion. Maybe that’s why I publish a hockey magazine. It’s definitely not for the money.”

If you want to check out Suggitt’s blog and report on all 30 rinks, you can visit his website at 30games-30nights.com

How to Shoot Better With Effective Weight Transfer Whether you are a novice hockey player or an experienced one, learning how to transfer your weight properly is a great way to improve your shot. You can prepare yourself, or your team, to use weight transfer strategies with some simple hockey drills. Using your leg muscles will give you an explosive shot, so you can take the best advantage of your scoring opportunities.

Here’s a quick three-step technique to making a great shot from in front of the net:

Bend your knees slightly – your legs are your strongest muscles, and this stance gives you the balance and mobility you want. Line your stick up with the puck to shoot.

Load up the muscles in your leg opposite where the puck is. Get your whole body ready to propel the puck at the net.

Use the “Nose to Toes” move: --> Start with your head above your back leg where the muscles are coiled ready to push forward. --> Your stick should have the puck drawn back like a catapult ready to spring, with your front foot pointed at the net. --> As you move the puck forward along the ice, push your whole body towards your target with your leg muscles, sliding the puck forward as you go. --> As you move the puck forward along the ice, push your whole body towards your target with your leg muscles, sliding the puck forward as you go.

You’ll notice if you try this technique without bending your knees, you won’t have the power, mobility or balance needed to fire the puck with the snap and power you want to give the net that great twine push you really want. Transferring your weight properly makes the puck go faster and makes the goalie’s job that much harder. Practicing this weight transfer technique on dry land is a good way to get you used to the motion. The explosiveness of your shot will really improve, so be sure you put a net in front of the garage door. Things could get expensive. When you are ready to take the move to the ice, be ready for your team to ask you for tips on improving their shot too. Be sure to share this video with them so the whole team can amp up their game.

HockeyShot Extreme Passing Kit This is a great product to help you work on and improve your one-timers: http://www.hockeyshot.com/HockeyShot-Extreme-PassingKit-p/passing-aid-013.htm

Your wrist shot, backhander or slap shot should follow these techniques. The “Nose to Toes” move will give you the best balance and power in your shot. To get used to this movement, be sure to go through some hockey drills in practice with your team. You can also practice it with your road hockey net with your friends.

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Dylan Leaney [By Rob Suggitt] We met up with 17-year-old Dylan Leaney in early September, just as he was getting ready for the new hockey season. Dylan is in his first year of studies in the faculty of Education, majoring in math and minoring in chemistry. Dylan began officiating hockey about three years ago, and he also enjoys curling and ball hockey. His other hobby is keeping reptiles, including multiple species of snakes and geckos. Dylan took the time out of his busy schedule to chat with us about his experience as a minor hockey official.

Photos by SC Parker Photography What made you want to become a hockey official? I began officiating about a year after I quit playing hockey so I missed being on the ice and being around the game. A couple of my friends were getting into it so I decided to join them! How many games did you officiate last season? Somewhere around 150 is what I would guess. How many games do you plan to officiate this season? As many as I possibly can, if I can do even more games than I did last season it would be awesome. What level of hockey are you currently officiating? I am currently doing all levels from novice to bantam lines. Have you ever officiated during Minor Hockey Week, and if so, what makes you volunteer your time? I have officiated Minor Hockey week every season since I’ve started. 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! Do you have any highlights related to big games or tournaments to pass along? I officiated a few Minor Hockey Week finals and they are some of the greatest games I’ve been a part of! What do you enjoy most about officiating hockey games? Every game is something new, no two games are ever alike and you have to be ready for pretty much anything. It’s very exciting! What kind of training were/are you provided? Each season we have a one day clinic with both on ice and in class instruction. New officials have to complete an online course as well.

Do you have a role model or mentor who has helped you along the way? There’s so many great people I’ve had the chance to learn from but the first name that comes to mind is Duncan MacDougall, my referee in chief. He’s given me some great opportunities and helped me a lot along the way. How have you improved your skills as an official? Simply doing games and learning from all the great officials I’ve had the chance to work with. Through the supervision program that we have I’ve received advice, guidance and new ways in which I can improve my game. What is the toughest part about being a referee? Trying to ignore any comments and just focus on making the best calls and decisions that I can. Ever suffer any injuries as an official? Any close calls? Nothing too severe. I did learn very early on the importance of wearing proper shin pads, took a couple pucks and sticks there that left some nasty bruises! How do you handle criticism on the ice? Personally I try to zone it out. You do your best to always make the right call but there are certain situations where no matter what you do one team isn’t going to be too happy. I try to always explain any calls I’ve made, or haven’t made, that the coaches or players don’t understand or could be considered controversial. Do you have comments you wish to share with parents, coaches or anyone watching minor hockey? Never forget the real reason your kids are playing the sport; don’t get so caught up with everything else that you forget the true love you and your kids have for the game.

Checking From Behind

Signals 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 Bantom 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 accross 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 eachother in front of the chest.

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), coupled with a two or five minute penalty, depending on the severity of the offense. The refereeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signal is a pushing motion away from the chest with both arms and flat hands.

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 immitates 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 flagrent high-sticking fouls, including ejection from the game. The referee signals a high sticking call by clenching their fists and mimicking a player holding a stick above their shoulders.

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 accross 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 forearem.

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.