Calgary Hockey Magazine Spring 2016 by Suggitt Publishers

Spring 2016

TRAVIS SANHEIM A HIT WITH THE

HITMEN

FEATURE INTERVIEW: Former Hitmen Player

Flames Legend: LANNY MCCDONALD

RYAN GETZLAF

SUNDAY FUNDAY! MARCH 6 - 4:00 PM | MARCH 13 - 4:00 PM | MARCH 20 - 1:00 PM

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CALGARY HOCKEY MAGAZINE

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

16 TRAVIS SANHEIM: Offensive Defenceman Scores First Round NHL Entry Draft 5

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

LANNY MCDONALD:

RICK BALL:

Former Flame Integral part of Hockey Hall of Fame

The Voice of the Calgary Flames

11 RYAN GETZLAF:

Off-ice Contributions make a Difference for Children

THE OUTDOOR RINK:

ARENA LOCATOR MAP

HOCKEY SHOT:

RESPECT IN SPORT

A Canadian Classic

CONNOR BLEAKLEY: High River Product wants to Inspire Young Hockey Players

30 PRIDE STICK TAPE

Six Colours that can Change the Hockey world

Tip of the Month

24 PLAYOFF PERFORMERS Who Steps Up?

26 SPOTLIGHT ON GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

Kaitlyn & Marissa Cain

SPOTLIGHT ON AN OFFICIAL Spencer Acheson

Message From

The Publisher

Welcome to our final edition of the Calgary Hockey Magazine for the 2015-2016 season. In this edition, we have a feature article on hockey legend and former Flames player Lanny McDonald. McDonald was born in Hanna, Alberta, played for the Lethbridge Sugar Kings in the AHL, the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WCHL. In his pro career, McDonald played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Rockies, before moving on to play eight full seasons with the Calgary Flames, winning a cup with the Flames in 1989. Another player with Southern Alberta roots is Conner Bleackley, who currently plays for the Red Deer Rebels. Bleackley was selected in the first round (23rd overall) in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft. We also have a feature on another first round draft pick from 2014. Calgary Hitmen defenceman Travis Sanheim was selected 17th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers, and in his third season with the HItmen, he is averaging well over a point per game. One of the mainstays in our magazine is the “Spotlight on an Official” feature, where we interview a young minor hockey official. For this edition, we met up with 15-year-old Spencer Acheson, who has been officiating minor hockey for two seasons. We’ve been doing this feature for over 12 years, and it never ceases to amaze me the confidence and composure level exhibited by these young officials. Wrapping up this final edition of the magazine, we have an article on “Pride” hockey tape. The tape is a nod to LGBTQ youth – both an invitation for them to play hockey and an invitation to hockey teams to have the discussion about acceptance and inclusiveness. We got wind of this initiative in early January, and since this time, it has exploded, with a number of NHL teams embracing this initiative, and showing their support by using the Pride tape. That’s all for this issue. With the hockey season winding down, we would like to wish all the participants a great off-season, and look forward to seeing everyone back on the ice in a few short months!

Credits President and Publisher // Rob Suggitt Art Director // Christine Kucher Graphic Designers Cailey Buxton // Katelyn Suggitt Contributing Writers Jennifer Jeffrey // Jeremy Freeborn Julie Booke // Shari Narine Copy Editing Shari Narine Photography Credits Calgary Flames Hockey Club Candice Ward Dave Brunner Photography Jenn Pierce - Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club SC Parker Photography Shari Narine Sportsnet 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

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Rob Suggitt

Printed By R.R. Donnelley

Publisher of the

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

LANNY MCDONALD

Former Flame Integral Part

of Hockey Hall of Fame

[ By Jeremy Freeborn ] Throughout the 1980s, Lanny McDonald was synonymous with hockey in Calgary. He was the face of the Calgary Flames franchise and the first person many would think of when the Calgary Flames would be discussed. Even to this day, McDonald and his recognizable moustache are still entrenched in the memories of hockey fans who had the opportunity of watching him perform on a regular basis three decades ago.

Today, McDonald is still active in hockey. In March of 2015, he was named chair of the board for the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He took over from veteran hockey coach Pat Quinn, who passed away at the age of 71 in November of 2014. “You know if you love the game at all, you would be absolutely thrilled. I was absolutely honoured that they would even think of me under those circumstances,” said McDonald. The Hockey Hall of Fame is considered by many as the ultimate shrine for the world’s best hockey players who have ever lived and McDonald welcomes the opportunity to continue to learn about hockey’s rich history. In his new role, McDonald oversees all of the staff at the Hall of Fame. He points out that many have been there for over 20 years and many staff started out as volunteers. President Jeff Denomme has been there for almost 20 years and “has done a great job,” said McDonald. McDonald also oversees the 18-member selection committee, while himself answering to 18 other members – the board of

directors, who govern the hall.The Hockey Hall of Fame has become a significant part of Canadian culture. It is located in the heart of downtown Toronto. “Most halls of fame are not in the downtown areas. We are only two blocks away from the Air Canada Centre where the Maple Leafs play. To be able to combine it with so many events that are happening in that area is fabulous. The old Bank of Montreal building, with the glass-stained roof, that houses all of the trophies, is absolutely spectacular, and that is how you should display the trophies.” It is fitting that McDonald is the chair of the board because of his strong links to western and eastern Canada. McDonald played seven seasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970s before playing three seasons for the Colorado Rockies, and then the Flames for eight seasons. McDonald has fond memories of being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1,111 regular season games, McDonald had 500 goals and 506 assists for 1006 points.

“

I was actually very nervous coming back home close to family and friends. It actually turned out to be the best thing that happened to my career.

“To have my best friend, (Toronto teammate) Darryl Sittler introduce you into the Hockey Hall of Fame was absolutely fabulous. It was something I will never forget. I will never forget my father being there and loving every second of it. He was a Toronto Maple Leaf fan his entire life.” McDonald’s connections to Toronto might be strong, but his connections to southern Alberta are stronger. McDonald was born on Feb. 16, 1953, in Hanna, Alberta, a small town two and a half hours northeast of Calgary. He played junior hockey in southern Alberta—the Lethbridge Sugar Kings of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, and the Calgary Centennials and Medicine Hat Tigers, of the Western Canada Hockey League.

”

McDonald admits he was a little apprehensive when he got traded with a fourth round draft pick from the Rockies to the Flames for fan favourites Bob MacMillan and Don Lever on Nov. 25, 1981. “I was actually very nervous coming back home close to family and friends. It actually turned out to be the best thing that happened to my career.” McDonald thrived as a Calgary Flame. In his second year with the hockey club (1982-83), he set the Flames franchise record for most goals in the regular season with 66. That record still stands. “To still hold that record is pretty cool. Whenever you get 66 goals in a season and are in a race with a guy by the name of Gretzky, it is a fun time. It is also amazing that Darryl Sittler is celebrating his 40th anniversary of his NHL record 10-point game (Feb. 7, 1976). Everyone thought Gretzky, Lemieux or Crosby would break that record. No one has yet.” In 1989, McDonald had a storybook ending to his National Hockey League career. He retired as a Stanley Cup champion. “We (McDonald and his Flames teammates) had an unbelievable respect for each other. We also had a never say die attitude. We knew if we did not win the Stanley Cup in 1989, the team would probably be torn apart. Your window only lasts so long. It was the end of the window. We knew we had to do whatever it took to win that year and fortunately we did.” In 1988, McDonald won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his outstanding leadership qualities on and off the ice, and his humanitarian contributions to Calgary. Back then he was involved with the Alberta Children’s Hospital and the Special Olympics. He continues to be active with both organizations today. “Whenever they phone and ask, I go visit kids, who are going through some tough times at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Sometimes it is as important to visit with the parents. Whenever

[ Photos Provided by the Calgary Flames Hockey Club ]

the Special Olympics calls, I am there. We just had a fundraising breakfast that went extremely well. We try to keep kids off the sidelines and into the games. To see how far the Special Olympic movement has come and how well they are accepted into our society is very satisfying.” McDonald remains active with the Calgary Flames alumni and the National Hockey League Players’ Association alumni as well. In the last 15 years for example, McDonald and the Calgary Flames Alumni have played a charity hockey game against the Grade 12 students at Springbank Community High School. The proceeds go to the Mustard Seed to help the homeless. Even though McDonald retired as an NHL player in 1989, he received another honour for his outstanding hockey skills just this past year. McDonald, along with Al Hamilton of the Edmonton Oilers, SAIT hockey coach Ken Babey (profiled in the winter issue of Hockey Magazine Calgary), former Hockey Canada Development Committee chair George Kallay and the 1980 Red Deer Rustlers were inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame. McDonald was honoured at a ceremony in Canmore on July 25. “That was really cool. It was an honour. It was a great ceremony.” McDonald also watches the current Calgary Flames on a regular basis and enjoys what he sees from this young nucleus of talent the management has assembled.

“I am very impressed by their never say die attitude. They have been behind in so many games and have been able to climb out of a hole. They were in a tremendous hole in the first 10 games, but in my opinion it coincided with T.J. Brodie out of the lineup. After he came back, the Flames turned things around. Johnny Hockey (Gaudreau), Sean Monahan and Brodie are my favourite players. They are doing an exceptional job. Hopefully the Flames can squeak back into the playoffs.” McDonald also has high praise for NHL superstar Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, who joined McDonald in the NHL’s 500 career goal club in January. “He plays the game tough. He’s not afraid to go into the corners. He loves to throw the big body-check. He has an uncanny knack for firing the puck. He has a great release and when he is at full speed, he beats guys one-on-one just by himself. Barry Trotz has now molded him into a complete player offensively and defensively.” McDonald has great memories of not only winning a Stanley Cup for the Flames, but winning a Canada Cup for Canada in 1976. It was McDonald who helped set up Sittler’s overtime winner and gave Canada a 5-4 victory over Czechoslovakia in the 1976 Canada Cup final. McDonald is also active behind the bench. This past year, he coached his 12-year old grandson’s Montana traveling hockey team in four tournaments in the United States and loved every moment of the experience. For this group of youngsters, having the opportunity to learn from one of hockey’s all-time best is an experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

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Voice of the

CALGARY FLAMES:

RICK BALL [ By Jeremy Freeborn ]

[ Photo Provided by Sportsnet ]

Rick Ball, of Kelowna, British Columbia, is in his second full season as the voice of the Calgary Flames on Rogers Sportsnet. A veteran radio broadcaster, Ball has now made a smooth transition to television and has done an outstanding job. He is prepared for every broadcast and his professionalism is evident when doing the Flames play-by-play. “When Sportsnet informed me (in 2014) that they would like me to move to Calgary, there was no hesitation,” said Ball. “It is also funny because I have said to my wife many times over the years, if there was ever another city within Canada I would move to, it would be Calgary because I always liked coming here. I liked the atmosphere, the people, and the entrepreneurial spirit. Coming here was certainly an easy move. It has certainly been a great place to be.” Ball also appreciates the support he receives from the Calgary Flames organization in order to do his job effectively, and believes the Flames on-ice product has the capability of succeeding for years to come. “In terms of being a member of the media, the Flames are very professional, very accommodating and easy to work with. It just makes doing your job a lot easier. In hockey terms, they have some really bright people. Brian Burke and Brad Treliving were really good hires, and Bob Hartley has proven he has won everywhere he has coached. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that they are ahead of where people expected them to be in terms of their rebuilding process. I think the sky is the limit. You take a look at some of the young talent they have, I think Calgary fans have a lot of reasons to be excited.”

Ball loves working with his colour-commentator Kelly Hrudey, the former NHL goaltender, who was featured in the spring issue of the 2015 Calgary Hockey Magazine edition. “He is exactly the same on the air as he is off the air. I think that is part of his appeal. There’s not a put on persona or fake voice. What you see on television is what you get off television. Those who are likeable on television are not phony. Kelly is as likeable as it gets. Getting to work with Kelly on a regular basis was a major selling point for me in accepting the Calgary position. He is a great guy to work with. We have a lot of fun on the road. He is really good at his job.” Ball’s journey to become the television voice of the Calgary Flames has been a well-traveled road. He began his pursuit of a sports broadcasting career while in grade 11. Wayne Horning, the custodian at Ball’s high school, was also a hockey coach. Horning had broadcasting experience as radio colour analyst for the Kelowna Wings of the Western Hockey League. Horning introduced Ball to the sports director of the local radio station, who was impressed with Ball’s interest in the industry. Ball was immediately given assignments to cover various tournaments and events in the area. From there Ball attended college in Kelowna and continued to do part-time radio. A year later, he moved to Burnaby, and enrolled in the broadcast journalism program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. After graduation, Ball returned to Kelowna and regularly covered the Kelowna Spartans of the BC Hockey League.

In 1994, Ball did play-by-play for Kelowna radio of the Centennial Cup (now known as the Royal Bank Cup), the Canadian Junior A Hockey Championship in Olds. In 1995, the WHL moved Tacoma to Kelowna and Ball became the voice of the Kelowna Rockets for their first five years of existence. While in Kelowna, he also did a radio segment called “On the Ball,” which was a special syndicated sports commentary. After his time with the Rockets, Ball had his first experience broadcasting regional games for the Vancouver Canucks during the 2000-01 National Hockey League season. He filled in for Jim Hughson when Hughson was doing nationally televised games for Sportsnet. Shortly after that, Ball was hired by TEAM 1040 in Vancouver to be the radio voice of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He held that role for 11 seasons and then the voice of the Canucks for seven years from 2007-2014. In 2011, he got the call from Hockey Night in Canada. CBC needed to increase its broadcast team for weekly games on Saturday nights because the Atlanta Thrashers had moved to Winnipeg. Ball remembers well the conversation he had with Trevor Pilling, head of programming for CBC Sports. “He asked if I would be interested in doing play-by-play. I tried to act cool and not sound overly excited. Meanwhile, I am doing cartwheels down the hall way. Getting a phone call from CBC, which is the pinnacle of hockey broadcasting, was very exciting.” Having to broadcast games for the Lions, Canucks and Winnipeg Jets on a regular basis during the same period over a span of three seasons had its logistical issues. However, Ball enjoyed the experience. “It was very, very satisfying, but it could be challenging with the travel.

October and November was a blur. There was one stretch I did four games in four straight nights in four different cities where I was doing two different sports. It was a challenge having to fly from Los Angeles to Regina for example because there were not a lot of flights.” It’s a long way back to the beginning, but Ball offers up these words of wisdom. “My biggest advice when you are working with somebody is to listen to what they are saying, and try to react to what they are saying. If you do that, the chemistry will come. I also tell them to go out and do it. If you have to go to a small town and call Junior B hockey games into a tape recorder or iPhone, and nobody hears the broadcast except you, then do it. Whatever it takes, you have to get reps. Too many people want to hang around the major market and hope for a break. You probably are not going to get it. You need to work on your skills. It’s a tough job. There are not a lot of jobs available.” In terms of charitable endeavours, Ball and his wife Carole donate to Canadian cancer organizations. Carole is a cancer survivor, and has been cancer-free now for seven years. The Balls also have strong ties to the Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver and sponsor three children overseas through World Vision. Ball would love to stay in Calgary and be the voice of the Flames until the day he retires. But he knows it’s important to keep an open mind for when opportunities become available like last year when he worked alongside two-time World Championship decathlon medalist Michael Smith to do commentary for CBC of the 2015 World Track and Field Championships in Beijing. Ball says it is also important for him to enjoy the moment in the present. The current moment for Ball is being the primary playby-play voice of the Calgary Flames on Rogers Sportsnet.

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Getzlaf’s Off-Ice CONTRIBUTIONS make a difference for children [ By Jeremy Freeborn ]

From 2001-2005, Ryan Getzlaf was making a significant contribution on the ice as a member of the Calgary Hitmen. In a span of four hockey seasons, Getzlaf was an impact player and could have been considered one of the very best power forwards in the Western Hockey League. Getzlaf’s influence on the Hitmen during his time in Calgary was significant in many aspects. He would not only make positive statistical contributions in terms of goals and assists (197 points in his last 170 regular season games with Calgary), but was also developing strong leadership skills, serving as the Hitmen captain during his final junior hockey season in Calgary in 200405. However, perhaps Getzlaf’s most profound impact to the Hitmen organization has come while being a member of the Calgary Hitmen alumni. Starting in the 2008-09 WHL season, Getzlaf helped create Getzlaf’s Gamers. With the partnership and financial support from Getzlaf, Telus Communications and Getzlaf’s former billet in Calgary, Scott Lorencz, disadvantaged Calgary youth have the opportunity to watch a Hitmen game in the Telus suite. The program is in effect for 20 Calgary Hitmen games each season. Not only do 10-14 children get to view each game from a special area, but they receive autographed photos of Getzlaf as a member of the Calgary Hitmen and Anaheim Ducks (National Hockey League franchise he has played with since 2005-06), a Getzlaf Gamers’ t-shirt and a letter from Getzlaf himself.

and Toronto, and is soon coming to Ottawa and Halifax. In Calgary alone, the program partners with 140 charitable child-focused agencies. Members of the foundation distribute the tickets with assistance from the agencies. In addition to local hockey games, Kid’s Up Front offers tickets to youth for arts, culture and sporting events as well as recreational opportunities. The Kid’s Up Front Initiative was started by Calgary businessman John Dalziel. According to their website, www. kidsupfront.com, Dalziel was disgruntled by the high number of unused, paid seats at an event he attended at the Saddledome in 1999. Dalziel realized then that there was a possibility to distribute the tickets to children, who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend an event. In late December following the Anaheim Ducks practice at the Scotiabank Saddledome, I caught up with Getzlaf to discuss how gratifying and meaningful the program is for him. “It’s been great. The program has been something that we have been very proud of. It gives an opportunity that some kids would not get. Seeing the kids’ faces is very worthwhile and it is great to see them. I don’t get to see them that often.”

Pizza, popcorn, hot dogs, juice and fruit are provided to the children during the game. The children are guaranteed to be on the Jumbotron at some point and receive a visit from mascot Farley the Fox, and Hitmen players, who are not playing during the contest.

Getzlaf made a surprise appearance to the Telus suite during the Hitmen home game against the Kootenay Ice on Dec. 28. The youth representing the Getzlaf Gamers on this night were part of a huge crowd of 10,597 spectators at the Scotiabank Saddledome. It was an added bonus that the Hitmen fans went away happy. The Hitmen were victorious 3-2 on a gamewinning goal by Jakub Stukel, who broke a 2-2 tie at 7:31 of the third period from defensemen Jake Bean and Aaron Hyman. Bean, who was on the cover of the fall issue of Calgary Hockey Magazine, led the Hitmen on this night with two points (one goal and one assist).

The program is part of the Kid’s Up Front Initiative, a non-profit organization that operates in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver

Getzlaf has also been pleased with the overall feedback the program has received.

[ Photos Provided by Jenn Pierce - Calgary Hitmen Ho ckey Club ]

“

It’s been great. The program has been something that we have been very proud of. It gives an opportunity that some kids would not get. Seeing the kids’ faces is very worthwhile and it is great to see them.

”

Dear Ryan, “It has been unbelievable. The fact that we are able to do that is great. It is not a matter of paying money to an organization. It is a matter of creating an experience that kids would not normally get. I think that is a big thing that I am proud of.” Getzlaf also feels comfortable returning to Calgary, even though he now wears an Anaheim Ducks uniform. The memories he created with the Calgary Hitmen came on the same Scotiabank Saddledome ice surface that the Calgary Flames play their NHL games. In 20 NHL career regular season games with the Ducks in Calgary, Getzlaf has five goals and six assists for 11 points. “Obviously at the Saddledome I feel at home. I have a lot of friends here and I am comfortable. That doesn’t happen in a lot of road buildings. You don’t have that same comfort level.” Getzlaf was also a member of the Ducks organization when they surprised the Calgary Flames in winning the 2006 Western Conference quarterfinals four games to three. Game seven of the series was in Calgary and the Ducks won 3-0. Getzlaf and the Ducks would go on to the 2006 Western Conference final before being stunned by the Edmonton Oilers, and then win the 2007 Stanley Cup a year later, their first in franchise history. In looking back at his time in Calgary, Getzlaf has great memories with the Hitmen.

Giving our program tickets to this game was a nice gift. I also think that giving kids you may not even know such a lavish gift is truly a selfless act. Sincerely Tiffany

To: Ryan & Scott Thanks for the seats, the food and for taking the time for coming by. I had a great time and I appreciate everything done to make this event possible. From: Jason

“I have lots. This city was awesome for me. It helped me get to where I am now and be prepared to be a professional.” Then last season on Jan. 18, 2015, Getzlaf was honoured by the Hitmen as the first member of the “Forever a Hitmen” honour roll. A banner with Getzlaf’s name was raised from the rafters at Scotiabank Saddledome. It was also fitting that the Hitmen’s opponent that day was the Regina Pats as Getzlaf is a native of Regina, Saskatchewan. “That was really cool. That is something I take a lot of pride in. The Hitmen helped me get to the National Hockey League. To feel that they have the same respect for me as I had for them is a very good feeling.” Besides winning the 2007 Stanley Cup, Getzlaf has performed admirably for Canada internationally. He has won two gold medals for Canada at the Olympic Winter Games (in 2010 in Vancouver and in 2014 in Sochi) and was part of the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota. In addition to the Getzlaf Gamers’ program in Calgary, Getzlaf helps raise funds for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease where muscle cells are damaged and the body degenerates. Getzlaf has become good friends with Hawken Miller, a teenager in California, who has the disease. This past year, Getzlaf and his wife Paige organized a charity golf tournament in California for Duchenne muscular dystrophy research and raised $300,000. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to help people. I’ve put the golf tournament on for a few years now and it has gone tremendous. It is huge for me to be a part of charitable organizations. That is how I was brought up.” Even though Getzlaf has had problems scoring goals this season (only three goals in his first 43 games), he does have 28 assists, including a game where he tied an Anaheim Ducks franchise record for most assists in a game with five in a 5-3 Ducks win over the Calgary Flames in southern California on Nov. 24, 2015. It is clear that assisting others is starting to become Getzlaf’s trademark, whether it is on the ice or off.

For more information on Getzlaf’s Gamers, go to:

www.hitmenhockey.com/page/getzlaf-s-gamers

To support Kids Up front Canada, go to: http://kidsupfront.com/support/

And for more information on the Duchenne muscular dystrophy, go to: www.cureduchenne.org

The Magic of the

OUTDOOR RINK A Canadian Classic

[ By Jennifer Jeffrey ]

It could be a Bill Brownridge painting:

kids having fun on the ice, the sound of skates carving, sticks connecting with pucks, shots clanking off of boards. The big blue expanse of sky turning into orange-purple as the kids get carried away in their play. It’s vivid, joyful. This is the ODR (or the outdoor skating rink, for those unfamiliar with the lingo). In talking about his own childhood memories on the ice, Brownridge, the beloved Canadian hockey artist and author, said, "Here in each session of 'play' without elaborate organization, equipment or parental guidance, was life in a microcosm." The ODR has its own culture. Players go out with minimal equipment. They are there to enjoy hockey with their friends, organizing themselves with fun in mind, no commitment to a

league with scheduled games and practices. There are no fees, no rules, but there is etiquette. If you are there first and see others coming, they will be invited to play. Older players skate around younger skaters, who are not in the game. Players are mixed up, the young with the old, and the young ones get passed to. There’s no hitting. It’s all easy-going, a chance to hang out, practice moves like dangles and cellies, and to do it all in the fresh air. Kids can play amidst that beautiful prairie or foothills landscape until 10 p.m. or when the lights go out. Playing on an outdoor rink means no pressure. For some kids, it is the only hockey they will ever play. ODRs are great meeting spots. About as much energy, passion and hard work go into making and maintaining these rinks as the players themselves display.

This can-do spirit is demonstrated by volunteers – a lot of them. Often people, who used to play hockey, or had children, who played, lead the way, says Glenn Scott, ODR coordinator with Triwood Community Association for the past seven years. His three children were involved in minor hockey and ringette leagues and loved their time at the outdoor rink. As for set up, the perimeter boards and protective netting go up in mid-October. It's a full day job for about 10 people, motivated and bribed with coffee and donuts. As Triwood does not have a concrete pad like some other community ODRs, about 15 floods are needed before it gets even a base layer. This usually occurs in late November or early December after a cold spell settles in. From then on three to four floods are needed each week. Triwood Community Centre kindly pays the water bill. With luck and despite occasional Chinooks, the ODR operates from December through to the end of February. This year’s El Niño may prove to be a formidable enemy. Scott maintains a roster of 25–30 volunteers (with some keeners pulling double shifts). There’s no Zamboni at Triwood, only a little power brush, shovels (which help to tidy up the snow around the edges) and a fire hose to look after two rinks –– one hockey rink with boards and another rink for free skating. Three to four volunteers each night put in about two and a half hours worth of work. And that hard work is appreciated. One night when I helped my husband lug a net off the ice, a young man watching asked us if we volunteered to flood and maintain the rinks. After answering yes, he gave us a heartfelt thanks. Scott says it's sometimes the case that straggling players, maybe a father and son, have stayed to help flood after they are done playing. You may even get offered a swig of hot chocolate at work’s end! It's a great excuse to get out and meet people in the winter, catch up with the news or a way for younger people to log in volunteer time. Our son left hockey a couple of years ago, but in the corner near the front door is a hockey stick. I smile when I see it and I know that in his busy schedule of school and training, he still enjoys getting out to play pick-up hockey with his buddies –– thanks in large part to all the ODRs.

Call your local community association if you'd like to help!

Rink (noun): A place to skate, learn, cry, grow up, train, live, breath and escape to.

Offensive Defenceman

TRAVIS

SANHEIM Scores First Round NHL Entry Draft [ By Jeremy Freeborn ] [ Photos Provided by Candice Ward ]

Intimidating.

That is the best word to describe Travis Sanheim. The third year Calgary Hitmen defenceman was the first round draft pick, 17th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He could be considered not only one of the most intimidating defencemen in the Western Hockey League, but one of the most intimidating and feared hockey players in the entire Canadian Hockey League. At only 19 years of age, Sanheim is already 6’3”, 200 pounds. A native of Elkhorn, Manitoba, Sanheim has produced magnificent offence and defence since joining the Hitmen in 2013. In his first two complete seasons with the Hitmen, Sanheim was a +52. During the 2014-2015 WHL regular season, Sanheim led all WHL defencemen in scoring with 65 points. Sanheim also was productive for the Hitmen in the 2014-15 WHL playoffs. In 17 games, he was the team’s co-leader in assists with 13 (tied with Adam Tambellini), and second on the Hitmen in points with 18. Growing up in small-town Manitoba, Sanheim participated in many sports. “Yeah, I played pretty much every sport. Growing up in a small town like Elkhorn, if you did not participate in a sport, your community could not have a team. I also played baseball, volleyball, basketball, badminton and golf. There are things I learned in other sports that have helped me become a better hockey player. For example, in hockey I am able to apply the skills I learned in baseball when I bat the puck out of the air.”

For as long as Sanheim remembers, he has played defense and he’s good with that. “I really like carrying the puck and moving the puck. It is an ability of mine I think I am good at and enjoy doing it. I also like jumping into the rush.” Sanheim played primarily defense growing up in Manitoba, but there were some occasions where he remembers being put on the ice as a forward. These times were special for Travis because it would give him the opportunity to move up into the rush and play with his twin brother Taylor. Travis and Taylor, who is a forward, were teammates with the Yellowhead Chiefs of the Manitoba Midget Hockey League from 2011-2013, before Taylor became Travis’s teammate on the Hitmen starting in the 2014-15 season. While Travis Sanheim was drafted high in the NHL Entry Draft, he didn’t have the same experience with the 2011 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft where he was picked in the ninth round, 177th overall. “The Hitmen are a great organization. At the time, I just wished to be drafted. Looking back on it, I couldn’t have been any happier than to be selected by Calgary. They are the greatest organization in the Western Hockey League. I love the city and love being here. I am extremely happy and they have been nothing but good to me.” For those players who are drafted late, Sanheim gives sage advice.

“Stick with it. Kids grow at different ages. The bantam draft does not matter a lot. What matters is that you continue to grow and develop your game as a player. Getting better is the most important thing.” There is no question that Sanheim has been growing and developing as a hockey player while with the Hitmen. Mark French, the head coach for the Calgary Hitmen, knows Sanheim is important to his team. “Travis has a number of strengths as a player but I believe his skating ability and more specifically, his acceleration and mobility make him an offensive threat nearly every time he is on the ice. Travis is a highly motivated individual who works hard to improve all areas of his game and is a very important leader within our dressing room.” Interestingly, at the time Sanheim was drafted in the NHL, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall selected him off the board. He was ranked 53rd by the National Hockey League Central Scouting among just the North American skaters eligible for the draft. But the Flyers took a chance and so far, they should like what they see.

“

As a kid, I always wanted to make the NHL and WHL. At the time, it is a pretty high expectation and goal. However, if you love the game enough and you want to get there, you just have to work hard and put in the effort.

”

Sanheim also received a strong welcome in Philadelphia on the 2014 draft day, at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center, in front of a supportive home crowd. Hearing his name called was an incredible experience.

“I remember how happy everyone was and the emotions everyone was feeling. I stood up and hugged my parents and my twin brother. It was a great feeling and something I will never forget.” Sanheim is one of several Flyers prospects who are defencemen, but he could be considered the best of the bunch. He is joined by Samuel Morin of St. Henri, Quebec, (Flyers’ first round draft pick, 11th overall in 2013), who is known for his aggressive style of play, and Russian Ivan Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings (Flyers’ first round draft pick, 7th overall in 2015). Helping Sanheim’s draft stock rise was his strong performance at the 2014 World Under-18 hockey championship in Lappeenranta and Imatra, Finland, where Canada won bronze. Sanheim led Canada with six assists, was the co-leader for Canada in points with six (tied with former Calgary Hitmen forward Jake Virtanen) and was selected as one of Canada’s top three players in the tournament (alongside Calgary Flames goaltending prospect Mason McDonald and Red Deer Rebels defenceman Haydn Fleury, who was drafted seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft). The strong performance at the World Under-18 hockey championship also contributed to Sanheim being selected to Team Canada at the 2016 World Junior hockey championship in Helsinki. In five games, Sanheim recorded one assist.

Sanheim’s idol over the years was seven-time Norris Trophy winner Niklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings, who could be considered the best defenceman in the NHL in the last 20 years. “He was so simple, and yet so consistent,” Sanheim said. “He played the game so well.” Sanheim has also enjoyed his time in Calgary playing alongside Hitmen defenceman Jake Bean, a player who could be selected in the first round of the 2016 NHL entry draft. Sanheim says he and Bean, who is just 17, play similar games as they are both offensive-minded defencemen. “We try to work together and give each other tips. We also try to develop plays that we like to make. It is fun to play with him. He is a good guy and fun to be with. Knowing that 2016 will be his draft year, I will be trying to help him further. Jake is going to be a great player, not only for the Calgary Hitmen, but in the NHL as well. He has got a lot of skill and talent, and I have nothing but good things to say about him.” For those young hockey players who have dreams of making it to the Western Hockey League and beyond, Sanheim has the following message. “Follow your dream. As a kid, I always wanted to make the NHL and WHL. At the time, it is a pretty high expectation and goal. However, if you love the game enough and you want to get there, you just have to work hard and put in the effort. Then you’ll get there. That’s just the biggest thing.” Sanheim would like to have a strong finish with the Hitmen during the 2015-16 season. As he continues to intimidate his opponents, Sanheim has the potential to be an elite player for the Philadelphia Flyers in the coming years.

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LOCATOR MAP

How to make the > > >

> > PERFECT PASS

Now that you can see your target, or teammate, make sure your pass is to where they’re going to be, not where they already are. The best way to get that timing down is to get out on the ice and practice with a friend. Try adjusting the power of your passes at different distances, so you know exactly how to hit your target in stride.

Hockey always has, and always will be, a team game. To ensure you become a great team player, you need your teammates to get the puck, and there’s no easier way to do that than a crisp, hard pass. This article will help anyone improve their passing, no matter what skill level they’re at. “The image below shows a young player improving his passing all by himself! Because he is using the Extreme Passer Pro from HockeyShot.com he is able to work on his skills without the help of a teammate. This piece of equipment lets anyone practice their passing on, or off the ice, or even in the comfort of their own home.” Here are three steps to follow to improve your assist:

STEP 1 Keep it on the Ice We all know how awesome a saucer pass looks, or a big alley-oop down the middle leading to a breakaway, but the reality is, almost all passes use the surface of the ice to reach their intended target. A common problem for everyone, especially beginners, is keeping those passes on the ice. The solution is simple: Roll baby roll! Rolling your wrists over in a forward motion as you pass causes the blade to stay flat on the ice, and the puck to stay level. This means your pass doesn’t end up in the stands, or worse, the other team’s stick. As long as you roll your wrists, the blade will close each time, and your Extreme Passer Pro will project the puck back to you. Keeping your blade cupped throughout the pass is another easy way to ensure the puck stays flat and on-target. If the blade is open, or wedged, the puck can easily bounce up off the ice. The cupping technique makes sure your blade is always at the perfect angle to send the perfect pass.

STEP 2 Keep it Accurate One of the most repeated rules for any hockey player to remember, is to keep your head up! Not only will this help you avoid any hits, but it allows you to see the ice, and therefore see where you need to pass. It’s way easier to pass to a target you can see than to just hope for the best.

You can also use the angle of your blade to help with your accuracy. Try experimenting with cupping and opening up your blade to send the puck in different directions. Sometimes the smallest adjustment can mean a huge improvement in accuracy.

STEP 3

Keep it Powerful!

Remember that no matter the distance, your pass should always be powerful. This gives it a much better chance of reaching its target before being picked off by the other team. Combine your accuracy techniques with short, strong movements in the wrist to get your pass to where it needs to go in a hurry. Simply snapping your wrists forward in that rolling motion we talked about earlier goes a long way in getting your pass to stay on the ice with speed. If your passes need to go further, or if you’re having trouble getting the zip you want, try leaning into your pass with a wrist-shot motion, only to snap it at the very end. Remember, a strong pass comes from a lot more than just the muscles in your arms and legs. Your blade needs to be cupped, your wrists need to be rolling forward, and that puck needs to stay on the ice! Combining these three steps will go a long way in improving your passing. Make sure to get out on the ice and find someone to practice with, because almost all your passes will be to someone in movement. When you can’t get out on the ice and just want to practice at home or by yourself, using the Extreme Passer Pro is a great way to get all your pass techniques down!

For more top training tips, visit www.hockeyshot.com 21

‘Police probe brawl at Winnipeg minor league hockey game’ (Winnipeg Free Press, Feb 17, 2014)

‘Winnipeg hockey dad ‘sorry’ after verbal tirade at son’s game; banned for season’ (Canadian Press, Feb 15, 2013) ‘B.C minor hockey league says it will ban ‘abrasive parents’ (The Canadian Press, Jan 20, 2015) [ By Julie Brooks - PhD, Department of Physical & Recreational Studies, Mount Royal University ] Such media headlines are becoming more common in mainstream news. Is parent behaviour changing? Or is there more emphasis on negative parent behaviour? Or is that even the issue? There are numerous reasons why parents behave negatively at minor hockey games. Some of those reasons include misplaced enthusiasm; living through their children; wanting their child to succeed more in the game than the child does; expectations too high for their child’s abilities; pushing their child to make the NHL; and losing perspective. Research suggests that negative parental behaviour not only affects the safety and enjoyment of those engaged in sport, but takes away from the benefits of participating in community sport. So what can be done about this? Respect Group developed an online educational program with the intent to assist good parents in becoming even better sport parents. The program aims to create an understanding about the effects negative behaviours have on parents, coaches, officials and players; to help parents be realistic about their expectations for their children; and to help reduce the amount of abuse (mainly verbal but sometimes physical) that occurs in sporting activities. In September 2010, Hockey Calgary instituted the Respect in Sport parent program, which required one parent/guardian from each family to complete the online program or their children would not be permitted to play. “The objective of requiring one parent or guardian from each family to complete the Respect in Sport program is not to change the behaviours of the two per cent of parents behaving badly, but rather to educate and empower the other 98 per cent,” said Perry Cavanagh, past president of the Hockey Calgary. The RiS program takes approximately one hour to complete. It uses an online delivery method that includes short animated vignettes followed by a multiple-choice question. An incorrect answer prompts further information and the participant is asked the question again. Questions must be answered correctly in order to proceed. The program also covers several positive parenting subjects and provides valuable resources.

In an effort to understand the impact of the RiS program on parent behaviour, parents who completed the RiS program were invited to complete a survey. The survey asked parents to rate their thoughts on various questions, including how often should RiS be required and, since completing the RiS program, were they more likely to speak up if they witnessed an incident. Those surveyed were provided with the opportunity to comment or explain their answers. After three years of the RiS implementation in Calgary, 1,007 individuals responded to the survey. The following provides a brief description of the three main themes that arose.

Theme One: Awareness Since the implementation of the RiS program parents have become more aware of: Their behaviour, both at the rink and outside of the rink The behaviours of others What is and is not acceptable. One individual explained that the RiS program “has brought awareness of the issues to the forefront and many are more likely to speak up if they feel something is not right and not fear reprisal.” Another respondent stated: “I am more aware of how other parents treat referees and coaches, which makes me open my mouth and ask them to stop.” When asked if after having taken the RiS program they are more likely to speak up if they witnessed maltreatment, approximately 46% agreed or strongly agreed, while just fewer than 15% disagreed. Strongly Agree Agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree 0

Theme Two: Integration Currently, only one parent/guardian per family is required to complete the RiS program. Many parents felt that all parents/ guardians should complete the program as “both parents need to know the rules for respect in sports.”

Celebrate the end of season at

As well, the program only needs to be completed once. The majority of parents felt that “ALL parents and guardians should be required to take the program each year.” Survey responses highlighted the need to better integrate respect into minor hockey in Calgary and that without more integration there will be less impact and at a slower rate. Question: How often do you feel the RiS program should be completed? Every Year Every Other Year

22%

32%

Every Three Years Once It should never have been implemented

17%

21%

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Theme Three: Accountability The final theme focused on accountability, more specifically the need for Hockey Calgary to follow through on enforcing rules and sanctions and making “parents, coaches and players more accountable for their bad behaviours.” Respondents identified the lack of consistency in enforcement, the lack of a follow-up process, and that some individuals are fearful about reporting negative behaviour. Said one respondent, “If nothing is done when an individual reports negative behaviour, or if the individual reporting is in some way negatively impacted, then little will change.” Hockey Calgary and Respect Group are using the information gathered from this study to implement various programs and strategies to continue to improve respect in minor hockey. For example, Hockey Calgary has implemented a text-in phoneline where parents can text in inappropriate behaviour (if they feel unsafe to report), and they have focused on teams that are respectful (rather than focusing on the negative). In addition, Hockey Calgary and Respect Group have explored various ways to keep respect in the forefront of peoples’ minds by continuing to communicate to parents that the RiS parent program is a tool which all family members can access and can return to throughout the hockey season. The two organizations have also begun to discuss and develop a player-focused program as an option to further integrate respect into minor hockey. Since the implementation of RiS in Calgary, the program has spread across Canada and across various sports. While an online program may not solve all parental issues, many parents say, “It is a step in the right direction.” The RiS program is one tool that can help improve respect within the sport of minor hockey.

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: s r e m r o f r e P Playoff

WhoSTEPS

Calgary Hockey Magazine takes a look at the league’s top players, past and present, to see who really steps up their game when it counts the most. [ An Article By Rob Suggitt ]

When the playoffs start, everyone talks about how players

need to step up their game. This happens at all levels, and it definitely happens in the NHL. So which players really do step up their game in the playoffs? We took a look at two categories of players: retired players and active players. In the category of retired players, we included the top 15 playoff points leaders of all time and added in a few other players (i.e. Gordie Howe, Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur) for good measure. It’s important to note that not only does the level of play become more intense in the playoffs, but the level of competition is higher, so for a player to keep his points production rate in the playoffs is quite the accomplishment. There are no weak teams who make the playoffs after all. Which makes it even more incredible for any players who perform (statistically) at 90 per cent or higher of their regular season production. And for those players who find a way to increase their productivity when it comes to playoff time, it is even more amazing. Standing out on top (and by a large margin) is former Oiler Mark Messier, who dramatically showed increased productivity in the playoffs. (Probably a big reason why he has six Stanley Cup rings, more than any other player who has played in the NHL since the Oilers joined the NHL in the 1979-1980 season.) Former Calgary Flames player Doug Gilmour sits in a solid second place, and there is a large group who reside in a category of unchanged productivity. (I would suggest plus or minus five per cent is close to unchanged in terms of productivity difference.) It’s amazing that Wayne Gretzky was able to keep up his near “two points per game” pace for the grueling playoffs. Gretzky’s best playoff series was in 1985, when he tallied an incredible 47 points in 18 playoff games (2.6 points per game), helping the Oilers win their second Stanley Cup. Even more incredible, Gretzky’s plus/minus was +28, another Wayne Gretzky record unlikely to be broken. (Noteworthy also is that the Oilers lost a grand total of two games in four playoff series.) At the other end of the spectrum, it’s a bit surprising to see fourtime Stanley Cup champion Brian Trottier at the bottom of the chart,

and his Hall of Fame teammate Mike Bossy not too far behind. Steve Yzerman is another Hall of Famer who saw a dramatic decrease in points productivity going from the regular season to the playoffs, but he did lead the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cup Championships, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1998. For Yzerman, Trottier, and a few other players at the bottom of this chart, some of these players changed their game in the playoffs, so this partly explains their “dips.” But this is also true of a few players who sit at the top of the chart. Mark Messier and Doug Gilmour did not allow their defensive game to suffer in the playoffs, but they still found a way to improve on their offensive output. A player (not on this list) who was revered for his playoff prowess is Claude Lemieux, not a point-generating giant in the regular season, but a good regular season performer. Lemieux averaged .65 points per game in the regular season, but true to his “legend,” his performance jumped up three percentage points when it got to playoff time. With 80 playoff goals, Lemieux ranks ninth all time in the NHL, and tied for third (with Joe Sakic) for game-winning goals in the playoffs. Lemieux was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995, helping the New Jersey Devils win their first Stanley Cup. Lemieux also won cups in 1986, 1996 and 2000. When the Calgary Flames won their cup in 1989, there were a lot of players who stepped up their game. Great two-way player Joel Otto was a career .50 points per game player, but he contributed 19 points in 22 playoff games for the Flames. Doug Gilmour tallied 11 goals and 11 assists in 22 playoff games, and Joe Mullen had 24 points, including 16 goals. But the overall points leader in the 1989 playoffs was Al MacInnis, who had 31 points in 22 games. In his lengthly NHL career MacInnis averaged .90 points per game in both the regular season and the playoffs. For current NHL players, we took the top 12 active players with the most accumulated points the past 10 seasons, and compared their points per game during the regular season to their PPG in the playoffs. Sitting on top are Blackhawks teammates Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, who performed at almost the exact same pace as their regular season production. This may explain why the Hawks have won three Stanley Cups in the past five NHL seasons.

It’s a bit surprising to see Sidney Crosby perform at “only” 87 per cent of his regular season production, but maybe this is apropos for a player with jersey #87. But still, no one comes close to matching Crosby’s production in the playoffs (1.18 points per game), and only teammate Evgeni Malkin performs at over a point per game in the playoffs amongst current NHL players.

Retired

In fact, there are only a handful of players (Malkin, Ovechkin and Jagr) whose regular season points per game percentage come close to matching what Crosby has achieved in the post season.

NHL

Players: Mark Messier Doug Gilmour Sergei Fedorov Jean Beliveau Jari Kurri Bobby Hull Glenn Anderson Gordie Howe Nicklas Lidstrom Wayne Gretzky Paul Coffey Joe Sakic Peter Forsberg Bobby Orr Guy Lafleur Ray Bourque Brett Hull Mario Lemieux Phil Esposito Mike Bossy Steve Yzerman Brian Trottier

1.08

0.96 0.94 1.08 1.18 1.10 0.97 1.05 0.73 1.92 1.07 1.19 1.25 1.39 1.20 0.98 1.10 1.88 1.24 1.49 1.16 1.11

1.25

1.03 0.97 1.09 1.17 1.08 0.95 1.02 0.70 1.83 1.01 1.09 1.13 1.24 1.05 0.84 0.94 1.60 1.05 1.24 0.94 0.83

+15.7%

+ 7.3% + 3.2% + 0.1% - 0.1% - 1.8% - 2.1% - 2.9% - 4.1% - 4.7% - 5.6% - 8.4% - 9.6% -10.8% -12.5% -14.2% -14.5% -14.9% -15.3% -16.8% -19.0% -25.2%

Current

There are a couple of players (not on the list) who have been shown to increase their points production in the playoffs, but the sampling size is somewhat small. Claude Giroux has only played 57 playoff games, but with 61 points in the post-season, Giroux’s average of 1.07 PPG well eclipses his regular season points production average of .90 PPG. Giroux has not won a cup, but came close in 2010 when the Flyers lost out to the Blackhawks in six games. Ryan Getzlaf has averaged .95 PPG in the regular season, and in 67 post-season games, he averaged .97 PPG. Getzlaf tallied an incredible 32 points in 21 games (1.52 points per game) in helping the Anaheim Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007. So who will stand out for their playoff performance production in the next 10 years? For the Flames, will it be Hamilton, Monahan, Gaudreau or Bennett? Or all four? All three forwards played well in last year’s playoffs, helping the Flames get to the second round. In 11 playoff games, Gaudreau tallied 9 points, while Monahan (6) and Bennett (4) made good contributions. The Flames may not make the playoffs this season, but they will see postseason play down the road. We will see who steps up their play then!

NHL

Players: Patrick Kane Jonathan Toews Jarome Iginla Evgeni Malkin Martin St. Louis Henrik Sedin Sidney Crosby Jaromir Jagr Daniel Sedin Alex Ovechkin Joe Thornton Pavel Datsyuk

0.98 0.89 0.88 1.19 0.91 0.83 1.36 1.16 0.83 1.18 0.98 0.98

0.98 0.87 0.84 1.10 0.87 0.74 1.18 0.99 0.69 0.97 0.76 0.74

- 0% - 2.2% - 4.5% - 7.6% - 7.7% -10.8% -13.2% -14.7% -16.8% -17.8% -22.4% -24.5%

Spotlight on

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS: Sisters Kaitlyn & Marissa Cain Name: Kaitlyn Cain Age: 9

Grade: 4

Current Team: GHC Atom 3 Devils Years Played: 1 Favourite Hockey Team:

Calgary Flames

Favourite Hockey Player:

Sean Monahan

Other Hobbies/Interests: Acro, swimming, hiking, bikiing & soccer. Favourite Hockey Memory: Winning gold in Minor Hockey Week 2016!

Name: Marissa Cain Age: 11 Grade: 6 Current Team: GHC Atom 3 Devils Years Played: 2 Favourite Hockey Team:

Calgary Flames

Favourite Hockey Player:

Johnny Gaudreau

Other Hobbies/Interests: Soccer, acro, swimming & skiing. Favourite Hockey Memory: Winning gold in Minor Hockey Week 2016!

Esso Minor Hockey Week 2016

CONNOR BLEACKLEY High River Product

Wants to Inspire Young Hockey Players [ By Jeremy Freeborn ]

[ Images Provided by Dave Brunner Photography ]

On Dec. 18, 2015, High River native Conner Bleackley was able to showcase his magnificent hockey skills on the national television stage. Bleackley’s Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League were playing the Kootenay Ice at Red Deer’s Enmax Centrium as part of Rogers Sportsnet’s Canadian Hockey League game of the week coverage. Midway through the second period, Bleackley chased down the loose puck after making a bad pass, and successfully deked Ice defenseman Bryan Allbee and Ice right winger Max Patterson before scoring on goaltender Wyatt Hoflin. It was a highlight reel goal that helped make Bleackley the first star of the hockey game in a 5-4 Rebels win. The ability to deke opponents with absolute ease is something not seen regularly today in hockey at any level. One of the reasons Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all-time was because of his remarkable ability to stickhandle the puck. Growing up in High River, Bleackley has fond memories playing hockey for the first time. “I have great memories playing on the outdoor rink with my brothers. I played late and past my bed time. It was awesome.” Bleackley played minor hockey in High River until atom. He then played two years each for the Foothills Bisons in pee wee and for the Okotoks Oilers in bantam, before joining Strathmore’s UFA Bisons in 2011-12 for midget and the Rebels that same 2011-12 season. While with the UFA Bisons, Bleackley helped his team advance to the gold medal game of the 2012 Mac’s Midget Invitational Tournament at Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome. “It was a cool experience,” said Bleackley of the Mac’s tournament. “I remember playing a team from Russia in the final. It was my first experience of international competition.” In 2013-14, Bleackley’s second full season in Red Deer, he led the Rebels with 29 goals and 68 points. He was then selected

His outstanding goal on national television is a prime example of his skill set and his abilities as a hockey player. One major attribute Bleackley possesses is his positive attitude. He treated his first training camp with the Avalanche in 2014 as a strong learning experience, and still thinks very highly of Roy.

Then in 2014-15, Bleackley was the co-leader for the Rebels in goals with 27 (tied with Brooks Maxwell). However, Bleackley played 20 fewer games than Maxwell. At the time of the draft, Bleackley was the captain of the Rebels. He had also been the assistant captain for Canada at the 2014 World Under-18 hockey championship in Lappeenranta, Finland, where Canada won the bronze medal. Bleackley’s leadership qualities were one reason the Avalanche drafted him. But the Avalanche organization also likes his size, strength with the puck, his hockey sense, and versatility of playing all three forward positions. Bleackley’s resume is impressive, despite the number of adversities he has faced in the last three years. In 2013, Bleackley’s family home in High River experienced severe flooding in the environmental devastation that rocked southern Alberta. Then at Bleackley’s first training camp with the Avalanche, Colorado head coach Patrick Roy was publicly disappointed with Bleackley’s conditioning level. In October, Bleackley’s leadership came into question with the Rebels when Rebels head coach Brent Sutter replaced Bleackley with Wyatt Johnson as the team captain. Finally, Bleackley was unable to make Team Canada at the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki even though he was part of the Canadian team at the summer showcase at Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park. Now Bleackley has a great opportunity to turn his hockey career around. Currently at 20 years of age, Bleackley can still become an impact player for the Rebels in the short term, and the Avalanche in the long term.

“

Hockey in High River is certainly growing. More and more players are making it to the elite level. Hopefully I can inspire more kids to play.

“

as a first round draft pick, 23rd overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

“The first thing that comes to mind is that he is a NHL legend. He may go down as one of the best goalies in history. His track record of winning three Conn Smythe trophies and four Stanley Cups is pretty amazing. To be able to soak up as much as I can from him is huge. I am looking towards playing for him every day.” Bleackley is also thrilled to be part of the Colorado Avalanche organization. Bleackley idolized the Avalanche growing up and listed Joe Sakic as his favourite player. It was a surreal moment for Bleackley when Sakic, who is now the Avalanche executive vice-president of hockey operations, called Bleackley’s name at the 2014 NHL entry draft in Philadelphia. “It was my dream to put on that sweater and be an impact player for them. The core group that has been established in Colorado is exciting. Anyway I can help that team, I am going to do it. I look forward to working hard every day to reach that goal and be part of them. I want to be the best player I can be, and if they want me in a checking role, I will do that to the best of my abilities. I can play anywhere. Everyone wants to be that first line guy, but I can play anywhere throughout the lineup. Wherever I am needed, that is where I’ll be.” When Bleackley did not make the Avalanche roster in 2014, it was former Calgary Flame Jarome Iginla, who was about to play in his first season with the Avalanche, that offered Bleackley some words of advice. “While growing up near Calgary, Jarome was a local idol. When I got cut, he took me aside, and told me what it was like when he was 18 years old. He didn’t have to go out of his way, but he did. That’s the kind of guy he is. It is kind of cool to play with an idol growing up.” Bleackley knows he needs to work on his skating to be a more complete hockey player. This past summer he did power skating with the goal of being a little faster when he steps on to the ice.

Bleackley is proud to be from High River and takes personal gratification with the fact that he is considered an idol in the High River region. “Hockey in High River is certainly growing. More and more players are making it to the elite level. Hopefully I can inspire more kids to play.” For those young, aspiring players who want to be like Bleackley, the High River product has the following message. “Stay focused. If it is meant to be, it will happen. The guys who make it aren’t always the most skilled guys. As long as you have passion for the game, and stick with it, you are in it for the right reasons.” The remainder of the 2015-16 WHL season will be exciting for Bleackley. He will be participating in the 2016 Memorial Cup at the Enmax Centrium in Red Deer because the Rebels receive an automatic qualifier as the host team. This will also be the first time since 1974 that the Memorial Cup is coming to Alberta. Thirty-two years ago the Regina Pats beat the Quebec Remparts 7-4 in the Memorial Cup final at the old Stampede Corral in Calgary. Bleackley’s Red Deer Rebels will face the Ontario Hockey League champion, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion and another WHL representative in the 2016 Memorial Cup. The tournament starts May 19 and runs 11 days.

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SPOTLIGHT

ON AN OFFICIAL SPENCER ACHESON

In the 10 years of publishing the Calgary Hockey Magazine, the “Spotlight on an Official” feature has been a mainstay. One of the reasons we do this feature is so we can take the helmet off these young minor hockey officials (figuratively and literally), so people can see that the officials are young participants in the game, and in many ways, no different than the kids who play the game. I’m always amazed (but no longer surprised) to see the level of confidence and composure (and humility) expressed by these young officials, and this issue’s featured official is no exception. Spencer Acheson is 15 years old, and in his second year as a minor hockey official. We caught up with Spencer just before he was set to go on ice for an Atom game in late January. Spencer took the time to answer a few questions about being a minor hockey official and why he enjoys this role.

[ Photos provided by SC Parker Photography ] SA Yes, it is actually fun. I don’t do it for the money part. Calgary Hockey Magazine When did you start

I really enjoy it, and it keeps me involved in the game of hockey.

officiating hockey?

CHM What level of hockey are you currently officiating?

Spencer Acheson I started to officiate when I was 14

SA I officiate lots of different levels of hockey, typically novice

years old and I was in Grade 9. This had been my second year as an official and I want to continue to officiate for a long time.

CHM Do you remember your first game as a minor hockey official?

SA Yeah, I was super nervous. I was afraid to get criticized

-I wasn’t quite sure of my abilities (yet). By the end of the game, everything was fine. It wasn’t that big a deal after all.

CHM What other sports or activities do you participate in? SA I enjoy playing volleyball at school with my school team. I play badminton with my brother often during the summer. I play baseball during the spring, and like to snowboard during the winter season.

CHM What are your other hobbies and interests? SA I like to read occasionally during my free time as well as

play video games. I also participate in the concert band and jazz band at school were I play the baritone and the trombone.

CHM What made you want to become a hockey official?

and atom. But this year I am starting to move towards lower level peewee and bantam games, as well as learning to do bantam as a linesman.

CHM Have you ever officiated during Minor Hockey

Week, and if so, what makes you volunteer your time?

SA Yes, I did some minor hockey games last year and lots

of games this year, including two Minor Hockey Week final games this year and last year. The thing I enjoy most about volunteering my time is making sure that the kids enjoy playing. On top of that I can use those volunteer hours on job applications. Another great thing is that when you officiate more Minor Hockey Week games you in return will receive more regular season games to officiate.

CHM What do you enjoy most about officiating hockey games? What kind of training were/are you provided?

SA I really enjoy staying involved in hockey as I no longer play. I also like making sure that the games stay safe and that the kids have fun.

SA My dad was an official when he was my age and

CHM I understand your dad (Kevin Acheson) officiated

would always tell me stories about when he officiated and how much fun he would have. That made me interested in trying it out for myself, as well as wanting to stay involved in hockey and keep getting exercise by skating three or four times a week.

at a high level, including the WHL, international hockey (2002 Winter Olympics), and he’s currently assistant director, officiating for the WHL. What tips from his experience have been helpful to you?

CHM You mentioned the word “fun.” Is it actually fun

SA My dad has been a huge help in making me a better official

being a minor hockey official? 32

by giving me lots of great tips and pointers for getting better. Although I think the best piece of advice he has given me is

teaching me how to be a better communicator on the ice, because I think that one of the main reasons some kids are scared to officiate is because they are scared that coaches may take advantage of them on the ice, so being a good communicator on the ice is very useful.

CHM Was your dad a big influence on your decision to become a hockey official?

SA He no longer officiates but he does work for the WHL as an

officiating boss so I get to go to lots of the WHL games with him. I would watch the officials and start to learn lots about hockey. I would always notice penalties on the ice and my dad would tell me that I would be a great official, so that is one influential reason for me starting to officiate.

CHM Did you go out and watch him in action, and if so, what observations did you make?

SA I never watched my dad officiate because I was too young,

but I made tons of observations by watching the WHL officials and listening to the advice that they were being given after the game.

CHM How have you improved your skills as an official? SA I have taken great strides as an official since my first few

games. My judgment and basic knowledge have improved a lot and I have become a very skilled official.

CHM What’s it like to be 15-years-old and dealing with coaches who are much older than you?

SA I was surprised when I started, and so was my Dad. I thought

I would be a little scared to talk to a coach and then I noticed I was actually pretty good at communicating with the coaches, just by letting them know what I saw on the ice, and why I made (or did not make) a call. Most of the time, they are happy when I explain my decision and that I take the time to speak with them.

CHM How do you handle criticism on the ice? SA I make sure that the coaches understand why I made the

call I did and I explain to them my thought process. One other thing that I will do is establish a small friendship by knowing the names of the head coaches before the game starts so that they know that I am going to be serious about my job. Another very

important thing that I always do is after a call I have made that a coach thinks is questionable I explain to that coach that I will always be equal on both sides when calling penalties.

CHM Any future aspirations – would you want to do this for a living?

SA It would be great to do this at a professional level.

It would be lots of fun, but I don’t know yet. Let’s see how it goes, and how I feel in a couple of years.

CHM One final question. Do you have comments you

wish to share with parents, coaches or anyone watching minor hockey?

SA I would say that to any parent, grandparent, kid, or anyone

else watching a minor hockey game whenever you think that any of the officials have made a close call or a bad call, before you think about criticizing them remember that they are still just kids and are still learning. We are all going to make mistakes at some point and are doing our best. So maybe just take a minute to think about what you are going to say before you say it.

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