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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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12
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16
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5.
Publisher’s Message
6.
Making A Point By Jeremy Freeborn
9.
Hockey Helps the Homeless By Maurice Tougas
12.
Alberta Sled(ge) Hockey Star By Jeremy Freeborn
15.
Arena Locator Map
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16. Farewell to Hockey, For Now By Jennifer Jeffrey 18. Striving to Defend Olympic Gold By Jeremy Freeborn 21.
Edge Hockey School By Jeremy Freeborn
23. Spotlight on an Official: Matt Richard By Rob Suggitt
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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Welcome to our Winter Edition of the Calgary Hockey Magazine! In this edition of the magazine, we have a feature article on Brayden Point who plays for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL. Point grew up in Calgary, playing for the Blackfoot Chiefs, before moving on to the AAA Bisons of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League. Point is making a name for himself in the WHL, and the future looks bright for this Calgary native. On an international scale, the Canadian women’s team is preparing for the Sochi Olympics, and we took the time to chat with a few players as Canada gets ready to defend the gold medal which the team won in 2010. We also have an article on Steve Arsenault, who is the lone Albertan on the men’s sledge hockey team that won a gold medal at the 2013 World Sledge Hockey Championship in South Korea. Canada finished a disappointing fourth at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, so Arsenault and the Canadian team are hoping to springboard their recent gold at the World Championships to a gold medal in Sochi. On a “feel good” level, readers will be interested in an event which took place in Calgary back in November. Former players – including Joel Otto, Perry Berezan, Brendan Morrison and Theo Fleury – got together to help raise awareness (and more importantly funds) for the homeless community. This event, aptly named “Hockey Helps the Homeless,” raised over $300,000 for its outreach partners: the Boys and Girls Clubs, In From the Cold, the YWCA, and Habitat for Humanity. In wrapping up this edition of the magazine, we have a submission from one of our readers, related to her son’s “retirement” from minor hockey. The years go by quickly, and for the vast majority of minor hockey players, a professional hockey career is neither desired or fulfilled. For most who play minor hockey, it’s a great experience, one filled with great memories and friendships made along the way. If you have any ideas or suggestions for an upcoming edition of the magazine, please pass it along. Maybe it’s a coach who goes the extra mile, maybe it’s a young minor hockey official making his or her way, or maybe it’s a hockey event making a difference in the community. If it’s hockey related, we’re all ears!
Credits President and Publisher Rob Suggitt Art Director Christine Kucher Graphic Designers Cole Mckelvie | Cailey Buxton
Contributing Writers
Jeremy Freeborn I Jennifer Jeffrey Rob Suggitt | Maurice Tougas
Copy Editing Shari Narine
Photography Credits
Hockey Canada Images | Stephen Simon Edmonton Sled Hockey Club | Edge Hockey School SC Parker Photograhpy
Cover Photo
Epic Photography
Administration Suzanne Peacock
#950, Bell Tower, 10104 - 103 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 0H8 Ph: 780-423-5834 • Fax: 780-413-6185 The Hockey Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd., an affiliate of Suggitt Group Ltd.
President & CEO Tom Suggitt President & CFO Rob Suggitt All rights reserved. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. 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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DO YOU
HAVE A
MINOR
HOCKEY Sincerely, Rob Suggitt Publisher,
STORY
We are always open to suggestions for articles and stories, and in particular, at the minor hockey level. If you have a suggestion for a story, please pass it along to publisher@hockeymagazine.net.
TO TELL?
CALGARY HOCKEY MAGAZINE
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On Nov. 17 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a Western Hockey League game between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Calgary Hitmen, Warriors’ centre and Calgary native Brayden Point stickhandled the puck behind the Hitmen net with ease. This was an area of the ice that Wayne Gretzky notoriously dominated during the prime of his career, and to this day is still known as “Gretzky‘s Office.” Once Point positioned himself to the side of the net, he delivered a perfect pass to Tanner Eberle, younger brother of current Edmonton Oilers star Jordan Eberle, who put the Warriors up 2-1 at the time. Moose Jaw would go on to lose the game 3-2, but Point’s successful pass illustrated why he is projected to be a first round draft pick in the 2014 National Hockey League entry draft. Point first played minor hockey in Calgary with the Blackfoot Chiefs. He also played for the Calgary bantam AAA Bisons in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League, the Calgary midget AAA Buffaloes in the Alberta Midget Hockey League, and the Calgary South Flames in the 2011 Alberta Cup. Point also played for the Calgary Junior Flames spring/summer squad and was team captain. Point’s most prominent season while playing hockey in Calgary came in 2010-11 when he led the AMBHL in assists with 60 and points with 102. He and Tyler Wong of the Airdrie Xtreme were the only two players that season to notch 100 points. After an unbelievable 2011 season, the Warriors drafted Point with the first pick, 14th overall in the Western Hockey League bantam draft.
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“He is a coach’s dream,” said Warriors head coach Mike Stothers. “He just does everything the right way. He works hard. He competes and has an uncanny ability to either maintain the puck or get the puck back. It just seems to follow him around. It’s amazing how a guy of his smallish stature is able to compete and win all of the one-on-one battles for pucks. He sees the ice and makes unbelievable plays. He’s got great vision and competes like a guy who is 6’4”. It’s a joy to have him. Every day in practice I get to watch him. Every day is the same thing. He never takes a day off.” At 5’9”, 160 pounds, Point is not the biggest player on the ice but he makes up for his lack of size with determination. Point is on a mission to be the best player he can be, and follow in the footsteps of his childhood idol Markus Naslund, of the Vancouver Canucks. At 5’11”, 195 pounds, Naslund was not the biggest player on the National Hockey League ice surface either. After the Penguins traded Naslund for Alex Stojanov on March 20, 1996, in one of the most lopsided trades in hockey history, Naslund went on to become the Canucks’ all-time goal leader with 346. For those scouts who have questioned Point’s size, he has this response. “That is their decision. You know I think my compete-level gets me through the size issue and I just try to prove them wrong.” However, Point does realize his personal strength is one of the things he needs to work on in order to play at the next level. “There’s always lots to learn and always lots to work on,” he said. “That is something every hockey player knows. It is the overall strength right now and the speed in my game is what I’m working on.”
Stothers says the Warriors’ coaches are working with Point at faceoffs, an integral aspect for many players who have aspirations to become an elite centre. A major reason why scouts are interested in Point is because the 16-year-old was second in scoring (both goals and assists) for the Warriors last season. Point registered 24 goals and 57 points in only 67 games. Point also led all Western Hockey League players in scoring among players who were born in 1996. He showed he could post respectable offensive numbers playing with and against players much older than him.
This past summer, Point led Canada to an unprecedented sixth consecutive gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Piestany, Czech Republic. Point had one goal and three assists in five games, including two assists in the championship final, a 4-0 Canada victory over the United States. Point was named the gold medal game’s most valuable player. Being part of a gold medal-winning team for Canada in a prestigious international tournament was meaningful for Point.
Scouts look not only for outstanding playmaking ability when assessing players, but also the mental aspects of the game. Stothers has been impressed with Point’s hockey IQ at only 17 years of age.
“That was awesome. I got to meet a lot of really good guys there. I had the honour of being coached by some good coaches (Canada’s head coach was former NHL player Dale Hunter), and I got to see competition that’s the best around the world, and winning the gold was huge for us.”
“I just think that he is one of those rare kids that comes along. His hockey sense and his hockey awareness are far superior to most of the players at this level.”
Point says he does not make personal goals, only team goals, and is focused on helping the Warriors make the post-season after
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missing the playoffs a year ago. During his rookie season with the Warriors in 2011-12, Point led Moose Jaw with seven post-season goals after playing in only five regular season contests. Despite the fact he puts the team first, Point admits he has fondness of the bobblehead doll the Warriors created of him for 2013-14 season ticketholders. “That was nice of them to do that and it turned out really good. It’s another thing I got to experience at a young age.” Finally, Point understands the significant pressures that are in place for players projected to go high annually in the National Hockey League entry draft, but insists he is not trying to focus on the draft too much. “I’m not trying to think about that when I’m playing. It’s the coaches who are playing me and it is their expectations I am trying to reach,” said Point. “It is their game plan I am trying to do and if an NHL scout happens to like it, then I’m all for that. To get drafted would be nice. If not, it’s no big deal.” It is clear that Point’s team-first approach is something that scouts and general managers should praise as his career progresses. While it is too early to tell if Point will be the next big hockey superstar, there is no doubt he has strong character skills that could lead him down that path.
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Back in 1996, a soft drink company executive organized a one-day hockey tournament for people in the industry. Today, that same executive oversees a nationwide series of hockey tournaments that combine the fun of playing with former NHLers with the serious business of fighting homelessness. When the Hockey Helps the Homeless tournament wrapped up in Calgary at the WinSport Arena on Nov. 1, it kicked in hundreds of thousands of dollars towards helping the homeless in Calgary, adding to the $5 million raised nationwide since the organization began. Gary Scullion, the president and CEO of Hockey Helps the Homeless, was with the Coca-Cola Company in Toronto in the 1990s. One of his jobs was to organize a fun hockey tournament for people in the industry, which was held at the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens. The response was tremendous, Scullion recalls, so much so that a couple
of his friends suggested that they charge a nominal fee for the tournament and turn the money over to a charitable cause. But what cause? At the time, the issue of “squeegee kids” (homeless teens who would squeegee car windows at stop lights, whether you wanted it or not, in return for money) was a hot issue in Toronto. With homelessness the issue of the day, Scullion and his friends came up with the idea of turning the proceeds of the tournament over to organizations that help the homeless. From there, Hockey Helps the Homeless was born. The first tournament in 1996 raised $8,300, and, said Scullion,“We realized that we were onto something.” In the beginning, Scullion and the other organizers took a hands-on approach to their mission. They used the proceeds to buy what they called “survival kits” for the homeless — hats, gloves, scarves, sleeping bags, etc. “We would actually load up a couple of vans, and go into the streets of Toronto and find homeless people and hand them out,” he said. That probably wasn’t the most efficient way to spend the money, but for Scullion, meeting the homeless was “a life-changing moment. “Just engaging with the homeless made me realize that no one in this country should be homeless. That drove my passion and the passion of other committee members.”
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What separated Hockey Helps the Homeless from other fundraisers was the inclusion of former NHLers. Hockey Hall of Fame member Mike Gartner, a popular ex-Maple Leaf, enlisted some of his former teammates to join the cause. With the added element of beer league hockey players getting a chance to play with actual National Hockey Leaguers, the idea took off. In 2000, Hockey Helps the Homeless branched out to Montreal, where it met with similar success. That’s when it dawned on Scullion that the concept should be expanded to every Canadian city in the NHL. Scullion, who was then running Cadbury Canada, decided in 2007 to turn his attention to running Hockey Helps the Homeless fulltime. With a CEO in place, Hockey Helps the Homeless expanded to Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa from 2008-10, and this year Edmonton, Winnipeg, and London, Ont. joined. From the germ of an idea in 1997, Hockey Helps the Homeless now has four full-time staff members and a growing army of 250 volunteers. Most significantly, the organization has more than quadrupled the money it will give out to organizations that work with the homeless this year — more than $1 million this year alone. Since it began in 1996, Hockey Helps the Homeless has raised more than $5 million and distributed it to dozens of organizations that aid the homeless. “The whole idea is to provide a pro experience for a day to the average Joe — and Jill,” said Scullion. Players get the VIP treatment, complete with pro-style jersey, on-site sports therapist, a chance to rub shoulder pads with two former professional players per team, and post-tournament banquet. Each player chips in $150 to reserve a spot on a team. But their spot is not guaranteed until they raise a minimum of $350. With the money raised from the players, and the assistance of dozens of national and local sponsors, a typical event raises between $200,000 to $300,000 for a one-day tournament. More than 150 former NHLers have participated over the years. In Calgary, Theo Fleury has been a regular participant, acting as the
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spokesman for the organization. For this year’s tournament, Fleury was joined by former pros Brendan Morrison, Perry Berezan, Ray Cote, Jamie Macoun, and Joel Otto. On the women’s side, national team player Bobbi-Jo Slusar and Olympic gold medalist Meaghan Mikkelson were among those skating. Just under 300 players participated in the tournament. When all the pledges came in, Hockey Helps the Homeless was able to turn over $315,000 to its Calgary outreach partners: the Boys and Girls Clubs, In From the Cold, the YWCA of Calgary, and Habitat for Humanity. “What we’re trying to do as an organization is to leverage this great national pastime to really help educate and maybe change people’s perceptions about why people are on the street,” said Scullion. “It’s not just the individual who has a substance abuse problem who is on the street — over 50 per cent of people living on the streets suffer from mental health issues, and the fastest growing population on the street is youths under age 18.” Scullion is quick to add that Hockey Helps the Homeless wouldn’t exist without the volunteers who donate their time to running the show in each city. The support of volunteers allows the organization to keep its organizational costs low. Seventy-six per cent of the net revenue generated from the tournaments went directly to support outreach programs across the country last year. This year, Scullion hopes that number will reach 85 per cent.
For more information on the tournament, go to www.hockeyhelpsthehomeless.com. Hockey Magazine
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Two weeks after the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, the best disabled athletes in the world will have their turn to capture the spotlight as the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi begin on March 7. The Canadian Paralympic Committee will be sending a men’s sledge hockey team to compete against the world’s best. Like the Canadian men’s and women’s Olympic hockey teams, there are high expectations. At the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, Team Canada will try to rebound after a disappointing fourth place finish at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. One of Canada’s top sledge hockey players is defenceman Steve Arsenault, from Spruce Grove. Arsenault was the only Albertan on the men’s sledge hockey squad that won a gold medal at the 2013 World Sledge Hockey Championship in Goyang, South Korea. As a teenager, Arsenault broke his hip after falling down a flight of stairs. Following reconstructive surgery, Arsenault was still in significant pain. After another trip to the doctor, he was diagnosed with avascular necrosis. Arsenault experienced a rapid growth spurt at age 10, which weakened his hip and pelvis. After complications in surgery, his femur lost its strength. Arsenault is able to walk, and does so with a limp because one leg is shorter than the other. Presently, he is waiting for a hip replacement. There is a common misconception that sledge hockey is only for disabled athletes who are confined to a wheelchair. But that isn’t the case.
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Arsenault realizes how fortunate he is to be able to walk. There are players on the team who are either in more pain than him or are confined to a wheelchair. “It’s not like it’s that bad of an injury in comparison to some,” he said. “I’m lucky I’ve been able to get through it in a lot of ways.” Arsenault first started the sport in 2004 playing with the Edmonton Sledge Dogs. A year later and since then, he’s been with the Edmonton Impact. Initially, Arsenault was not sure what he had gotten himself into. “At first, I thought it was one of the most frustrating sports I’ve ever played,” he said. “You know where to be and you know how to play the game, but my skills just weren’t there to play it. But I developed them pretty quick and it seemed like my career flourished from there.” This is Arsenault’s second stint with the national sledge hockey team. He played 23 games internationally for Canada from 2005-2008, and was also on the team that won a gold medal at the 2007 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Kelowna, BC. Arsenault took two years off from competition before rejoining Team Canada following the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. He returned to the game to honour his mother Jill and good friend Matt Cook. Arsenault’s mother passed away unexpectedly when he was 19. Cook, who also played for the Edmonton Impact and the Canadian national men’s sledge hockey team, died of bone cancer two weeks after the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
Then, two years ago, Arsenault suffered a serious shoulder injury. He has since recovered and is ready for an important hockey season. Arsenault says there is a “high level of toughness” that exists in sledge hockey compared to the style of hockey played in the National Hockey League.
“If you look at training methods, a lot of things have changed. There are a lot of different programs being put in place. Our coaching staff is unbelievable,” Arsenault said.
“If anything it’s more physical,” he said. As a defenceman, Arsenault has to make adjustments to play the position, considered one of the most difficult in hockey. The most significant adjustment is that sledge hockey defencemen cannot skate backwards. It means having to find other ways to get back to the action when the opponent takes possession of the puck. “It can be very challenging,” said Arsenault. “You have to be very patient and make sure the guys are in the right position. At first PK (penalty killing) was also a little difficult because positioning is a little different. The sticks aren’t also as long (as ice hockey), so puck protection is a little bit different and you don’t really have that reach.” Winning a World Sledge Hockey Championship in 2013 was special for Arsenault. “It was huge. For me, it was the biggest event I have ever participated in. It was unreal and showed that my hard work finally paid off. It was nice to have that. I celebrated. With Sochi coming up, this can be used as a stepping stone. It’s a huge accomplishment, but we have a bigger goal that we are working towards.”
Heading into the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, Team Canada is a younger squad this time around. The previous team had an average age of over 30 years old. Among those trying to earn a spot in Sochi, the average age of players is 25. “The team has really changed,” said Arsenault. “There were a lot of retirees and we brought in a younger team. The younger players coming in hone different skills the veteran players maybe didn’t have. It just changed the game a little bit. The team now is a lot faster and I think are better hockey players versus the Vancouver team.” One of Arsenault’s role models on the team is forward Dominic Larocque. Larocque is a corporal with the Canadian Armed Forces, who lost his leg during an explosion in Afghanistan. “When you meet guys like that, it puts things into perspective for you,” said Arsenault. “They may not be NHL players, but they have a lot you can learn from.” Arsenault is also close to his Edmonton Impact hockey coach, Dean Krawec, who plans to travel to Sochi to see Arsenault compete for Canada. “Steve has grown a lot,” said Krawec. “I started coaching him when he was an early teenager. He has grown into a really great player and a great friend on and off the ice. It is great to see how much he has improved. He sees the game well and is very good in the defensive zone. He takes pride in shutting down the opposition.” As Hockey Canada grows as an organization, the Canadian men’s sledge hockey is starting to reap the rewards.
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These past 10 years I have had the good fortune to be a hockey mom (Westwood Minor Hockey). A while ago I met some other moms and we ended up talking about our kids and what they were up to. These moms were involved in another winter sport. I casually mentioned that of all the efforts I had ever been a part of with my children, being a hockey mom was hands down my favourite. One of the other ladies said to me, “Wow, I’ve never heard that before.” I was almost affronted. Seriously?! You’ve never heard anyone say that? Was she kidding me? I said something in return such as, “Yes, my son never got hurt (despite the statistics) and it was a lot of fun.” But I wanted to say so much more. Now that my son may leave the sport due to another competing sport interest, I am remembering what it all was that made hockey so much fun. First off, even with two brothers who played hockey, I never intended to enroll any of my children in the game- something about keeping their teeth, I think. But at age six our boy really wanted to try it out and so began one of the most fun and rewarding parts of our parenting life. Admittedly at times I have been frustrated with the amount of space that the hockey equipment has taken up. There has also been a bit of driving involved. Thanks to refereeing and hockey school thrown into the mix we probably have many dozens of hockey sticks, several hockey bags, a pass rebounder, 30 square feet of fake ice and a skate sharpener -and that’s just in the basement. We never did figure out the perfect storage situation. Many a time our living room has been taken over as a mock Saddledome, with
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mini-hockey nets and furniture shoved aside to accommodate the action. The last few years we perfected the art of making an ODR (outdoor rink). This is pretty hilarious considering our yard is sloped and small. Every time we needed to take the garbage or recycling out we had to cross the ice and could barely open the gate. For the first time in many years we face a season with no hockey. NO HOCKEY! Yikes! I can’t even imagine a Canadian winter without going to #17’s games. Soon, much of the equipment will get stored somewhere, and yes, I know it sounds weird, but I will even miss that stinky hockey equipment smell! So how did it sneak up on me, this fondness for hockey? In the early days, it was just so exciting to see the kids get to the puck, and then to know which net to dump the puck in to score for their team (I remember fondly the time a teammate made a nice shot on the wrong net). Even now as I pass by young kids playing at arenas it is hilarious to see the goalies play while lying down and the other kids sprawled out on the ice while learning the game. With all their practices, shinny, mini-hockey and goofiness, I know that all that selfdiscipline they have developed will help turn many of the little cuties into highly skilled players. From tyke to midget the subculture that is hockey is one of the most delightful you could ever know. Little boys/girls will learn a whole new language and pranks, maybe even hairstyles, that are part of the fun of being a kid. This year at the wrap-up party, my son also learned to play poker with the other guys. Hey, it was a midget hockey wrapup! The kids will experience some sense of connection and have fun being a part of something. Of course they will also learn to work together as a team. Things might not always be perfect- but that’s life and they learn to deal
with that. I remember one time in the early days when my son’s team lost a game. I made the mistake of saying something to the effect of the goaltending not having been too strong and- wow! My son stuck up for his goaltender like you would not believe. He had his back. I later learned that the poor kid had a bit of a meltdown in the change room. I was proud of my son for standing up for his teammate when he perceived that I had judged him unfairly. At one of our recent hockey tournaments (the fun kind that takes place in a small rural town) we ended up playing a game with a team from another city and this team was really struggling as they had estimated the level/division wrong for this tournament. Anyway, our coach, realizing that nobody likes a game that’s unbalanced, made our forwards play defence and the defence play forward. Not only did our players do that with good grace, but our kids actively cheered and high-fived the other team when they scored. A parent from their team approached my husband after the game and said that our team’s sportsmanship was much appreciated. We were all so proud of our sons’ respect and encouragement to the other guys. One of my son’s teammates actually commented on the ride home that he had a lot of fun playing forward for a change, “Because usually I have to stand there and look menacing.” Hilarious. This young man always struck most of us as more of a friendly, surfer-dude type of guy anyways. Oh, and did we win? No, but man, it was an exciting game; we lost the A final by only one goal. I think the whole town turned out to watch and some members of the team we encouraged stayed to cheer for us! I will miss all the kids. They are a spirited bunch! I’ll miss all of the parents, coaches, ref-coordinators and rink staff I’ve met, too. A lot of the fun in hockey has been in socializing, celebrating, encouraging and commiserating with other parents.
The people involved in hockey have been a passionate, dedicated, fun-loving group. Often the same kids and parents get re-cycled from year to year and it’s great to see familiar hockey parents in the community and catch up about their son or daughter’s progress in the various leagues. A few times we were the recipient of some encouraging or congratulatory emails and it was much appreciated. We’ll probably stop in at our local arenas next season and watch some of our son’s old teammates play. Who knows, maybe he will come back to the sport again. I know he will be up for some shinny with his friends in the meantime. There have been celebrations, struggles and lots of laughter, learning and great entertainment. If anyone reading this is thinking about putting their son or daughter in hockey: go for it. It could be the best thing you ever do!
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By Jeremy Freeborn Photos courtesy of HockeyCanada.ca
At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Edmonton’s Meaghan Mikkelson and Shannon Szabados were integral members of Canada’s national women’s hockey team that won a gold medal. The pressure is on every year for the Canadians to succeed because the women’s programs in Canada and the United States are the most elite in the world. The pressure is magnified in an Olympic season. And Mikkelson and Szabados are as determined as ever to help Team Canada win its fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal. Szabados is currently considered by many as the best women’s goaltender in the world. Her statement game was the gold medal final at the 2010 Olympics where she made 28 saves for the shutout in a 2-0 win over the US. Szabados also shutout Finland in the semifinal, and only gave up one goal in 180 minutes of action throughout the Olympic tournament. Her amazing play earned her the title of top Olympic goaltender in 2010. The path to Olympic glory has been different for Szabados compared to most of her teammates on the national women’s team. Over the last decade, Szabados has played in the Western Hockey League, the
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Alberta Junior Hockey League and the Alberta Collegiate Athletic Conference, with and against men. This past season with the NAIT Ooks, Szabados set ACAC records with most shutouts (five) and lowest goals against average (1.58) in a season, as NAIT won the ACAC championship. Szabados has never felt intimidated by playing with the opposite gender. “No, I think it is just normal for me,” she said. “I started when I was five years old playing with guys, and kept going with it. It was never out of the ordinary for me.” Szabados has also experienced personal heartbreak in recent years. In April of 2010, Matt Cook, one of Szabados’ former teammates with the Bonnyville Pontiacs, passed away with bone cancer. During the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Szabados had the message “FLM” on her mask, which stood for “Fight Like Matt.” Sadly, Cook, who lost his leg to cancer, was unable to represent Canada in sledge hockey at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. When Cook was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, Szabados found companies in Alberta to sponsor her one dollar for every save she made throughout the season. In this way, she has helped raise $6,750
for the Alberta Cancer Foundation to date. Now, four years after her Olympic triumph, Szabados is a national team veteran. “It’s a little different,” she said. “I think it’s an honour. It’s nice to be a little older and a little more experienced, and help out the younger players and the team in any way I can.”
Mikkelson says her parents are a major reason she has had so much success in the game.
The rivalry between Canada and the US has been fierce leading up to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. On Oct. 12 in Burlington, VT, Canada and the US had a scrum in the third period after American Jocelyne Lamoureux bumped Szabados after she made a save. Szabados’ teammates came to her defense.
“My dad has such an amazing hockey mind and is a mentor. I consider him as one of my best friends and (he) is the smartest man I know. I’m very lucky to have him. At the same time, my mom is a huge role model for me. She lost her father and mother when she was 24 years old. She taught me to never give up.”
“It was fun,” said Szabados. “Anytime we play them, they’re intense battles. The women’s game is a physical game. It was fun to be a part of and kind of brought us together. The girls are great and I think they showed how much they care about our team and how close our team is. Something like that happens and it brings our team closer together.”
Mikkelson played with boys in the Regina and St. Albert minor hockey associations before playing a season with a women’s team in St. Albert, and then with the Calgary Oval Extreme in the National Women’s Hockey League in 2002-03.
Mikkelson comes from a hockey family with deep roots in the game. Her great uncle, Jim McFadden, won the Calder Trophy in 1948 and then the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 1950. Her father Bill played four NHL seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders and Washington Capitals from 1972-1977. Her brother Brendan currently plays in the American Hockey League after spending the last five seasons in the NHL and her husband Scott also spent time in the American Hockey League as a goaltender.
“Playing boys hockey wasn’t always easy,” she said. “Boys would give you a bad time and even some parents said, ‘You don’t belong in the game of hockey.’ It was a challenge I think, but at the same time it served as motivation. My parents said to me, ‘Those people are going to say those things, so go prove them wrong.’ That’s what I tried to do.” Even through those hardships, Mikkelson realizes how fortunate she is to be Canadian. There are more opportunities for North Americans to play women’s hockey than Europeans.
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“Canada is such an amazing place for a female hockey player to grow up,” she said. “Especially recently, it has grown significantly and I think we’re very fortunate to have the support system that we do. Hockey Canada has some amazing programs in place.” After graduating from high school, Mikkelson went to the University of Wisconsin, where she was coached by Mark Johnson, son of former Calgary Flames head coach Bob Johnson. Under Mark’s tutelage, Mikkelson moved from wing to defence, the position she has had on the Canadian national team since 2007. Mikkelson also won back-to-back NCAA national women’s hockey championships (Women’s Frozen Four) in 2006 and 2007. Following the success of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Mikkelson and Szabados helped Canada win the 2012 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Burlington. The gold medal victory had significant meaning for Team Canada because the US pounded Canada 9-2 in round robin action. Canada rebounded with a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory over the Americans in the championship game. The US however is the reigning World Champion, having defeated Canada 3-2 on April 9, 2013, in Ottawa. For those Canadian women hockey players who dream of playing on an Olympic team someday, Szabados said, “Have fun and work hard. You can accomplish anything you want as long as you’re working hard.” Team Canada will play its first game at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi against Switzerland on Feb. 8.
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By Jeremy Freeborn Photos courtesy of Edge Hockey School
For 14 years, Edge School has provided students with the opportunity to maximize their potential in athletics and academics. The school, currently located in the community of Springbank, across Highway 1 from Calaway Park, has grades five to 12 and offers students a chance to pursue their athletic passions at a high performance level in the sports of golf, figure skating, soccer, dance and Canada’s number one pastime, hockey. Edge offers a school development program and team program at the prep, bantam and midget levels. The elite teams play on average 50 games a season throughout North America in various tournaments, league play and exhibition contests. The demands on the students are high. Edge School is becoming an elite academy in Alberta for high performance hockey players to consider. The list of alumni is impressive with 2010 Calder Trophy winner Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres, Mathew Dumba of the Minnesota Wild, Joe Colborne of the Calgary Flames, and Thomas Hickey of the New York Islanders. Students do not have to be on the Edge School hockey team to attend the school. Some students who are part of the skill academy play for organizations outside of Edge while developing their skills at the school.
Edge School also offers a hockey program for girls. “There aren’t as many outlets for female hockey as there are for male hockey right now, especially at the higher levels of competition. What we’re providing is an opportunity for those to become better players,” said CEO Cam Hodgson. The hockey director of the Edge School’s Skill Academy has a wealth of hockey experience. Scott Atkinson came to Edge School in 2009 after spending a decade (1991-2001) as the head coach of the men’s hockey team at Mount Royal College, and then at the University of Calgary as the Dinos’ head coach from 2001-2009. Unlike most hockey programs for teenagers in Alberta, Edge School offers hockey development sessions for players in a classroom setting to go over particular strategies, as well as on-ice practices on a regular basis in the arena attached to the school. “The hockey development piece just doesn’t happen on the ice,” said Atkinson. “We get a chance to see video on the bus. We get a chance to see some video during the week.” As well, Atkinson gets a greater opportunity to interact with both his players and his coaching staff. “The interaction we have between coaches benefits our players,” he said. “We get to exchange our ideas in a think tank environment. That doesn’t happen in most hockey organizations. I can’t name one where there is actual theoretical, philosophical and pragmatic exchange of ideas that benefits the athletes.” The fact that the students are in a school where there is a strong understanding between their coaching staff and their teachers is also beneficial to them as they mature.
“I think there is a closely knit relationship between the academic side and the athletic side. That is important to reinforce.” Hockey Magazine
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“There has to be the understanding of the holistic development, academically, athletically and character development,” said Hodgson. “So you are developing them hand-in-hand and not developing one at the expense of the other. We want our student-athletes to achieve excellence in all three of those spheres and that’s what we’re designed to do. Our student-athletes want to achieve and see how far their athletics can take them, and be set up well for post-secondary. I’m not going to apologize for students wanting to become excellent. We’re doing what we can to facilitate them to become excellent.” Students also can be part of the Edge Flex Academy. This is for student-athletes who train off-site because the school does not offer their chosen sport, and need to miss school to train and compete. The academy has the resources available for the students to balance their demanding academic and athletic schedules. Next year, according to Hodgson, the school will be offering a multisport academy, allowing younger students an opportunity to try all the sports the school provides. Hodgson stresses that student-athletes do not need to have excellence either academically or athletically to attend Edge School.
“Everyone is on the same page,” said Atkinson. “I think there is a closely knit relationship between the academic side and the athletic side. That is important to reinforce.” Atkinson says that “science has shown” that kids learn the best in the afternoon. That is why many of the hockey practices take place in the morning, so students can concentrate on the academics late morning and in the afternoon. Students also learn the skills at Edge School to prepare for the future in their hockey careers. “When you graduate from this program, you are pretty well ready to play junior because you are used to travelling, used to managing your time, managing your nutrition, academic commitment and managing your rest,” said Atkinson. “The school is based on challenge. The key piece is to nurture them. We have processes in place that allow them to grow. When you take a look at the kids’ schedule, it’s tough. So, you have to learn how to manage it.” From an academic standpoint, students have personal learning plans and scheduled tutorial times with their instructors. The studentathletes also have online accessibility to work on assignments when they are on their numerous road trips. Hodgson is pleased with the progress that has been made from an educational perspective. “Last year was the best academic year in the history of the school, as measured on the diploma exams. We’ve seen lots of growth there. Enrollment numbers (currently at 326) are going to come as we maintain doing what we do really well. We have attention to detail in all of our academies and enhance the facilities we have to offer a credible and authentic academic program.” Some of the courses at the school are also sports-based, related to sports medicine, sports psychology and nutrition. At the teenage level, many student-athletes face the additional issue of burnout as they have difficulty forming a healthy balance between their academic, athletic and personal lives.
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“It doesn’t have to be that the kids are necessarily competing at the highest standards to be able to take advantage of what we have to offer here. But if someone has a passion of developing a sport or if someone has a passion of building in an active lifestyle in conjunction with their athletics, this is the place to go to accomplish that.”
For this issue of the Calgary Hockey Magazine, we met up with 16-year-old Matt Richard as he was getting ready to go on the ice for a peewee game that night. Matt is in his fourth year as a hockey official, and still plays hockey at the midget level. Matt took a few minutes before his game to answer a few questions about his interests, and most particularly, what it’s like to be a minor hockey official. Aside from officiating hockey, what other sports or activities do you participate in?
I play hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the spring. I used to play lots of sports in school like volleyball and basketball but stopped when I got into high school. In the winter I like to snowboard and in the summer longboarding. I also like spending time with my friends and family.
When did you start officiating hockey?
I started officiating as early as I could (at 13 years of age), which was in September, 2010.
What made you want to become a hockey official?
I wanted to become an official because I love hockey and I wanted to make some money, so doing both together is just a bonus of reffing.
How many games did you officiate last season?
I’m not 100 per cent sure how many games I officiated last season but it was probably close to about 40 games.
Approximately how many games do you plan on officiating this season?
This season I hope to get in about 50 games…the more the better.
What level of hockey are you currently officiating?
I do all levels and ages from novice to midget and from teir 1 to tier 7.
Have you ever officiated during Minor Hockey Week, and if so, what do you like about this event?
If you want to move up in officiating, people really notice your hard work and dedication. Plus it’s good for your experience and its usually good hockey. It’s just exciting to be apart of such an exciting week, especially to see the little kids get so excited.
By Rob Suggitt Photos provided by SC Parker Photography
I heard you had a very interesting finish to a game which took place two years ago. Can you tell us about it?
A minor hockey week final game ended in a penalty shot and apparently the losing team did not like the call. The team starting yelling and screaming at us as we left the ice. The rink attendant saw what was happening and thought that he should escort us out of the arena.
What do you enjoy most about officiating hockey games?
I really enjoy the game of hockey and it is an enjoyable way to earn some money.
What kind of training were/are you provided?
My first year reffing, I attended a two-day clinic with an on ice session. And every year since then I have attended a one-day clinic to refresh my skills.
How have you improved your skills as an official?
I have improved my skills by just taking in all the advice that other referees have given me and by getting supervised along the way.
What is the toughest part about being a referee?
I think the toughest part is probably dealing with the coaches, but you learn to deal with them.
Ever suffer any injuries as an official? Any close calls?
I have been pretty lucky, the only thing that has happened to me is being hit by a puck.
How do you handle criticism on the ice?
I handle criticism by reminding myself that it’s not personal and letting the teams know that it is just a game. That usually quiets the coaches down.
Do you have comments you wish to share with parents, coaches or anyone watching minor hockey?
The only comment I would have is to remind everyone that we play and officiate hockey for the fun of the sport and that in the end it is just a game.
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CHECKING FROM BEHIND
If a player pushes, body-checks or cross-checks an opponent from behind, a checking from behind penalty may be called. It’s a game misconduct (ejection), coupled with a two-minute or fiveminute penalty, depending on the severity of the offense. The referee’s signal is a forward motion of both arms, with the palms of the hands opened and facing away from the body, fully extending from the chest at shoulder level.
BOARDING If a player is checked into the boards in a violent manner, then the ref may call a boarding penalty. A two-minute penalty will be assessed for boarding, and in situations where the offense is more serious (when a player is vulnerable, etc.), a five-minute major penalty and game ejection may be called.
BODY-CHECKING Body-checking is not allowed until the peewee level. Delivering a body-check in the lower divisions will result in a two-minute penalty being assessed.
BUTT-ENDING If a player jabs (or attempts to jab) another player with the shaft of the stick above the upper hand, a butt-ending penalty may be called. The referee holds one forearm over the other; the lower is moved back and forth, across the body.
CHARGING If a player takes more than two steps or strides, or jumps into an opponent when body-checking, a charging infraction may be called. The referee signals by rotating clenched fists around each other in front of the chest. Since body-checking isn’t allowed until the pee wee level, you will rarely see this called in the first few years.
CHECKING TO THE HEAD
A minor and misconduct penalty, or a major and game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the referee, based on the degree of violence of impact, shall be assessed to any player who checks an opponent to the head area in any manner. A match penalty could also be assessed under this rule. If a player is injured, a major and game misconduct penalty, or a match penalty must be assessed.
CROSS-CHECKING When a player uses the shaft of his stick, held between the hands, to check an opponent at any height. The referee signals with a forward and backward motion of the arms with both fists clenched and about a foot apart. (This signal imitates the action of a crosscheck.)
ELBOWING This is when a player is checking an opponent with his elbow. The referee signals by tapping either elbow with the opposite hand.
HIGH-STICKING This occurs when checking an opponent with the stick above the normal height of the shoulders, either purposely or accidentally. A more severe penalty may be called for flagrant high-sticking fouls, including ejection from the game. The referee signals this call by clenching both fists and mimicking a player holding a stick above their shoulders.
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HOLDING This is called when a player grabs an opponent’s body or stick with the hands. The referee motions this call by grabbing either wrist with the opposite hand in front of his body.
HOOKING This is called when a player slows down an opponent by hooking his stick on any part of the opponent’s body or stick. The referee signals this call with a tugging motion with both arms.
INTERFERENCE This penalty is called when a player impedes the progress of an opponent who doesn’t have the puck. The referee signals this call by crossing his arms in front of the chest.
KNEEING If a player uses his knee (or sticks his knee out) to take down or check an opponent, the referee may call a kneeing penalty. If the infraction is of a more serious nature, the referee may consider this a major penalty (and a game misconduct) instead of a minor penalty (two minutes).
MISCONDUCT
This penalty may be called when a player exhibits extreme and inappropriate behaviour toward another player or a game official. Depending on the severity of the offense, the player may be given a 10-minute misconduct or game misconduct penalty. It is also a game misconduct when a player checks another player from behind. With the exception of checking from behind, the penalized team does not play shorthanded.
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ROUGHING This penalty may be called when a player uses his arms or fists to hit or punch another player. The signal for this call is a clenched fist and arm extended out to the front or side of the body.
SLASHING This penalty is called when a player deliberately hits an opponent with his stick. The signal for this call is a chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm.
SPEARING Spearing occurs when a player thrusts or jabs the blade of his stick at an opponent. Players are usually ejected from the game for spearing. The signal for this call is a jabbing motion with both hands thrusting out in front of the body.
TRIPPING This penalty may be called when a player uses his stick or any body part to trip the puck carrier. If the player touches the puck prior to contact with the player, there is usually no penalty called. The referee signals this call by striking their leg with either hand below the knee (usually bending down to do so), keeping both skates on the ice.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT This penalty may be called when a player exhibits poor sportsmanship or inappropriate behaviour on the ice.
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