Calgary Hockey Magazine Spring 2015 by Suggitt Publishers

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

Publisher’s Message

Kelly Hrudey: From the Ice to the Broadcast Booth By Jeremy Freeborn

10. 30 Games in 30 Nights By D.T. Baker 12.

Memories from Minor Hockey Week

13.

Flames Defence: Achieving Success By Jeremy Freeborn

16. Calgary’s Powerhouse League By Jeremy Freeborn 19. Arena Locator Map

20. NHL Referee Kyle Rehman By Rob Suggitt 25. HockeyShot: Tip of the Month 27.

Nick Merkley Named as One of the Top NHL Entry Level Draft Picks By Jeremy Freeborn

30. Calgary’s Team with a European Flavour By Jeremy Freeborn 32. Spotlight on an Official: Mackenzie Mainment By Rob Suggitt

Hockey Magazine

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Welcome to our final edition of the Calgary Hockey Magazine for the 2014-2015 season. In this edition, we have a feature report on the Calgary Flames defense crew, focusing on four players who are having all-star seasons: Kris Russell, TJ Brodie, Dennis Wideman and Mark Giordano. Covering the Flames the past two seasons on Sportsnet is Kelly Hrudey, who most people know as a former NHL goalie, but just as much for his broadcasting career on Hockey Night in Canada. Hrudey is one of the best in the business, and he’s a class act too. When contacted for this interview, he responded right away “yes, let’s do it,” and gave us more time than promised. We also have an article on the Calgary PowerHockey League. This league was created in the early 80’s by a child life specialist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, so that people who are physically challenged have the opportunity to compete in the sport of hockey. Players range in age from 12 to 67 years old, and their hockey season runs from September through April at Cardel Place in northeast Calgary. One of the mainstays of our magazine is the “Spotlight on an Official” feature, where we interview a young minor hockey official. For this edition, we met up with 16-year-old Mackenzie Maidment, who has been officiating minor hockey for 4 seasons. We’ve been doing this feature for twelve years, and it never ceases to amaze me the confidence and composure level exhibited by these young officials. Also on the officiating side of things, we have a feature interview with NHL referee Kyle Rehman. Rehman grew up in central Alberta, and is now in his ninth season as an NHL official. Rehman reports what it’s like to be a referee in the best hockey league in the world, and he took the time (on game day) to pass along a few tips for young hockey officials. In wrapping up this issue, I will exercise a bit of self-promotion in describing an article which involves me as one of the subjects. Beginning on March 13th, I will be taking a hockey fan’s trip of a lifetime – to see an NHL game in every city, and doing so in 30 consecutive days. And along the way, I’m planning on raising awareness, and more importantly, funds for Make-A-Wish. All money raised will go to this important cause, so if you feel inspired, please check out my website www.30games-30nights.com for information on how to donate.

Credits President and Publisher Rob Suggitt Art Director Christine Kucher Graphic Designer Cole Mckelvie

Contributing Writers Jeremy Freeborn | Rob Suggitt | D.T. Baker

Copy Editing Shari Narine

Photography Credits Gerry Thomas / Courtesy Calgary Flames Hockey Club © Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen David Moll | Epic Photography Rogers Sportsnet SC Parker Photography

Cover Photo

Courtesy Epic Photography

Administration Amber Grmek

Sales Associate Lynn Schuster 10177 - 105 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1E2 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

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!

Sincerely, Rob Suggitt Publisher, CALGARY HOCKEY MAGAZINE

Hockey Magazine

From 1984 to 1998 one of the most entertaining goaltenders in the National Hockey League was Kelly Hrudey. An Edmonton native, Hrudey now lives in Calgary where he is a colour commentator for the Calgary Flames broadcasts on Rogers Sportsnet. In January, Hrudey spoke to Hockey Magazine for an exclusive interview prior to a Flames practice at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Hrudey reflected on his minor hockey career in Edmonton, his outstanding NHL career with the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, his work as a hockey broadcaster, and his outstanding charitable endeavours while in Calgary. Hrudey first started playing hockey at the age of three in Edmonton. His parents built Hrudey a rink in his backyard. After sometime just playing recreational road hockey, Hrudey, who was 11 at the time, told his parents he was interested in playing organized hockey. His parents told him he needed to work on his skating first. For a full year, Hrudey practiced his skating by going to the local rink after school. When he was 12, Hrudey joined a hockey team. It was during his recreational ball hockey days, when Hrudey was told by the father of one of his friends, that the position of goaltender was the best position for him to play as Hrudey was stopping the ball more than anyone else.

During his years in Edmonton minor hockey, Hrudey played in Elmwood (west Edmonton) and then a year with Inland Cement Midget A, prior to playing three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League from 1978-1981. Hrudey looks back at the 1977-78 season with Inland Cement fondly. “The year with Inland Cement was magical. We started off okay, not great. Around Christmas we started to gel. We ended up winning the provincial championships.” Hrudey was selected in the second round, 38th overall, by the New York Islanders in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. The Islanders had just won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history and Hrudey was excited to be part of this franchise on the rise. “It was cool because my first ever NHL jersey as a kid I was able to buy was Clark Gillies, of the New York Islanders. Much to my surprise, because not all draft choices go to the training camp, I was invited to training camp. I was around Trottier, Bossy, Gillies, Potvin, and Smith. It was an amazing thing to see as a 19-year-old kid.” Hrudey would not join the Islanders on their full-time roster until the 1983-84 season. At this time, Hrudey would be backing up the legendary Billy Smith, who won the Vezina trophy in 1982 and Conn Smythe trophy in 1983.

While Hrudey played with Smith, he was given a message that stuck with him throughout the rest of his career. “He was the guy that taught me the most about never letting somebody take your job. He was appropriately nicknamed Battling Billy, and the thing that he taught me are that somebody will eventually take your job, but make them earn it. I had to fight for years and years and years until I finally was able to be labelled the so-called number one goalie on the Islanders. He made it awfully difficult. I am proud to say I did the same thing in my career. Whenever anybody was coming up and hoping to have my job, they had to earn it. I wasn’t going to move aside easily for them.” Hrudey had a marvelous NHL career. In 15 seasons with the Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, Hrudey had a record of 271265-88 with a goals against average of 3.43, save percentage of .893 and 17 shutouts. Those are respectable numbers in an era where goals came significantly more frequently than they do today. During his playing days, Hrudey sported a bandana, something that became his trademark whenever he was between the pipes. Hrudey, who had long hair and contacts, needed something to prevent the sweat from running into his eyes. While with the Islanders, he tried head bands, but discovered a torn shirt was the most absorbent.

Hockey Magazine

He would play the rest of his career with this item of clothing tied around his head. Hrudey led the NHL in saves in 1988-89 with 1,718, a statistic that surprised him because he isn’t “much of a stats guy.” It was also during the 1988-89 season that Hrudey was traded to the Kings. This was known as the “Gretzky era” in Los Angeles and Hrudey has fond memories of playing with the Great One. “It was a great learning experience because when I came from the Islanders, I still had great experiences with the ultimate stars— Trottier, Bossy, Potvin and Smith. I thought I knew what popularity was and superstardom. But not until I played with Wayne and I saw the attention that he was given. I saw it briefly in the 1987 Canada Cup, because we were teammates there, but not until I was playing with him on an everyday basis, did I recognize that every single place we went, it was all about Wayne Gretzky. He was very, very gracious. He was really awesome in sharing the spotlight. I was blown away by the enormity of his popularity.” In the 1994-95 season, the Kings missed the playoffs by one point. After his team was eliminated, Hockey Night in Canada producer John Shannon contacted Hrudey to see if he would be interested in being a studio analyst for the first round of the playoffs. Hrudey jumped at the opportunity. Hrudey said he was Shannon’s second choice. Shannon’s first choice was Gretzky, who declined. Hrudey said he always wanted to go into broadcasting once his playing days were over. While playing with the Islanders, he enjoyed being interviewed. While watching games on television, he also watched the intermissions and carefully studied the questions the reporters were asking the players. Early in his career as an analyst, Hrudey worked hard and tried to be as real as possible in his answers and not to be overly critical of players. The opportunity, however, initially made Hrudey nervous. “Everybody and everything about it was intimidating. That was the most afraid I have been in any work experience. I knew hockey and played hockey as a kid, and knew the ins and outs, even when I made the National Hockey League. To go into broadcasting, and be on a show like Hockey Night in Canada, and hear that iconic song in your ear right before you start talking. Everything about it was nervewracking.” After retiring from the Sharks in 1998, Hrudey went on to work for the CBC full-time as an analyst. This season Hrudey expanded his

broadcasting role to a full-time colour-commentator with the Calgary Flames on Rogers Sportsnet, in addition to his role as a studio analyst on various national broadcasts. Since his retirement, Hrudey and his family have called Calgary home. Hrudey wanted to be near his parents, who still live in Edmonton, and his wife’s family, who are based in Medicine Hat. Hrudey also wanted to be near a large airport so he could easily travel to large centres. Hrudey is active in a number of charities. His annual charity golf tournament raises funds for the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre, the Invermere Summit Youth Centre, and the Hockey Canada Skills Academy. Another charitable endeavour that Hrudey is close to is the RBC Children’s Mental Health Project. It is a project that helps parents recognize the signs in children, who experience issues associated with mental health. For many years, Hrudey’s daughter Kaitlin suffered from mental health issues. Today, Hrudey glows when speaking of Kaitlin. At 22 years of age, she is currently attending the University of Calgary, and is social. Hrudey believes Kaitlin’s ability to speak publicly about her past issues has given her more confidence. There is no question that Kelly Hrudey was a great goaltender and is a great broadcaster. But what makes Kelly Hrudey shine is his genuine personality. For my complete interview transcript with Hrudey, please go to www.hockeymagazine.net.

Hockey Magazine

Having to worry about making it to the United Center on time to catch the Chicago Blackhawks game on day 15 of a 30-day dream trip is a problem most hockey fans would love to have. It’s one of many finicky details a local man will have to contend with during his fantasy trip of a lifetime – to see 30 NHL games in all 30 NHL arenas, and to do it in 30 days. While this story could easily have ended at checking off a wish from the personal bucket-list of a life-long hockey fan, it doesn’t. Instead, he’s using his trip to help meet the wishes of ailing children. Edmonton businessman (and publisher of the very magazine you’re currently reading) Rob Suggitt has been a hockey fan his whole life. And he’s been itching to do the 30 games in 30 days trip for over a decade now. But it ain’t cheap and 30 days is a whole month! Not easy to arrange. But Suggitt, weary of always thinking, “Next year,” finally got the nudge he needed. “I’m very fortunate to be able to make this trip,” he said, “and I’ve been very fortunate with the health of my children, who are now young adults. But not all children have good health. So I thought it would be awesome to help Make-A-Wish.” Suggitt’s company has been a national partner with Make-A-Wish for years, and that’s how the idea of raising money for the Make-A-Wish foundation came up. The foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions. Calling his campaign “Fill the Net with Wishes,” Suggitt hopes to raise $1,000 in every city he visits. It was a meeting with Make-A-Wish late last fall which cemented things. “They loved the idea immediately,” Suggitt explained. “All costs associated with the trip are completely mine. This is not a “net proceeds” campaign, so all money raised will go directly to Make-AWish, and people can access the donation page on-line, through a link with the Make-A-Wish website.” The charitable part of the trip – the good, worthwhile, fundraising stuff - was the easy part. Finding the right part of the NHL season, where it could logistically be done, was tricky. Mid-March to mid-April worked out best, both because there was enough of an NHL schedule to make it possible, and because it’s when Suggitt’s publishing business will allow him the time. “There were a couple of days where there were only two games that day,” he said of all the detailed work (though certainly a labour of love) involved in creating a doable itinerary. “So those became the cornerstone games, and then I had to work backwards. You know, there’s probably some computer program that somebody could create to do this, but I did it all by hand.” The other cool thing was the occasional bonus. “Looking at the schedule, and realizing there’s a game in Boston on St. Patrick’s Day – I had to do that, so that game was a must,” he noted gleefully. “And I hoped that the last day would be in Edmonton, but it didn’t work out. Instead, the last game is Toronto, ‘centre of the hockey universe,’ and they play the Montreal Canadiens, the team I cheered for growing up. So we finish up in Toronto.” Suggitt estimates the entire trip, for which he is picking up the cost, zigzagging across the NHL landscape, will cover about 38,000 kilometres – or just about the distance around the Earth. He’ll cross the border eight times, happily explaining to customs officials what he’s doing each time he crosses, and will probably spend more time inside airports than the actual hockey arenas. “I have thought about that,” he stated pragmatically. “I’m a good traveler. I like flying in

airplanes. I don’t like airports though – who does? But I have thought about that, and as exciting as this trip is, that’s not the best part: waiting in line, waiting for check-ins, inevitable travel delays, etc. – that part’s not terrific. But it’s the means to an end.” Determined to save time by travelling only with a carry-on bag, Suggitt’s trip comes complete with one night in his own bed: Edmonton is stop 11. And while the trip is mostly a solo effort, his wife plans to join him for the first week, and a handful of other family members and friends will meet up with him on a few travel dates. “You could call it the planes, trains and automobiles trip, but there’s only one train ride, which is Amtrak from New York to Philadelphia, and there are only two car rides: Los Angeles to Anaheim, and Pittsburgh to Buffalo,” he said. Hotels with in-house laundries will be key, as will making all the connections. “I’ve got back-up plans for the back-ups.”

With family and his company solidly behind him, Suggitt knows that he’s fortunate to indulge in his dream trip. But he wanted it to be more than a successful businessman’s indulgence so he’s given it a “pay it forward” aspect. “When I spoke to Make-a-Wish, they thought it was great,” he is happy to report. “They wanted to line up a whole bunch of things for it, and there was incredible interest to do something on a level where we could generate significant funds to their cause – a cause that’s pretty important to me and my organization.”

Follow Rob Suggitt’s trip, or make a donation to Make-A-Wish, at www.30games-30nights.com

Hockey Magazine

Heading into the 2014-15 National Hockey League regular season, it was clear the Calgary Flames needed to make progress in their own zone if they hoped to climb in the NHL standings. Only two seasons ago, in the lockout-shortened 48-game schedule of 2012-13, the Flames gave up 160 goals, the second most in the NHL. And last year the opposition netted 241 goals in 82 games against the Flames, which was the third most in the Western Conference behind the Nashville Predators at 242 goals and the Edmonton Oilers at 270 goals. The Flames had two choices heading into the season: acquire a top four defenceman (either via trade or the free agency market) to help the existing group keep the puck out of the net or allow the existing elite group of blueliners to develop together as a unit for another season. Flames management chose the latter and the top four Calgary Flames defencemen have had an excellent season to date. The leader of the Flames defense is Captain Mark Giordano, who is having a breakout season and represented the Flames at the 2015 NHL All-Star Game in Columbus. The Toronto native is being discussed as a Norris Trophy candidate and even has support from famous hockey commentator Don Cherry. In a December Coach’s Corner, Cherry told his co-host Ron MacLean, “If this guy’s not Norris Trophy, I’ll eat your hat. He hits, blocks shots, there’s no one better in the league.”

top pro and that’s who he is. He is very proud. He’s our leader and is the face of this franchise.” This is Giordano’s ninth season in Calgary and second season as team captain since taking over from Jarome Iginla. He says the transition to wearing the “C” has been smooth.

“If (Giordano) is not Norris Trophy, I’ll eat your hat. He Hits, blocks shots, there’s no one better in the league.”

Flames head coach Bob Hartley also has high praise for Giordano. “He has brought his game to another level, another notch. I’m talking about preparation, physically and mentally in practices, games and the gym. He’s so consistent and really that’s how I define a pro. You can’t be a part-time player when you’re in the NHL. You need to be a

“It’s been great. I’ve had great teammates that have supported me the last couple of years.”

One of those teammates is line mate T.J. Brodie, who, at the age of 24, is already playing in his fifth season with the Flames. Brodie has great respect for the Flames captain. “He makes the game a whole lot easier. He’s a guy that does everything, like block shots. He creates chances offensively and is solid defensively. He lets me jump up into the play a little more than I would, knowing that he is back there. He is really good defensively at breaking up rushes against us.” Giordano and Brodie are living proof that you can make an impact in the National Hockey League even if you are not selected high in the NHL Entry Draft. Brodie wasn’t selected until the fourth round, 114th overall of the 2008 NHL draft, while Giordano wasn’t drafted at all and signed with the Flames as a free agent on July 6, 2004. For those players who have dreams of making it to the NHL but are not drafted high, Brodie has the following message.

Hockey Magazine

Washington. Russell is in his second year in Calgary after six years in Columbus and St. Louis. As a native of Caroline, Alberta, it is a thrill for Russell to be a Calgary Flame.

“Never give up and all it takes is an opportunity. Getting drafted gives you that opportunity to play for a team or tryout for a team. After you get drafted, everyone is in the same boat. It’s all about what you do after that.” In October, Brodie signed a five-year extension to stay with the Flames. “It’s nice to know where I’m going to be. It’s definitely nice to be here. It’s a great city. There’s a great group of guys here and it’s a great organization. I was really happy to sign.” Giordano explains why Brodie is so valuable to the Flames. “He is a very consistent player. I think his best asset is obviously his skating and moving the puck out of our own zone. He is great to play with. He is a great partner to have and hopefully we will continue having success.” The Flames second top defensive pairing consists of veterans Dennis Wideman and Kris Russell. Wideman is spending his third year in Calgary after seven seasons with St. Louis, Boston, Florida and

“When I was traded (from St. Louis for a fifth round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft), I was pretty excited. Obviously you never want to leave a team, but at the same time it was a good opportunity for me. I grew up watching the Flames. Coming back home and playing for the team I watched growing up was pretty special.” Many have argued that the position of defense is the most challenging position to play in the NHL. Russell explains why defense is so tough to master. “The pace of the league tends to get faster and more skilled every year. This is more challenging for defensemen. There are a lot of talented players and you cannot take a shift off or you will see the puck into your own net.” In terms of his own development, Russell has enjoyed more of a leadership role this season and admits he is playing with more confidence. “(Russell) is a steady defenseman. I think he makes a lot of smart plays, and obviously with the way that he can skate, he can open up a lot of passing lanes and open up a lot of offense by the way he can push the pace,” said Wideman.

“The pace of the league tends to get faster and more skilled every year. This is more challenging for defensemen. There are a lot of talented players and you cannot take a shift off or you will see the puck into your own net.” 14

Like Giordano, Wideman brings experience to the Flames and tries to show by example. A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Wideman has played in over 700 NHL games despite only being drafted in the eighth round, 241st overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. “As you get older, you become better at preparing for games, keeping consistency, and learning how to take care of yourself so you are at your best every night. That’s something I’ve got better at as the years go on.” For those young aspiring players who have dreams of playing in the NHL, Wideman says it is important to stay positive and ignore possible negative comments that come your way. “I think everybody obviously has dreams of playing in the NHL, and as a young kid, just work hard and play your best. When I was in junior and all the way up, everybody told me I was never going to play. Now I’m in my tenth year (in the NHL). Don’t listen to everybody, whether it’s good or bad. Try to get better every year and try to get as best as you can.” Working hard in all situations has led to collective success for the top four Calgary Flames defensemen in 2014-15. Mark Giordano, Dennis Wideman, T.J. Brodie and Kris Russell may not have had the flashiest numbers in their days playing junior hockey and may not have been selected high in the NHL Entry Draft, but they are living proof of NHL players, who can achieve greatness by being persistent and staying patient. Their collective performance this season has made many Flames fans smile.

Hockey Magazine

On most Saturday afternoons from September through April at Cardel Place in northeast Calgary, the game of hockey is played. However these remarkable athletes do not play on ice. Due to their extreme physical disabilities, these athletes, who are confined to electric wheelchairs, play in a gymnasium on a hardwood floor. The Calgary PowerHockey League was created in the early 1980s. Bruce Bostrom, a child life specialist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, realized that hockey was one of the few sports people in an electric wheelchair could play, and the league slowly started. Over the last 30 years, the league has become sustainable and provides Calgarians, who are physically challenged, an opportunity to showcase their athletic skills. Some players are more severely disabled than others. As teams are formed, the severity of the players’ disability is taken into account. Players are given a Level 1, 2 or 3 disability, with a Level 1 being the least severe and Level 3 the most severe.

There are currently four teams in the league with an overall enrollment of 35 players. The age group ranges from 12 to 67 years old. The teams are the Machine, Thunder, Vipers and Knights. The 2014-15 season consists of 15 regular season games for each team, followed by the potential of six weekends of playoffs. The rules are slightly different in the Calgary PowerHockey League. Each team has only one defenceman on the floor instead of two (because of the size of the gymnasium), and players play with a ball instead of a puck. A penalty is given if a player makes contact with another player’s wheelchair above the wheel, and if they lift another player’s stick. Due to lack of mobility, many players are unable to hold the stick themselves, so they have it attached to their wheelchair. The lack of mobility might be a challenging obstacle, but the spirit of the players remains high. Just like in ice hockey, players in the Calgary PowerHockey League show aggression. “Especially in the playoffs,” said Calgary PowerHockey League president Keith Bourbonnais, who plays for the Vipers. “There is a lot of hard hitting. We don’t want to wreck our chairs too much because most people in the league use them all of the time. But the playoffs are a different story.” Players from the Calgary PowerHockey League have also achieved great success outside of the city. The Calgary Selects are chosen from the league. The Selects have won three national championships (known as the Allied Cup) in 2000, 2005, 2009. They have also won two North American championships (known as the PowerHockey Cup Championship) in 2006 (on home soil at the University of Calgary) and 2008. One of the greatest players in CPHL history, Mike Falconer of the Machine, recently returned to the league after taking some time away from the sport. Falconer, who suffers from arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, has won seven CPHL championships, and is the league’s all-time leader in goals and points. In the 2005-06 season alone, he registered 111 goals and 120 points, which are single season records for the CPHL. On January 17, Falconer scored eight goals in a 9-5 Machine win over the Vipers. With the game tied at five in the third period, Falconer took over the game with four unanswered goals in a span of five minutes and 35 seconds. One of his markers was a brilliant slap shot in the top left corner of the net that beat Vipers goaltender Ishan Manerikar.

Falconer embraces the competitive games the most. “I just like it when it is really competitive. I like it when other teams are actually better than our team and we have something we can do

to overcome (our opponent in) that game.” One of the most aggressive players in the league, Falconer describes the CPHL as “floor hockey with go-karts and we bash into each other.” He says that a major reason he has had so much success in the sport is because he is able to drive his wheelchair well and has it set up just the way he wants it. Another elite player in the league is Shawn Pahl of the Knights, who is the reigning National Championship most valuable player. Pahl broke both of his hips five years ago, and has a bone disease which makes it painful for him to walk or stand for an extended period of time. Pahl believes his strength on the floor is his vision and ability to shoot the ball from anywhere. One thing Pahl is trying to do at the present time is to utilize his teammates more rather than shooting the ball first. Pahl says the relationships he has developed within the league is important to him. “This is so much fun. We are like a big family. We all go out afterwards and share a pop together,” he said. Mike Jorgensen, a league veteran, is the captain of the Machine. Jorgensen, who is the CPHL secretary, has played every possible position over the last 25 years, including goaltender. Jorgensen, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, has a more involved disability than Pahl and Falconer, but has an unbelievable passion for the sport. He says he has enjoyed learning how to play every position over the last two decades. For those who are disabled and in a wheelchair, Jorgensen highly recommends power hockey. “I would say it is a really good opportunity for a person who is looking for physical activity. It is a good opportunity to learn, meet new friends and be part of a team.”

Bourbonnais would love to see power hockey be part of the Paralympic Games in the future, but it doesn’t appear that will happen anytime soon. The rules in North American power hockey are different from European power hockey and the associations have not been able to come to an agreement. Some of the rule differences are the size of the nets (a lot larger in Europe) and whether or not the ball can be raised (North America it can and in Europe it cannot). It is also required that power hockey be played in 30 nations to get Paralympic status, and right now the sport does not have enough global interest. For now, many CPHL players are focusing on making the Calgary Selects team and participating at the 2016 PowerHockey Cup in Philadelphia. The Selects are looking for redemption after finishing in third place in Minnesota in 2014.

For more information on the CPHL, go to www.powerhockey. ca. You can also contact president Keith Bourbonnais at info@powerhockey.ca.

Recently the CPHL lost one of their players. In September, Thomas Sorensen passed away at the age of 18 due to complications with muscular dystrophy. “No matter how his team played, he was always happy. He was always an upbeat and happy person and never let anything get in his way,” said Bourbonnais.

Hockey Magazine

Kyle Rehman, 34, became a student of officiating later than most hockey officials. Nearly all NHL hockey officials have extensive experience playing the game, and most took up officiating in their early to mid-teens, before making it a career path. Rehman, who was born in Stettler, and raised in Red Deer, did not start officiating hockey until he was in his last season of Junior “B” hockey. “I was so far behind the eight ball when I started. A lot of these guys I was working with were doing it since they were 14 or 15 years old. I was in at 20 years old, so I had to try and catch up. By doing both (refereeing and linesmen duties), I got the opportunity to work more hockey games.” In getting his start as an official, Rehman is quick to offer credit to a number of people who guided him along the way. “Dave Mousseau was the referee-in-chief of the North Central Zone , and he asked me if I ever gave any thought to officiating. (Laughs) I said no, that doesn’t really appeal to me at all, and he said you should give it some thought. I was a bit of an agitator, one of those players who would get under another player’s skin, usually behind the play, knowing the referee wasn’t looking. Dave told me that those kind of players usually make good referees, and suggested I give refereeing a shot. It seemed like a good way to stay involved in the game, stay active, so I signed up that fall, and had some good (early) success,” said Rehman.

“I was also fortunate that the North Central Zone in Red Deer gave me a good opportunity. I was working Bantam AAA and Midget AAA almost right away, and by the end of the year, I was selected to work the Bantam and Midget AAA championships, but I couldn’t go because I was still playing Junior B, and we were in provincials. The next year I was doing Midget AAA, and some Junior A and they said ‘we’re going to throw you to the wolves, so it’s sink or swim,’ and I swam, and kept moving on from there.” When asked when he knew he had a potential future career as a hockey official, Rehman recalls a pivotal moment. “It wasn’t until I went to the Hockey Alberta Development Camp in 2000, and Darren Gibbs and Kevin Acheson were there as guest speakers. Kevin worked in the Western Hockey League, he worked the Olympics, done numerous world championships. And Darren worked about 1,000 games as an NHL linesman. After hearing Darren and Kevin speak, that’s when it really came to me. I knew I wanted to be an NHL official.” “When Kevin was done with the camp, I got in contact with him and said, ‘Listen, I’m interested, I want to work for the Western Hockey League.’ That year after I was working Junior A and whenever I wasn’t working Junior A or working Bantam AAA or Midget AAA, I would get in the car with Kevin, and we would go to Red Deer, Calgary, Saskatoon or just about anywhere to go watch games. And I would take notes at every game, and that’s how you learn.” Rehman spent about five years working in the WHL before getting the call to move up to the pro ranks.

“I did five years. I was pretty lucky – I came through pretty quick. I guess timing was one thing. I guess one of the best reasons is being a good student of the game. And that’s what I always tell young officials – you not only have to have the skills on the ice, but it’s also what you do off the ice, and that’s by watching games, reading the rule book. The one thing you don’t have as a young official is experience. Even to this day, if I’m not working, I’m watching hockey. If we’re on the road or out for dinner, we try to find some way to catch a hockey game, because that’s how you learn – you learn from your co-workers, you learn by watching. You never stop learning, and if you do (stop learning), that’s when you get yourself in trouble.” Rehman recalls some of his early pro experience. “Working the East Coast League was a good experience. I didn’t have a work visa at the time, so I just worked games in Victoria (Salmon Kings), and you would go there and work three games in a row. You not only had to manage one hockey game – you had to manage three. And it’s pro hockey – guys doing this and making a living.” “Same with the American Hockey League – I worked my first game in Manitoba when I was still in the Western Hockey League. Got the call up because one guy in the NHL got hurt, so another guy got the call up to the NHL. It’s a little bit of luck, some of it is timing, but it’s a lot of hard work. For me, the journey hasn’t taken as long as it has for some guys. I think It’s a matter of being in the right place at the right time.”

“Very cool – my family came down for the game, and that was a neat experience for them. And for me, officiating hockey in the middle of January, when there are palm trees and it’s 25 or 30 degrees is neat. I was born here in Alberta, grew up when the Oilers were going through their dynasty years. My dad took me to a number of Oiler games, and I was at the game when they won the Stanley Cup in 1984.” Rehman was too focussed to be starstruck, but he remembers a game when he caught himself immersed in the action, his first NHL game ever, which was an exhibition game between the Wings and Canucks. “I remember Detroit was on a 5 on 3, and I was the back referee, and you just see how they move the puck, and it goes from Zetterberg to Datsyuk to Lidstrom, and I’m just going ‘holy.’ I watched this on TV, and now I’m out here with these guys. It was pretty well the only time I was starstruck. When you’re out there, you’re really doing your job. I get that question asked a lot – ‘it must be cool to know all these guys.’ It’s neat to talk to them, but it’s not like we’re friends, or we talk about other things. You have a common ground in one way, but other than that, it’s hockey, and when we’re on the ice, it’s all business.” Rehman is in his ninth NHL season, and while he joined the NHL just after two big changes were made in the game (the introduction of the two-man referee system and the changes to rule enforcement), he has noticed some differences in the game.

Rehman recalls his first NHL regular season game, and it was the Edmonton Oilers at Tampa Bay.

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“The biggest change in the game is the speed. Even this year from last year, it just gets faster every year. These guys – the training they’re getting is so specific – they’re training all the time. You see some of these guys off the ice, and some of them are not very big, but their legs are incredibly strong, and their core is just so strong. This year I’ve said to lots of guys, when it’s in the endzone, this is the hardest it’s ever been – you have to be a good skater to stay out of the way.” When asked about the most important physical skill required of an NHL official, Rehman is quick to say it’s the skating. “I do some camps in the summer, and I focus on the power skating mostly at these camps with kids, and I say if you want to aspire to be a National Hockey League official or work in Hockey Canada, the Western League or Ontario league, you have to be able to skate.” When asked about the best part about being an NHL official, Rehman doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the greatest game in the world. We’re just a small cog in the game, but we’re the necessary evil if you want to say it that way. But just to be out there with those players, and just to see what they can do and their skill, it’s truly an honour and privilege to be out there.” Toughest part? “It’s gotta be the travel. I’ve got a young family – two young kids, and I don’t get to see them very much. We love what we do, but it’s tough being away.” And being away is a big part of the job. NHL officials work 73 games a season (plus playoff games for those selected), and there are no “home” games for an NHL official. And NHL officials fly coach, not charter, but Rehman is not complaining. The life of an NHL official is a “pretty cool life,” as Rehman puts it, and he hopes to keep his NHL career going strong for years to come.

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One of the top prospects for the 2015 National Hockey League Entry Draft is Calgary native Nick Merkley of the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets. At 17 years of age, Merkley is the only Alberta-born hockey player projected to be selected in the first round of the 2015 draft according to the NHL Central Scouting Service. When the midterm rankings were released in January, Merkley was projected to be drafted 13th overall. A versatile centre who can play centre or left wing, Merkley is currently 5’11”, 188 pounds. One of his greatest achievements to date came last season when he won the 2013-14 Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, an award that goes to the WHL rookie of the year. Merkley led all 16-year-old players in WHL scoring with 25 goals and 58 points in 2013-14. Merkley was presented the award at the WHL Awards luncheon in Calgary on April 30, 2014. Merkley is about to join a new wave of Calgary-born players, who are on the brink of making an impact at the NHL level. Others include defensemen Josh Morrissey, a former first round pick of the

Winnipeg Jets; Dillon Heatherington, a former second round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets; and forward Hunter Shinkaruk, a former first round pick of the Vancouver Canucks. Merkley grew up in the Calgary community of Lake Bonavista, and regularly played pond hockey with his brother, Jay, who is currently a 19-year-old center with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos. Jay Merkley has offensive skills himself. In 2013-14, he had 34 goals and 32 assists for 66 points, and was the Broncos co-leader in goals along with Graham Black.

“This is a wonderful organization. It was pretty cool being drafted there. I think it’s been a great opportunity and it seems to have worked out well. It’s been a good thing.”

Nick Merkley has fond memories of his time playing hockey indoors and outdoors in southeast Calgary. “I think community hockey is really important. It is kind of fair play then. You learn lots of good skills.” Merkley would develop his skills through the Lake Bonavista Hockey Association, before playing two seasons with the Calgary Bisons of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League from 2010-2012 and the Calgary Buffaloes of the Alberta AAA Midget Hockey League in the 2012-13 season.

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In assessing his own play, Merkley believes his strengths are his competitiveness in the corners and in front of the net, his vision and speed. Being under six feet tall and 200 pounds, he is not the largest prospect for the 2015 NHL draft, but Merkley makes up for his smaller stature with his strong decision-making on the ice. According to Curtis Joe of www.eliteprospects.com, Merkley “sees the ice like a hawk,” possesses “incredible work ethic” and has a “remarkably high level of hockey IQ.” Joe also praises Merkley for being opportunistic when his opposition commits a turnover. Kelowna Rockets head coach Dan Lambert thinks highly of Merkley. “Nick’s been outstanding for us so far. He’s a kid that competes extremely hard. He has good skill and sees the game very well.” But like many teenagers, who play hockey at a high level, Lambert believes there is still room for improvement.

“You hope for it your whole life. But I think we need to keep getting better. It is a long process and we just have to keep getting better every day.”

“Every kid who plays here, you want to make them better. Nick needs to get better defensively in his own end. Nick also needs to find a mixture between shooting and passing. Right now he tends to want to pass the puck more than shoot. But he has a really good shot that can beat goalies. He needs to learn how to use it (his shot) a little more.” At the NHL level, Merkley idolizes two-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blackhawks. “I think he is really competitive. I think he steps up in big moments like in the playoffs. I think I want to be that kind of player, who has skill and speed.”

While in his second season with the Bisons, Merkley had a fantastic year. He had 41 goals (second in the AMBHL) and 73 points (third in the AMBHL) in only 32 games.

Merkley has spent quality time with National Hockey League players. Prior to the start of the 2014-15 WHL season, Merkley trained with Jordan Eberle, of the Edmonton Oilers, and Mike Green, of the Washington Capitals.

In the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, Merkley was selected ninth overall by the Kelowna Rockets. He was in a WHL draft class that included Mathew Barzal of the Seattle Thunderbirds and Adam Musil of the Red Deer Rebels.

“You watch them and you pick up little tips. It is pretty cool just watching them out there. They are always the best on the ice whenever they step out there. That’s pretty cool.”

Merkley was thrilled to be selected by the Rockets. “This is a wonderful organization. It was pretty cool being drafted there. I think it’s been a great opportunity and it seems to have worked out well. It’s been a good thing.” Just how good of an opportunity is it for Merkley? The Rockets are currently the best team in the WHL and second in the Canadian Hockey League’s rankings. The Rockets are loaded with skill and have a legitimate chance of winning their second Memorial Cup in franchise history and putting an end to the recent WHL domination by the Portland Winterhawks and Edmonton Oil Kings. Merkley is playing on the same line as Rourke Chartier, a top San Jose Sharks prospect, who almost made the Canadian National Junior Team at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championships. Other notable players on the Rockets are Edmonton Oilers number one pick Leon Draisaitl and Morrissey (who won a gold medal at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship with Team Canada), who were both traded to Kelowna from Prince Albert this season. Winning the CHL’s ultimate prize would be an “amazing feeling” for Merkley, but he knows it is important not to look too far ahead too soon. “You hope for it your whole life. But I think we need to keep getting better. It is a long process and we just have to keep getting better every day.”

Merkley has also played for Canada internationally. At the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in the Czech Republic, Merkley had four assists in the tournament as Canada won the gold medal for the seventh straight year. “It was a really cool tournament to be a part of. You play with great guys and you play against great guys. It’s another pace.” For those young aspiring players, who have dreams of playing in the NHL, Merkley advises, “Get better every day. Never stop working. Never get down on yourself. Continue to work. Continue to get better.” Presently, Merkley’s focus is on the Kelowna Rockets. With the Rockets destroying the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL standings, Nick is pleased he has “bragging rights” over his brother Jay this season. But while he is still playing, Nick does not want to look too far ahead to the NHL Draft, scheduled June 26 and 27 in Sunrise, Florida.

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One of the most unique hockey teams in the city of Calgary at the moment is the Swiss International Sports and Education Centre prep team. Better known as the SISEC Selects, the team was created by former hockey player Fred Voser. A native of Switzerland, Voser was raised in Vancouver and would go on to play professional hockey in the Swiss League and then coach in Switzerland for 10 years. While coaching in Switzerland, Voser was regularly approached by families who wondered if there was a program in place where European children could develop as hockey players within Canada. Initially, Voser worked with families to help place players in Canadian schools. When the demand continued to grow, Voser believed it was possible to create a specific program to meet the requests. The process, which Voser began in 2004, took some time. In 2007, his program was finally sanctioned by Hockey Canada. At first, his team was an all-international squad, with 10 skaters and two goaltenders. The team, with incredible heart and determination, played a full 57-game schedule. Despite the low numbers, Voser believed the season was a success and from there his program started to build. The following year, the team more than doubled to 23 skaters.

SISEC is also one of the founding programs of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, which was formed in the 2009-10 season. SISEC was part of a league that included Calgary’s Edge School, Banff Hockey Academy, the Okanagan Hockey Academy and the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy, based in Kelowna. Today, there are 12 teams in the CSSHL Prep Division. In addition to the CSSHL schedule, SISEC plays in various North American tournaments. This season SISEC will play in Anaheim, Abbotsford, Banff, Penticton and Colorado Springs. The students, who range in age from 15-19 years old, originally went to school in Chestermere Lake for the program’s first year in 2007, and then attended Bow Valley High School in Cochrane. For the last two years, the students started enrolling in the Alberta Distance Learning Centre program rather than attending classes at a high school. The team practices regularly at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park, and currently has eight players on the roster from the European nations of Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain and Switzerland, as well as one player from the United States. “All of our kids are taking full high school programs through online classes,” said Voser. “We have a teacher on staff now. We still have regular classrooms for three to four hours a day, and the kids are actually doing pretty good.”

Voser says the program is not easy.

“I think both hockey worlds, the North American and international, have a lot to give to each other. The game is played differently in Europe.(...) The mental part of the game I think is taught over here much better.”

“It’s a tough schedule, but I think with the flexibility that we have with ADLC, it makes it easier for them. First of all, we have small class sizes, 20 students per class. Then they get individual support, much more than they get at a high school. We can also alter our class schedule so the students get the proper rest. Overall it helps the kids, but they do have to have self-discipline. We have the hammer. If they don’t get their assignments done, we take them off the ice so they have time to catch up.” When SISEC was first sanctioned by Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta, it was not allowed to have Canadian-born players on the roster. For the program to grow, Voser wanted to include Canadian players, too. Three years ago, Hockey Alberta allowed SISEC to have Canadians on their roster, and today there are 11 Canadians, including seven players from Calgary.

“In my mind it is really good for the program to have the influences of both hockey worlds together. What we lacked as an all international team was the physical and the mental portion of it. Now we can combine that and it will make us even more competitive,” said Voser. For those that argue that Voser should concentrate his efforts on developing players on European soil, he has this response. “I think both hockey worlds, the North American and international, have a lot to give to each other. The game is played differently in Europe. You have Olympic-sized ice. It’s much more of a skating and skills game. What they don’t learn in Europe is the physical play. The mental part of the game I think is taught over here much better. Kids come to get those components because they cannot get them overseas.” Mark Moon, from Mayerthorpe, Alberta, is one of four goalies on the team. Moon says one of the major reasons he chose SISEC was because he could practice regularly at Canada Olympic Park. “The facility is beautiful at Winsport. The team itself, which has been running for almost 10 years, has a great background and has many players that have made it to different teams. It seemed like the place for me to go,” he said.

SISEC’s top offensive player this season is 17-year-old Chris Breese, from Chestermere Lake. Head coach Gordon Gamble believes Breese has promise but needs to work on his consistency.

“From a scouting standpoint when you watch a kid like Chris, you’ll see him and say, ‘Oh my God, this kid’s got it all,’ and then two shifts later, you’ll say, ‘Where did that kid go?’ Our challenge is to get him to play like he can on every shift.” SISEC’s current captain is Marc Nijland, from the Netherlands. He got into hockey naturally because his father and uncle were both hockey players. Remarkably a reason why Nijland came to Calgary was because of the climate. “I love the cold. We don’t get it as cold in the Netherlands. It’s great.” One of SISEC’s top defenceman is Markus Pecnik, who hails from Austria. Pecnik chose hockey over alpine skiing, which is the nation’s primary winter sport. “I started playing hockey since I was eight years old. I like playing the body, scoring goals and playing in front of fans in the arena. It is an amazing feeling being on skates.” Among the notable SISEC alumni is Kirill Kabanov, a Russian native, who was drafted by the New York Islanders in the third round, 65th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Kabanov, who currently plays for Skellefteå of the Swedish Hockey League, played for SISEC in 2009-10. With there being so many hockey academies in North America, Voser says SISEC should be a strong consideration over all the others. “I think a component that we have that the others don’t have is the big international exposure. We do try to expose our kids to the U.S. market as well as the Canadian market. We are not one of those 300 kid academies where a kid might become a number.”

In the future, Voser plans to add hockey academies in Manitoba and Florida. For information about SISEC, you can check out the website, www.sisecselects.net, email the Centre at info@sisec.ca or call the Centre at (403) 248-6315.

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What made you want to become a hockey official? At first it was all about the money, but at the same time I have always had an interest in officiating and as I got older I have grown to love it even more.

How many games have you officiated so far this season? I don’t keep track but If I had to guess maybe around 100-150 games this season.

What level of hockey are you currently officiating? Currently officiating for the north east zone, and working my way up into the A program as a linesman.

Have you ever officiated during Minor Hockey Week, and if so, what makes you volunteer your time? I have worked minor hockey every year since I started. The atmosphere and excitement of minor hockey week is a great one to be in, I like to see everyone, coaches’ players, and fans, get excited, it makes the games a lot of fun. And now that I am done playing hockey it is a great way to still be able to be a part of minor hockey week.

What do you enjoy most about officiating hockey games? What I enjoy most about officiating is being able to make a difference out there on the ice, I have always had a passion for hockey, and officiating I feel is a good way to keep the passion alive.

What kind of training were/are you provided? Every year there has been older officials that have helped me get better, I don’t necessarily have one certain role model or mentor that has helped me along the way, but like I said the older more experienced officials acted as a mentor towards me especially in my younger years of officiating.

Do you have a role model or mentor who has helped you along the way?

We met up with 17-year Mackenzie Maidment in early February, as we he has just ready to step on the ice to referee a peewee game. Mackenzie is currently in grade 12, and his future aspirations are to become a firefighter. Mackenzie took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about himself, and his minor hockey officiating experience. When did you first start officiating hockey?

I started officiating when I was thirteen years old.

What other sports or activities do you participate in? For my grade 10 and 11 year I played high school football, in the summer I like doing a lot of water sports at the lake, and I still love to play hockey.

What are your other hobbies and interests? Some of my hobbies include road hockey, wakeboarding, and I have a huge interest in firefighting as I am a volunteer firefighter.

Do you still play hockey, and if so, for what team? I stopped playing hockey last year after I tore my ACL.

The toughest part about being a referee is being able to make the right call in the situations where the call isn’t clear as day. Yes we as officials have to deal with some bad parents and coaches but over the years I have learned to stick with the call I made and not worry about what people say.

How have you improved your skills as an official? I have improved my skills by going to an official’s clinic every year, and by just keeping at it. I feel that anyone skills as an official comes with practice just like anything else.

How do you handle criticism on the ice? As a first year official I didn’t do well with criticism I found it very intimidating. Now I go over and talk to the coaches in a respectful way and explain what I called and why I called it. Doing it in a respectful manner calms the coaches down and now maybe they see why I made the call I did.

Do you have comments you wish to share with parents, coaches or anyone watching minor hockey? Officials start out at the age of thirteen, and go all the way up, the one thing I have learned about being an official is that you’re not going to make the right call every single time, you’re going to miss even more, and it is a much different perspective on the game. At the end of the day most of us officials are still pretty young and we are out there on the ice calling the best game we can.

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 cross-check.)

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.

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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